Votes at a glance: committee reports favorably on six additional bills including wine-container, lodging, pools, vaping, cranes, and veterinary workforce

The Florida Senate Regulated Industries Committee reported favorably on multiple bills during the session with limited debate or with proponents waiving oral testimony. Key outcomes:

SB 578 (Leake) — Wine containers: Sponsor explained the bill would let wine in large containers use recyclable inserts (putting wine on parity with beer kegs that may use recyclable containers). The committee recorded a favorable report on SB 578.

SB 606 (Leake) — Public lodging and food-service establishments: The bill clarifies rules for removing nonpaying guests, deletes a mandatory-arrest provision and gives law enforcement discretion in some circumstances, updates notice-delivery language to reflect current technology, and removes “1 calendar month” language from certain definitions. The committee reported the bill favorably after proponents waived testimony.

SB 570 (Gruters) — Swimming pool and spa contractors: The bill modernizes language to clarify contractor scopes, align statutes with current industry practice and reduce regulatory ambiguity. Sponsor and industry witnesses said the bill clarifies existing practice; committee reported SB 570 favorably.

CS for SB 928 (Kaletiud/Colladio, as amended) — Nonapproved disposable nicotine devices: The committee adopted an amendment that removes language risking inadvertent legalization of unlawful products, adds a 500-foot buffer prohibiting new smoke shops within 500 feet of a K–12 school (with a grandfather clause for existing shops to relocate within lease limits), and funnels penalty funds to DBPR. The committee reported the bill favorably as amended.

SB 346 (Russon) — State preemption of hoisting equipment regulation: Sponsor sought to repeal state preemption to allow local governments to regulate hoisting equipment and cranes in situations such as hurricane preparedness. Witnesses from Associated Builders and Contractors and others urged caution; the committee adopted the proposal and reported it favorably after discussion about uniformity versus local emergency authority.

SB 652 (Bradley) — Veterinary professional associates (VPAs): The bill would create a new credential (VPA) for individuals with a relevant master's degree to perform specified veterinary tasks under veterinarian supervision, narrow surgical allowances to spay/neuter or procedures that do not enter a body cavity, and bar VPAs from prescribing controlled substances. Supporters emphasized workforce and shelter-care benefits; the committee reported SB 652 favorably as amended.

All bills above were reported favorably by voice or roll call after proponents either answered questions or waived time; several had appearance cards indicating organizational support. Where roll calls were recorded the clerk announced the bills as reported favorably to the next committee or as committee substitutes (as noted).