Ad Day Legislative Update 2019/2020
On November 5, 2019, representatives from many of the AAF District 4 clubs visited the Capitol in Tallahassee to speak with State Representatives and Senators about issues of interest to the advertising industry. Before visiting the Capitol, Bill Williams, the AAF Space Coast’s Government Relations Chair, set appointments with the two Senators and four Representatives or their aides from Brevard County.
The lobbying day is a great opportunity to see how our State government works from the inside. We had briefings from Jack Hebert, the District 4 lobbyist, and Bill Williams, the District 4 Government Relations Chair the day before and day of lobbying. Each club’s representatives then headed to the Capitol to observe committee meetings and visit with legislators.
In our legislative visits with Representatives, Senators and their aides we focused on four major issues. The first is support for continued funding of Visit Florida and extending its sunset date to 2028 (SB 362 and HB 213), and similar support for continued funding of Enterprise Florida. As in past years we encouraged efforts to help the entertainment production business compete on a more level playing field with other states. This year we support the establishment of an entertainment production “Targeted Rebate Program” (SB 530 and HB 497). Finally, we discussed our District’s public service campaign, which is an awareness campaign to keep plastics out of the environment. More information on that is available at www.PlasticBrigade.com.
In addition to our November lobbying effort in Tallahassee, Bill Williams and other Space Coast members have visited locally with Brevard area State Senators and Representatives. Bill Williams made a presentation to the Brevard Delegation on September 25, 2019 in Port Canaveral supporting the motion picture industry in Florida.
Visit Florida’s funding was signed into law by Governor DeSantis, extending its funding through September 30, 2023. The entertainment industry’s “Targeted Rebate Program” did not get legislative approval.
Florida legislative committee meetings will begin in January of 2021, and the AAFSC will again be sending representatives to join other AAF District 4 leaders this winter to represent the interests of the advertising industry in Tallahassee. (NOTE: Due to Covid-19 restrictions meetings were held virtually for the 2021 legislative session.)