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Committee advances bill to create Office of Rural Prosperity and boost rural infrastructure
Summary
The Senate Community Affairs Committee on Friday reported SB 110 favorably after debate over provisions to create a state Office of Rural Prosperity, a renaissance grant for counties with population decline, housing and road investments, and expanded rural health and education funding.
At a meeting of the Senate Committee on Community Affairs, senators voted to report SB 110 favorably after Senator Simon described measures aimed at strengthening economic development and infrastructure in rural communities.
The bill would establish a dedicated state Office of Rural Prosperity within the Department of Commerce to help local governments access state and federal resources and technical assistance. "Because rural governments are small and lean, they sometimes lack the personnel and technical training necessary to navigate the multitude of opportunities and resources available," Senator Simon said while explaining the bill.
The legislation includes a "renaissance" grant program for eight counties identified as having declining populations over the past 10 years, increases minimum SHIP allocations, directs funding to the Florida Housing Finance Corporation to support affordable housing and preservation of USDA-funded housing stock, and creates a program to update and fund rural arterial roads (referred to in the bill as the "farm program"). Senator Simon also said the bill would provide additional resources for rural schools and health-care facilities and training programs focused on stroke and cardiac response. He described the package as intended to broaden what counts as rural economic development and to expand employment opportunities in education, commerce and health care.
Supporters filled the committee room and submitted appearance forms; Colton Medill of the Florida Chamber spoke in support, citing the Chamber's 2030 Blueprint and urging the committee to help double rural GDP share by 2030. President Passadomoe (speaking in committee) called the bill "a very special piece of legislation," and urged local leaders to lead implementation. Senator Sreef, speaking in debate, praised the technology and transportation provisions and said the measure would help increase local tax bases if communities use the tools provided.
Senator Simon emphasized there is "no preemptive mandate in this bill" and said local communities would determine how to use the program. After closing remarks, the committee called the roll; committee leadership announced SB 110 "will be reported favorably." The transcript does not include a numeric vote tally or individual recorded votes in the public portion of the record.
The bill now moves toward the next committee or the floor for further consideration; sponsors said they intend to pursue floor action following the committee report.
