Florida Senate - 2024                                    SB 1144
       
       
        
       By Senator DiCeglie
       
       
       
       
       
       18-01472-24                                           20241144__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to local business taxes; repealing ch.
    3         205, F.S., relating to local business taxes; amending
    4         ss. 125.01047, 166.04465, 202.24, 213.0535, 213.055,
    5         213.756, 290.0057, 330.41, 337.401, 376.84, 379.3761,
    6         482.071, 482.242, 489.127, 489.128, 489.131, 489.532,
    7         489.537, 500.12, 500.511, 501.015, 501.016, 501.160,
    8         507.13, 539.001, 559.904, 559.928, 559.9281, 559.935,
    9         559.939, 559.955, and 616.12, F.S.; conforming
   10         provisions and cross-references to changes made by the
   11         act; providing an effective date.
   12          
   13  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   14  
   15         Section 1. Chapter 205, Florida Statutes, consisting of ss.
   16  205.013, 205.022, 205.023, 205.0315, 205.032, 205.033, 205.042,
   17  205.043, 205.044, 205.045, 205.053, 205.0532, 205.0535,
   18  205.0536, 205.0537, 205.054, 205.055, 205.063, 205.064, 205.065,
   19  205.066, 205.067, 205.162, 205.191, 205.192, 205.193, 205.194,
   20  205.196, 205.1965, 205.1967, 205.1969, 205.1971, 205.1973, and
   21  205.1975, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
   22         Section 2. Subsection (2), paragraph (b) of subsection (3),
   23  and paragraph (b) of subsection (4) of section 125.01047,
   24  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
   25         125.01047 Rules and ordinances relating to towing
   26  services.—
   27         (2) The prohibition set forth in subsection (1) does not
   28  affect a county’s authority to:
   29         (a)Levy a reasonable business tax under s. 205.0315, s.
   30  205.033, or s. 205.0535.
   31         (b) impose and collect a reasonable administrative fee or
   32  charge on the registered owner or other legally authorized
   33  person in control of a vehicle or vessel, not to exceed 25
   34  percent of the maximum towing rate, to cover the cost of
   35  enforcement, including parking enforcement, by the county when
   36  the vehicle or vessel is towed from public property. An
   37  authorized wrecker operator or towing business may impose and
   38  collect the administrative fee or charge on behalf of the county
   39  and shall remit such fee or charge to the county only after it
   40  is collected.
   41         (3)
   42         (b) A charter county may impose and collect an
   43  administrative fee or charge as provided in subsection (2)
   44  paragraph (2)(b) but may not impose such fee or charge on a
   45  towing business or an authorized wrecker operator. If the
   46  charter county imposes such administrative fee or charge, the
   47  charter county may authorize a towing business or authorized
   48  wrecker operator to impose and collect such fee or charge on
   49  behalf of the county, and the towing business or authorized
   50  wrecker operator shall remit such fee or charge to the charter
   51  county only after it is collected.
   52         (4)
   53         (b) A charter county may impose and collect an
   54  administrative fee or charge as provided in subsection (2)
   55  paragraph (2)(b); however, it may not impose that fee or charge
   56  upon a towing business or an authorized wrecker operator. If
   57  such charter county imposes such administrative fee or charge,
   58  such fee or charge must be imposed on the registered owner or
   59  other legally authorized person in control of a vehicle or
   60  vessel. The fee or charge may not exceed 25 percent of the
   61  maximum towing rate to cover the cost of enforcement, including
   62  parking enforcement, by the charter county when the vehicle or
   63  vessel is towed from public property. The charter county may
   64  authorize an authorized wrecker operator or towing business to
   65  impose and collect the administrative fee or charge on behalf of
   66  the charter county, and the authorized wrecker operator or
   67  towing business shall remit such fee or charge to the charter
   68  county only after it is collected.
   69         Section 3. Subsection (2) of section 166.04465, Florida
   70  Statutes, is amended to read:
   71         166.04465 Rules and ordinances relating to towing
   72  services.—
   73         (2) The prohibition set forth in subsection (1) does not
   74  affect a municipality’s authority to:
   75         (a)Levy a reasonable business tax under s. 205.0315, s.
