RV park owners across the Sunshine State may get to keep more of their earnings through a just-added provision in the House’s tax package for next fiscal year.

The House Ways and Means Committee released a proposed committee substitute for its taxation proposal (HB 7033), including new considerations for tourism development taxes, tourism development committees and affordable housing.

It also contains tweaks to how counties, cities and special districts would be able to levy special non-ad valorem assessments — taxes based on factors other than property value, such as square footage or number of units — for RV parks.

Under the proposed new language, local governments would not be able to levy non-ad valorem special assessments against any portion of a RV parking space or campsite beyond the maximum square footage of an RV unit.

Local governments would also have to consider the RV park’s occupancy rates to “ensure any special assessment is fairly and reasonably apportioned among the recreational vehicle parks that receive the special benefit,” the legislation said.

Florida Statutes define “recreational vehicle park” as “a place set aside and offered by a person, for either direct or indirect remuneration of the owner, lessor, or operator of such place, for the parking, accommodation, or rental of five or more recreational vehicles or tents; and the term also includes buildings and sites set aside for group camping and similar recreational facilities.”

Florida has more RV parks and campgrounds than any other state in the nation, with more than 1,260 parks statewide and over 200,000 camping and RV sites, according to the Florida RV Park and Campground Association, which found that more than 7 million campers and RVers vacation in Florida every year.

RV campers spend an average $140 daily, or roughly $1,600 per camping trip, with most of the funds going toward sightseeing, food, fuel, entertainment, accommodations, RV services and supplies, and outdoor equipment.

The RV park-related language added Monday to HB 7033 came from legislation Zephyrhills Republican Sen. Danny Burgess filed in February that doesn’t have a House companion and didn’t receive a committee hearing.

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The Senate Rules Committee unanimously passed a measure Monday that seeks to improve the safety and preparedness of public and charter schools when responding to medical emergencies like anaphylaxis.

Orlando Democratic Sen. Carlos Smith presented the bill (SB 1514) that is focused on ensuring school personnel are trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis and administer epinephrine during emergencies that happen on school campuses.

“Students with life-threatening allergies face significant challenges in school settings,” Smith said. “Anaphylaxis for example, is a severe life-threatening allergic reaction which can occur rapidly and can be fatal if not treated immediately, and it’s typically triggered by food allergens, insect stings, medications, even latex.”

Schools would be required to have student emergency action plans accessible at all times during school activities with the aim to proactively manage allergic reactions, especially during extracurricular programs, athletic events, school dances, and before- and after-school programs.

“According to the Florida Department of Health, approximately 76,000 students in Florida have these types of life-threatening allergies,” Smith said. “For these students, the prompt use of an epinephrine auto injector can be lifesaving.”

The State Board of Education would be required to consult with the Department of Health to adopt rules needed to implement the legislation if it passes, including an approved training curriculum for staff.

“Under the bill, both traditional and charter public schools in K-8 will be required to be ready and able to implement emergency action plans for students with allergies at all times, while the student is on school grounds,” Smith said. “It requires an adequate number of school personnel to undergo critical, but simple and straightforward training on the administration of emergency epinephrine, or EpiPens.”

Smith added that free training for anaphylactic events already exists and should not have a large fiscal impact on the state budget.

The bill will now move to the Senate Floor.

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The Hope Florida Foundation’s attorney said he likely won’t attend a high-profile House committee hearing. But Rep. Alex Andrade said that may delay his testimony for a day.

Attorney Jeff Aaron told the Orlando Sentinel he could attend on a Wednesday or Friday, but could not go this Thursday. He also stressed health issues within his family.

That’s the day the House Health Care Budget Subcommittee plans to question Amy Ronshausen, executive director of the Drug Free America Foundation, about money received from the Hope Florida Foundation. Lawmakers also want to ask Aaron about that.

“Rest assured that I am willing to testify,” Aaron wrote in an email to the House.

Andrade requested that time be allowed for an additional meeting on Friday to question only Aaron, and he said many statements already made public by the attorney appear to show conflicting direction and advice passed among the involved parties. Namely, the Committee has testimony that Aaron believed grants could be awarded to agencies without Board approval. Still, it advised that the Drug Free America Foundation must request grants from the Board.

Andrade said an ongoing House investigation of the matter requires representatives to get testimony from Aaron.

“If he doesn’t show up, we have got to subpoena him or accommodate his schedule,” Andrade said. “I’ve already requested we have time on Friday for an extra special meeting just for him.”

The controversy around the grants has escalated tensions between Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida House this year. Hope Florida has been an initiative driven by First Lady Casey DeSantis, who continues to mull a run for Governor, but the foundation has come under fire over the grants. After receiving $10 million from a Medicaid settlement, the Foundation awarded the money to two anti-drug foundations, which then donated it to a political committee that opposed last year’s marijuana decriminalization amendment.

James Uthmeier, then the Governor’s Chief of Staff, was Committee Chair. Since then, DeSantis appointed Uthmeier as Florida’s Attorney General; he has maintained that there was no wrongdoing surrounding the transfer of money.

Andrade has yet to question Uthmeier, but said he continues to find new revelations about the management of Hope Florida each day. And he said it will not surprise him if federal prosecutors open an investigation into the redirection of funding.

“Our Attorney cannot with a straight face go after anyone for wire fraud or money laundering,” Andrade said.

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