2026 Florida Legislative Priorities

The 2026 CFHLA Legislative Priorities can now be downloaded below. This publication includes the CFHLA Government Relations Team, as well as the 2026 Legislative priorities CFHLA will be advocating for during the 2026 Legislative Session and throughout the year on behalf of the Central Florida tourism and hospitality industry.

Download the 2026 CFHLA Legislative Priorities

Tourist Development Tax (TDT)

In 1977, the Florida Legislature passed the "Tourist Development Tax" (F.S.125.0104) at the request of Florida lodging executives. The purpose of the tax was to create a dedicated revenue source for local tourism promotion and the reinvestment in publicly owned and operated capital improvements such as convention centers, sports stadiums, sports arenas, coliseums, auditoriums, aquariums, and museums.

The proper reinvestment and appropriate use of TDT will drive further visitation to our destination and continue to benefit our local economy and residents through increased jobs and wages, sales tax revenue, property tax, etc.

CFHLA strongly opposes modifying, increasing, or expanding the uses of the Tourist Development Tax (TDT) revenues. Any modifications of TDT will only serve to dilute the effectiveness of these dollars, which are statutorily established for the local promotion and marketing of tourism. Instead, CFHLA supports a local sales tax referendum that addresses our infrastructure and transportation needs.

Additionally, CFHLA opposes the dissolution of county Tourist Development Councils and using TDT revenues to offset local residential property tax relief.

Furthermore, CFHLA opposes reducing the 40 percent threshold and/or creating an annual dollar cap on local tourism promotion before counties would have the option to expand uses on broader infrastructure projects.

Lastly, CFHLA opposes the periodic readoption of the TDT through local voter referendum. Requiring the periodic readoption of the TDT through voter referendum would eliminate the ability of local governments to pledge these funds for bonding for any project that would exceed the period of readoption (typically 30 years). In addition to expending the additional dollars to pay for these referenda, local governments will spend time and resources every five years to promote re-adoption rather than concentrating their efforts on the work of tourism promotion.

SB 446: Large-scale County Destination Marketing Organizations, by Smith – OPPOSE

SB 454/HB 6007: Tourist Development Taxes, by Smith/ Eskamani – OPPOSE

SB 456: Tourist Development Tax, by Smith – OPPOSE

SB 458: Tourist Development Tax, by Smith – OPPOSE

SB 976: Tourist Development Tax Uses, by Smith – OPPOSE

Open Carry Clarification

In September 2025, a court ruling paved the way for open carry of firearms in Florida. This ruling has led to questions about where it is acceptable to carry a firearm openly throughout the state, leading to clarifying statements having to be made by businesses and law enforcement officials. CFHLA supports any efforts by the Legislature to update statutes to reflect the open carry ruling and clarify that private property owners, including hotels, restaurants, theme parks, and other privately owned venues, retain the right to prohibit weapons of any kind, including firearms, on their property.

Increased Funding for Transportation and Infrastructure Projects

CFHLA supports the increased funding of essential transportation and infrastructure projects across the Central Florida region (excluding using TDT funds). CFHLA supports the Governor's proposed budget of $14.3 billion for the Florida Department of Transportation Work Program. This includes the Moving Florida Forward Initiative and expanding our region's intermodal transportation system through projects including the Sunshine Corridor, connecting SunRail to MCO, and the tourism corridor.

VISIT FLORIDA Funding

CFHLA supports the Governor's proposed budget, which includes $80 million in full annual funding for VISIT FLORIDA (same from FY 2025-2026). Funding of VISIT FLORIDA ensures that our state continues to be top of mind as the leading vacation destination in the country. Additionally, CFHLA supports extending VISIT FLORIDA’s sunset date to facilitate strategic planning and marketing for the near and long term.

CFHLA also opposes any efforts to replace VISIT FLORIDA funding from the state budget with county-level TDT revenues. Local TDT revenues are committed to vital projects and organizations that generate visitation - providing local economic development and job creation.

CFHLA also opposes any efforts to replace VISIT FLORIDA funding from the state budget with county-level TDT revenues. Local TDT revenues are committed to vital projects and organizations that generate visitation - providing local economic development and job creation.

Additional Education Funding for Hospitality/Culinary Programs at our Local Schools, Colleges, and Universities

CFHLA supports additional funding for our hospitality and culinary programs at our local high schools, as well as the increased per-student funding at Valencia College, Seminole State College, and the University of Central Florida. Currently, Valencia College and Seminole State College are among the lowest per student funding institutions in the state. This is why it is imperative that CFHLA supports the Florida College System Council of Presidents allocation request of significant, new, recurring funding, distributed through the formula agreed to by the Florida College System. CFHLA supports the Governor’s proposed budget of $1.9 billion for the Florida College System, a $100 million increase from FY 2025-2026. This funding will help recruit and retain the best faculty and invest in rapid credentialling workforce development programs that increase capacity within our region (including new and existing advanced accelerated programs).