   76  205.043, or s. 205.0535.
   77         (b) impose and collect a reasonable administrative fee or
   78  charge on the registered owner or other legally authorized
   79  person in control of a vehicle or vessel, not to exceed 25
   80  percent of the maximum towing rate, to cover the cost of
   81  enforcement, including parking enforcement, by the municipality
   82  when the vehicle or vessel is towed from public property. An
   83  authorized wrecker operator or towing business may impose and
   84  collect the administrative fee or charge on behalf of the
   85  municipality and shall remit such fee or charge to the
   86  municipality only after it is collected.
   87         Section 4. Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section
   88  202.24, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   89         202.24 Limitations on local taxes and fees imposed on
   90  dealers of communications services.—
   91         (2)
   92         (c) This subsection does not apply to:
   93         1. Local communications services taxes levied under this
   94  chapter.
   95         2. Ad valorem taxes levied pursuant to chapter 200.
   96         3. Business taxes levied under chapter 205.
   97         4. “911” service charges levied under chapter 365.
   98         4.5. Amounts charged for the rental or other use of
   99  property owned by a public body which is not in the public
  100  rights-of-way to a dealer of communications services for any
  101  purpose, including, but not limited to, the placement or
  102  attachment of equipment used in the provision of communications
  103  services.
  104         5.6. Permit fees of general applicability which are not
  105  related to placing or maintaining facilities in or on public
  106  roads or rights-of-way.
  107         6.7. Permit fees related to placing or maintaining
  108  facilities in or on public roads or rights-of-way pursuant to s.
  109  337.401.
  110         7.8. Any in-kind requirements, institutional networks, or
  111  contributions for, or in support of, the use or construction of
  112  public, educational, or governmental access facilities allowed
  113  under federal law and imposed on providers of video service
  114  pursuant to any existing ordinance or an existing franchise
  115  agreement granted by each municipality or county, under which
  116  ordinance or franchise agreement service is provided before July
  117  1, 2007, or as permitted under chapter 610. This subparagraph
  118  does not prohibit providers of video service from recovering the
  119  expenses as allowed under federal law.
  120         8.9. Special assessments and impact fees.
  121         9.10. Pole attachment fees that are charged by a local
  122  government for attachments to utility poles owned by the local
  123  government.
  124         10.11. Utility service fees or other similar user fees for
  125  utility services.
  126         11.12. Any other generally applicable tax, fee, charge, or
  127  imposition authorized by general law on July 1, 2000, which is
  128  not specifically prohibited by this subsection or included as a
  129  replaced revenue source in s. 202.20.
  130         Section 5. Paragraph (a) of subsection (4) of section
  131  213.0535, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  132         213.0535 Registration Information Sharing and Exchange
  133  Program.—
  134         (4) There are two levels of participation:
  135         (a) Each unit of state or local government responsible for
  136  administering one or more of the provisions specified in
  137  subparagraphs 1.-7. 1.-8. is a level-one participant. Level-one
  138  participants shall exchange, monthly or quarterly, as determined
  139  jointly by each participant and the department, the data
  140  enumerated in subsection (2) for each new registrant, new filer,
  141  or initial reporter, permittee, or licensee, with respect to the
  142  following taxes, licenses, or permits:
  143         1. The sales and use tax imposed under chapter 212.
  144         2. The tourist development tax imposed under s. 125.0104.
  145         3. The tourist impact tax imposed under s. 125.0108.
  146         4. Local business taxes imposed under chapter 205.
  147         5. Convention development taxes imposed under s. 212.0305.
  148         5.6. Public lodging and food service establishment licenses
  149  issued pursuant to chapter 509.
  150         6.7. Beverage law licenses issued pursuant to chapter 561.
  151         7.8. A municipal resort tax as authorized under chapter 67
  152  930, Laws of Florida.
