Ditchmen • NUCA of Florida December 2018 | Page 7

December Legislative Report NUCA FL PUSHING FOR LEGISLATIVE CHANGES TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT BIDDING PROCESS As part of this year’s NUCA of Florida Legislative agenda, your legislative team is working to have legislation passed that would require local governments to include all costs, including, labor, materials, equipment and insurance in bid costs submitted by the governments themselves. This bill creates a level playing field when local government tries to compete with private industry while bidding for public works projects. The bill would also create more transparency for our states taxpayers in how their money is being used. NUCA of Florida President Jordan Lee, Past-President Bill Lee, and lobbyists Kari Hebrank and Scott Jenkins have met with legislators in their district and Capitol offices, including Sen. Doug Broxson (R-Pensacola), Rep. Jayer Williamson (R-Pace), Rep. Alex Andrade (R-Pensacola), and Rep. Sam Killebrew (R-Winter Haven) to begin the bill process. Rep. Andrade has agreed to be the House sponsor and remaining sponsors of the bill should be announced in the very near future. SENATE APPOINTS COMMITTEES Florida Senate President Bill Galvano (R-Bradenton) announced chairmanships and committee assignments for the 2019-2020 Sessions. Regarding the committees most important to our members, Sen. David Simmons (R-Longwood) will chair the Judiciary Committee; Sen. Anitere Flores (R-Miami) will chair the Community Affairs Committee; and Sen. Wilton Simpson (R-Spring Hill) will chair the newly created Innovation, Industry and Technology Committee. The Innovation, Industry and Technology committee will include issues formerly overseen by the now defunct Regulated Industries Committee. Senate Judiciary: Chair David Simmons (R-Longwood), Vice Chair Jose Rodriguez (D-Miami), Dennis Baxley (R-Lake Lady), Audrey Gibson (D-Jacksonville), Travis Hutson (R-Palm Coast), Kelli Stargel (R- Lakeland) Senate Community Affairs: Chair Anitere Flores (R-Miami), Vice Chair Gary Farmer (D-Fort Lauderdale), Doug Broxson (R-Pensacola), Jason Pizzo (D-Miami) David Simmons (R-Longwood) DECEMBER 2018 • DITCHMEN 5