Statewide Regulation of Vacation Rentals and Advertising Platforms

While vacation home rentals have long been available in Florida, the option to list available units online through advertising platforms has caused this lodging sector to explode by more than 50,000 units across the Central Florida region. Florida’s statutes need to be updated to ensure that all of Florida’s public lodging establishments provide safe and quality experiences for their guests and communities - without infringing on the rights of local governments or unduly burdening vacation rental owners and rental platforms.

Florida also ranks as the third highest state for human trafficking cases in the United States. Each year, thousands are trafficked in the United States, and traffickers often rely on businesses to sustain their operations. Recently, traffickers have begun to utilize vacation home rentals for their criminal activity. With millions of visitors coming to our state each year, Florida’s hospitality industry must serve as a leader in the fight to combat human trafficking, and it is critical that our industry continues to raise awareness through education and training.

CFHLA strongly supports the following:

Requiring initiatives that ensure vacation home rentals on advertising platforms also practice the same safety standards as traditional lodging to protect visitors and their experience. These standards include but are not limited to; human trafficking awareness, training and prevention, regular health and safety standards and inspections, pool safety and drowning prevention, hygiene, and cleaning procedures, as well as mandatory occupancy requirements to protect visitors and their experience.
Requiring advertising platforms to confirm the licensing/registration of vacation home rentals with the State Department of Revenue and the Department of Business and Professional Regulation prior to listing.
Requiring advertising platforms to collect and remit all taxes.
Requiring advertising platforms to list the vacation rental license number on the advertisement of the units.
Allowing local governments the option to establish a robust local registration system for vacation rentals.
Requiring the proper homeowners and commercial insurance coverage.
Requiring advertising platforms to confirm licensure of units being advertised and protect consumers from fraudulent transactions.
Reasonable and effective penalty provisions for noncompliance, such as higher monetary penalties and vacation rental license revocation provisions; and
Clear and consistent audit provisions to allow for accurate assessment of compliance.

HB 79/SB 658: Water Safety Requirements for the Rental of Residential Property, by Maggard/Burgess - SUPPORT

SB 608: Vacation Rentals, by Smith - SUPPORT

Workforce Housing

CFHLA supports the continued full funding for the Sadowski Fund, as the Central Florida community has a dire need for more reliable and affordable housing options.

CFHLA supports the Governor's proposed budget, which fully funds affordable and workforce housing programs. This includes $72.9 million for the State Apartment Incentive Loan (SAIL) Program and $170.8 million for the State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program (SHIP), and $50 million for the fifth year of the Hometown Heroes Housing Program, which helps make homeownership more affordable for eligible frontline community workers and other Florida families.

CFHLA also urges the Legislature to continue encouraging and empowering local county and municipal governments to implement innovative approaches to affordable housing development (excluding using TDT funds).

SB 48/HB 313: Housing, by Gaetz/Nix - SUPPORT

HB 1389/SB 1548: Affordable Housing, by Redondo/Calatayud - SUPPORT

Property Taxes

Interchange Fees on Sales Tax

The cost of labor, goods, and equipment continues to rise, while margins continue to remain tight. Florida merchants pay over $288 million annually in interchange fees on the sales taxes and bed taxes they are required to collect. Credit card companies and banks should not be permitted to profit from merchants’ required performance of a public duty. Interchange fees should not be paid on sales taxes collected by Florida merchants.

Existing point-of-sale systems can be programmed to accommodate this change, and certain cards are already capable of being processed in a manner that makes it clear which taxes are collected. The legislation proposed in 2023 also allowed for a rebate to the merchant upon the submission of appropriate tax records. This would not change the responsibility of the merchant to pay interchange fees on the items and services that they sell.

Interchange fees are being increased yet again, and more merchants are turning to surcharging as a means of absorbing this cost, which impacts consumers directly.

CFHLA supports prohibiting the collection of interchange on sales tax will provide relief to businesses, which will in turn provide relief to consumers.

Timeshares

Commercial Property Insurance Reform

The cost of insurance has increased significantly – not just for residents, but also for Florida businesses. The cost increases for commercial payers are often so large that it impacts customers, guests, and employees. As the Florida Legislature continues its work to make insurance more affordable for residential and individual customers, so too do commercial insureds need the attention of the Legislature so that Florida’s businesses can continue to thrive.

CFHLA supports any legislative efforts that are aimed at reducing the cost of commercial insurance in Florida.

HB 943/SB 1028: Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, by Redondo/Gruters - SUPPORT

OTHER ISSUES/BILLS CFHLA IS MONITORING:

Tax Packages
Regulation of Cashless Businesses
Condo Regulation
Modernization of Alcohol Regulations
Tort Reform
Hotel Safety and Security

HB 179: Employment Eligibility, by Jacques - OPPOSE

SB 544/HB 797: Nonprofit Corporations, by Bernard/Tuck – MONITOR

HB 553/SB 936: Temporary Door Locking Devices, by Partington/McClain – MONITOR

2026 Florida Legislative Priorities

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