  153         Section 6. Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section
  154  213.055, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  155         213.055 Declared emergency; waiver or suspension of
  156  specified revenue laws and other requirements.—
  157         (3)
  158         (b)1. Notwithstanding any other law, an out-of-state
  159  business that is conducting operations within this state during
  160  a disaster-response period solely for purposes of performing
  161  emergency-related work or pursuant to a mutual aid agreement is
  162  not considered to have established a level of presence that
  163  would require that business to register, file, and remit state
  164  or local taxes or fees or require that business to be subject to
  165  any registration, licensing, or filing requirements in this
  166  state. For purposes of any state or local tax on or measured, in
  167  whole or in part, by net or gross income or receipts, the
  168  activity of the out-of-state business conducted in this state
  169  during the disaster-response period must be disregarded with
  170  respect to any filing requirements for such tax, including the
  171  filing required for a consolidated group of which the out-of-
  172  state business may be a part. This includes the following:
  173         a. Reemployment assistance taxes.
  174         b. State or local professional or occupational licensing
  175  requirements or related fees.
  176         c. Local business taxes.
  177         d. Taxes on the operation of commercial motor vehicles.
  178         d.e. Corporate income tax.
  179         e.f. Tangible personal property tax and use tax on
  180  equipment that is brought into the state by the out-of-state
  181  business, used by the out-of-state business only to perform
  182  emergency-related work during the disaster-response period, and
  183  removed from the state by the out-of-state business after the
  184  disaster-response period.
  185         2. Notwithstanding any other law, an out-of-state employee
  186  whose only employment in this state is for the performance of
  187  emergency-related work or pursuant to a mutual aid agreement
  188  during a disaster-response period is not required to comply with
  189  state or local occupational licensing requirements or related
  190  fees.
  191         Section 7. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section
  192  213.756, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  193         213.756 Funds collected are state tax funds.—
  194         (2)
  195         (b) This subsection applies to those taxes enumerated in s.
  196  72.011, excluding chapter 202 and that portion of chapter 203
  197  collected thereunder, and also applies to taxes imposed under
  198  chapter 205.
  199         Section 8. Paragraph (e) of subsection (1) of section
  200  290.0057, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  201         290.0057 Enterprise zone development plan.—
  202         (1) Any application for designation as a new enterprise
  203  zone must be accompanied by a strategic plan adopted by the
  204  governing body of the municipality or county, or the governing
  205  bodies of the county and one or more municipalities together. At
  206  a minimum, the plan must:
  207         (e) Commit the governing body or bodies to enact and
  208  maintain local fiscal and regulatory incentives, if approval for
  209  the area is received under s. 290.0065. These incentives may
  210  include the municipal public service tax exemption provided by
  211  s. 166.231, the economic development ad valorem tax exemption
  212  provided by s. 196.1995, the business tax exemption provided by
  213  s. 205.054, local impact fee abatement or reduction, or low
  214  interest or interest-free loans or grants to businesses to
  215  encourage the revitalization of the nominated area.
  216         Section 9. Paragraph (c) of subsection (3) of section
  217  330.41, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  218         330.41 Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act.—
  219         (3) REGULATION.—
  220         (c) Except as otherwise expressly provided, a political
  221  subdivision may not withhold issuance of a business tax receipt,
  222  development permit, or other use approval to a drone delivery
  223  service or enact or enforce an ordinance or resolution that
  224  prohibits a drone delivery service’s operation based on the
  225  location of its drone port, notwithstanding part II of chapter
  226  163 and chapter 205. A political subdivision may enforce minimum
  227  setback and landscaping regulations that are generally
  228  applicable to permitted uses in the drone port site’s zoning
  229  district. This paragraph may not be construed to authorize a
  230  political subdivision to require additional landscaping as a
  231  condition of approval of a drone port.
  232         Section 10. Paragraph (f) of subsection (3) of section
  233  337.401, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  234         337.401 Use of right-of-way for utilities subject to
  235  regulation; permit; fees.—
  236         (3)
  237         (f) Except as expressly allowed or authorized by general
  238  law and except for the rights-of-way permit fees subject to
  239  paragraph (c), a municipality or county may not levy on a
  240  provider of communications services a tax, fee, or other charge
  241  or imposition for operating as a provider of communications
  242  services within the jurisdiction of the municipality or county
  243  which is in any way related to using its roads or rights-of-way.
  244  A municipality or county may not require or solicit in-kind
  245  compensation, except as otherwise provided in s. 202.24(2)(c)7.
  246  s. 202.24(2)(c)8., provided that the in-kind compensation is not
  247  a franchise fee under federal law. Nothing in this paragraph
  248  impairs the authority of a municipality or county to request
  249  public, educational, or governmental access channels pursuant to
  250  s. 610.109. Nothing in this paragraph shall impair any ordinance
  251  or agreement in effect on May 22, 1998, or any voluntary
  252  agreement entered into subsequent to that date, which provides
  253  for or allows in-kind compensation by a telecommunications
  254  company.
  255         Section 11. Paragraph (d) of subsection (1) of section
  256  376.84, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  257         376.84 Brownfield redevelopment economic incentives.—It is
  258  the intent of the Legislature that brownfield redevelopment
  259  activities be viewed as opportunities to significantly improve
  260  the utilization, general condition, and appearance of these
  261  sites. Different standards than those in place for new
  262  development, as allowed under current state and local laws,
  263  should be used to the fullest extent to encourage the
  264  redevelopment of a brownfield. State and local governments are
  265  encouraged to offer redevelopment incentives for this purpose,
  266  as an ongoing public investment in infrastructure and services,
  267  to help eliminate the public health and environmental hazards,
  268  and to promote the creation of jobs in these areas. Such
  269  incentives may include financial, regulatory, and technical
  270  assistance to persons and businesses involved in the
  271  redevelopment of the brownfield pursuant to this act.
  272         (1) Financial incentives and local incentives for
  273  redevelopment may include, but not be limited to:
  274         (d)Waiver, reduction, or limitation by line of business
  275  with respect to business taxes pursuant to chapter 205.
  276         Section 12. Subsection (4) of section 379.3761, Florida
  277  Statutes, is amended to read:
  278         379.3761 Exhibition or sale of wildlife; fees;
  279  classifications.—
  280         (4)The provisions of this section relative to licensing
  281  for exhibition do not apply to any municipal, county, state, or
  282  other publicly owned wildlife exhibit or any traveling zoo,
  283  circus, or exhibit licensed under chapter 205.
  284         Section 13. Subsection (5) of section 482.071, Florida
  285  Statutes, is amended to read:
  286         482.071 Licenses.—
  287         (5)A license under this section is a prerequisite for the
  288  issuance of a local occupational license to engage in pest
  289  control, as provided in s. 205.1967.
  290         Section 14. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
  291  482.242, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  292         482.242 Preemption.—
  293         (1) This chapter is intended as comprehensive and exclusive
  294  regulation of pest control in this state. The provisions of this
  295  chapter preempt to the state all regulation of the activities
  296  and operations of pest control services, including the
  297  pesticides used pursuant to labeling and registration approved
  298  under part I of chapter 487. No local government or political
  299  subdivision of the state may enact or enforce an ordinance that
  300  regulates pest control, except that the preemption in this
  301  section does not prohibit a local government or political
  302  subdivision from enacting an ordinance regarding any of the
  303  following:
  304         (a)Local business taxes adopted pursuant to chapter 205.
  305         Section 15. Subsection (1) of section 489.127, Florida
  306  Statutes, is amended to read:
  307         489.127 Prohibitions; penalties.—
  308         (1) No person shall:
  309         (a) Falsely hold himself or herself or a business
  310  organization out as a licensee, certificateholder, or
  311  registrant;
  312         (b) Falsely impersonate a certificateholder or registrant;
  313         (c) Present as his or her own the certificate or
  314  registration of another;
  315         (d) Knowingly give false or forged evidence to the board or
  316  a member thereof;
  317         (e) Use or attempt to use a certificate or registration
  318  that has been suspended or revoked;
  319         (f) Engage in the business or act in the capacity of a
  320  contractor or advertise himself or herself or a business
  321  organization as available to engage in the business or act in
  322  the capacity of a contractor without being duly registered or
  323  certified;
  324         (g) Operate a business organization engaged in contracting
  325  after 60 days following the termination of its only qualifying
  326  agent without designating another primary qualifying agent,
  327  except as provided in ss. 489.119 and 489.1195;
  328         (h) Commence or perform work for which a building permit is
  329  required pursuant to part IV of chapter 553 without such
  330  building permit being in effect; or
  331         (i) Willfully or deliberately disregard or violate any
  332  municipal or county ordinance relating to uncertified or
  333  unregistered contractors.
  334  
  335  For purposes of this subsection, a person or business
  336  organization operating on an inactive or suspended certificate
  337  or registration is not duly certified or registered and is
  338  considered unlicensed. A business tax receipt issued under the
  339  authority of chapter 205 is not a license for purposes of this
  340  part.
  341         Section 16. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section
  342  489.128, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  343         489.128 Contracts entered into by unlicensed contractors
  344  unenforceable.—
  345         (1) As a matter of public policy, contracts entered into on
  346  or after October 1, 1990, by an unlicensed contractor shall be
  347  unenforceable in law or in equity by the unlicensed contractor.
  348         (b)For purposes of this section, an individual or business
  349  organization may not be considered unlicensed for failing to
  350  have a business tax receipt issued under the authority of
  351  chapter 205.
  352         Section 17. Paragraph (c) of subsection (3) of section
  353  489.131, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  354         489.131 Applicability.—
  355         (3) Nothing in this part limits the power of a municipality
  356  or county:
  357         (c) To collect business taxes, subject to s. 205.065, and
  358  inspection fees for engaging in contracting or examination fees
  359  from persons who are registered with the board pursuant to local
  360  examination requirements and issue business tax receipts.
  361  However, nothing in this part shall be construed to require
  362  general contractors, building contractors, or residential
  363  contractors to obtain additional business tax receipts for
  364  specialty work when such specialty work is performed by
  365  employees of such contractors on projects for which they have
  366  substantially full responsibility and such contractors do not
  367  hold themselves out to the public as being specialty
  368  contractors.
  369         Section 18. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section
  370  489.532, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  371         489.532 Contracts entered into by unlicensed contractors
  372  unenforceable.—
  373         (1) As a matter of public policy, contracts entered into on
  374  or after October 1, 1990, by an unlicensed contractor shall be
  375  unenforceable in law or in equity by the unlicensed contractor.
  376         (b)For purposes of this section, an individual or business
  377  organization shall not be considered unlicensed for failing to
  378  have a business tax receipt issued under the authority of
  379  chapter 205.
  380         Section 19. Subsection (8) of section 489.537, Florida
  381  Statutes, is amended to read:
  382         489.537 Application of this part.—
  383         (8)Persons licensed under this part are subject to ss.
  384  205.0535(1) and 205.065, as applicable.
  385         Section 20. Subsection (8) of section 500.12, Florida
  386  Statutes, is amended to read:
  387         500.12 Food permits; building permits.—
  388         (8)A person who applies for or renews a local business tax
  389  certificate to engage in business as a food establishment must
  390  exhibit a current food permit or an active letter of exemption
  391  from the department before the local business tax certificate
  392  may be issued or renewed.
  393         Section 21. Subsection (3) of section 500.511, Florida
  394  Statutes, is amended to read:
  395         500.511 Fees; enforcement; preemption.—
  396         (3) PREEMPTION OF AUTHORITY TO REGULATE.—Regulation of
  397  bottled water plants, water vending machines, water vending
  398  machine operators, and packaged ice plants is preempted by the
  399  state. No county or municipality may adopt or enforce any
  400  ordinance that regulates the licensure or operation of bottled
  401  water plants, water vending machines, or packaged ice plants,
  402  unless it is determined that unique conditions exist within the
  403  county which require the county to regulate such entities in
  404  order to protect the public health. This subsection does not
  405  prohibit a county or municipality from requiring a business tax
  406  pursuant to chapter 205.
  407         Section 22. Subsection (7) of section 501.015, Florida
  408  Statutes, is amended to read:
  409         501.015 Health studios; registration requirements and
  410  fees.—Each health studio shall:
  411         (7)A person applying for or renewing a local business tax
  412  receipt to engage in business as a health studio must exhibit an
  413  active registration certificate from the Department of
  414  Agriculture and Consumer Services before the local business tax
  415  receipt may be issued or reissued.
  416         Section 23. Subsection (1) of section 501.016, Florida
  417  Statutes, is amended to read:
  418         501.016 Health studios; security requirements.—Each health
  419  studio that sells contracts for health studio services shall
  420  meet the following requirements:
  421         (1) Each health studio shall maintain for each separate
  422  business location a bond issued by a surety company admitted to
  423  do business in this state. The principal sum of the bond must be
  424  $25,000, and the bond, when required, must be obtained before a
  425  business tax receipt may be issued under chapter 205. Upon
  426  issuance of a business tax receipt, the licensing authority
  427  shall immediately notify the department of such issuance in a
  428  manner established by the department by rule. The bond must be
  429  in favor of the department for the benefit of a person injured
  430  as a result of a violation of ss. 501.012-501.019. Liability for
  431  injuries as a result of a violation of ss. 501.012-501.019 may
  432  be determined in an administrative proceeding of the department
  433  or through a civil action. However, claims against the bond or
  434  certificate of deposit may only be paid by order of the
  435  department in an administrative proceeding in amounts up to the
  436  determined liability for the injuries. The aggregate liability
  437  of the surety to all persons for all breaches of the conditions
  438  of the bonds provided by this section may not exceed the amount
  439  of the bond. The original surety bond required by this section
  440  shall be filed with the department on a form adopted by
  441  department rule.
  442         Section 24. Subsection (8) of section 501.160, Florida
  443  Statutes, is amended to read:
  444         501.160 Rental or sale of essential commodities during a
  445  declared state of emergency; prohibition against unconscionable
  446  prices.—
  447         (8)Upon a declaration of a state of emergency by the
  448  Governor, in order to protect the health, safety, and welfare of
  449  residents, any person who offers goods and services for sale to
  450  the public during the duration of the emergency and who does not
  451  possess a business tax receipt under s. 205.032 or s. 205.042
  452  commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as
  453  provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. During a declared
  454  emergency, this subsection does not apply to religious,
  455  charitable, fraternal, civic, educational, or social
  456  organizations. During a declared emergency and when there is an
  457  allegation of price gouging against the person, failure to
  458  possess a license constitutes reasonable cause to detain the
  459  person, provided that the detention shall only be made in a
  460  reasonable manner and only for a reasonable period of time
  461  sufficient for an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the
  462  failure to possess a license.
  463         Section 25. Paragraphs (a) and (c) of subsection (1) of
  464  section 507.13, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  465         507.13 Local regulation.—
  466         (1)(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) paragraphs (b)
  467  and (c), this chapter preempts a local ordinance or regulation
  468  of a county or municipality which regulates transactions
  469  relating to movers of household goods or moving brokers.
  470         (c)This section does not preempt a local government’s
  471  authority to levy a local business tax pursuant to chapter 205.
  472         Section 26. Paragraph (f) of subsection (3) of section
  473  539.001, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  474         539.001 The Florida Pawnbroking Act.—
  475         (3) LICENSE REQUIRED.—
  476         (f)Any person applying for or renewing a local
  477  occupational license to engage in business as a pawnbroker must
  478  exhibit a current license from the agency before the local
  479  business tax receipt may be issued or reissued.
  480         Section 27. Subsection (7) of section 559.904, Florida
  481  Statutes, is amended, to read:
  482         559.904 Motor vehicle repair shop registration;
  483  application; exemption.—
  484         (7)Any person applying for or renewing a local business
  485  tax receipt to engage in business as a motor vehicle repair shop
  486  must exhibit an active registration certificate from the
  487  department before the local business tax receipt may be issued
  488  or renewed.
  489         Section 28. Subsection (4) of section 559.928, Florida
  490  Statutes, is amended to read:
  491         559.928 Registration.—
  492         (4)A person applying for or renewing a local business tax
  493  receipt to engage in business as a seller of travel must exhibit
  494  a current registration certificate from the department before
  495  the local business tax receipt may be issued or reissued.
  496         Section 29. Subsection (2) of section 559.9281, Florida
  497  Statutes, is amended to read:
  498         559.9281 Student tour operators.—
  499         (2) The department shall adopt rules to implement this
  500  section, including the establishment of the application
  501  procedures and minimum standards for those persons wishing to be
  502  approved as student tour operators under this section. At a
  503  minimum, a student tour operator must be registered and approved
  504  by the department as a seller of travel under s. 559.928,
  505  maintain security requirements provided under s. 559.929, and be
  506  current on all state and local business taxes.
  507         Section 30. Subsection (6) of section 559.935, Florida
  508  Statutes, is amended to read:
  509         559.935 Exemptions.—
  510         (6) The department shall request from the Airlines
  511  Reporting Corporation any information necessary to implement the
  512  provisions of subsection (2). Persons claiming an exemption
  513  under subsection (2) or subsection (3) must show a letter of
  514  exemption from the department before a local business tax
  515  receipt to engage in business as a seller of travel may be
  516  issued or reissued. If the department fails to issue a letter of
  517  exemption on a timely basis, the seller of travel shall submit
  518  to the department, through certified mail, an affidavit
  519  containing her or his name and address and an explanation of the
  520  exemption sought. Such affidavit may be used in lieu of a letter
  521  of exemption for the purpose of obtaining a business tax
  522  receipt. In any civil or criminal proceeding, the burden of
  523  proving an exemption under this section is on the person
  524  claiming such exemption. A letter of exemption issued by the
  525  department may not be used in, and has no bearing on, such
  526  proceedings.
  527         Section 31. Section 559.939, Florida Statutes, is amended
  528  to read:
  529         559.939 State preemption.—No municipality or county or
  530  other political subdivision of this state shall have authority
  531  to levy or collect any registration fee or tax, as a regulatory
  532  measure, or to require the registration or bonding in any manner
  533  of any seller of travel who is registered or complies with all
  534  applicable provisions of this part, unless that authority is
  535  provided for by special or general act of the Legislature. Any
  536  ordinance, resolution, or regulation of any municipality or
  537  county or other political subdivision of this state which is in
  538  conflict with any provision of this part is preempted by this
  539  part. The provisions of this section do not apply to any local
  540  business tax levied pursuant to chapter 205.
  541         Section 32. Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section
  542  559.955, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  543         559.955 Home-based businesses; local government
  544  restrictions.—
  545         (2) A home-based business that operates from a residential
  546  property as provided in subsection (3):
  547         (c)Is only subject to applicable business taxes under
  548  chapter 205 in the county and municipality in which the home
  549  based business is located.
  550         Section 33. Section 616.12, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  551  read:
  552         616.12 Licenses upon certain shows; distribution of fees;
  553  exemptions.—
  554         (1) Each person who operates any traveling show,
  555  exhibition, amusement enterprise, carnival, vaudeville, exhibit,
  556  minstrel, rodeo, theatrical, game or test of skill, riding
  557  device, dramatic repertoire, other show or amusement, or
  558  concession, including a concession operating in a tent,
  559  enclosure, or other temporary structure, within the grounds of,
  560  and in connection with, any annual public fair held by a fair
  561  association shall pay the license taxes provided by law.
  562  However, if the association satisfies the requirements of this
  563  chapter, including securing the required fair permit from the
  564  department, the license taxes and local business tax authorized
  565  in chapter 205 are waived and the department shall issue a tax
  566  exemption certificate. The department shall adopt the proper
  567  forms and rules to administer this section, including the
  568  necessary tax exemption certificate, showing that the fair
  569  association has met all requirements and that the traveling
  570  show, exhibition, amusement enterprise, carnival, vaudeville,
  571  exhibit, minstrel, rodeo, theatrical, game or test of skill,
  572  riding device, dramatic repertoire, other show or amusement, or
  573  concession is exempt.
  574         (2) Any fair association securing the required annual fair
  575  permit from the department is exempt from local business tax as
  576  defined by chapter 205, occupational permit fees, or any
  577  occupational taxes assessed by any county, municipality,
  578  political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof.
  579         Section 34. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.