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Subcommittee backs sweeping HB 607 to consolidate licensing boards despite pushback from trade groups
Summary
HB 607, presented as a broad deregulatory and modernization package, drew opposition from the Florida Realtors, architects, electricians, interior designers and CPAs who warned that eliminating boards and cutting continuing education could reduce consumer protections and raise public-safety risks; the subcommittee reported the bill favorably with recorded no votes.
Representative Jarkovsky presented House Bill 607 to the State Administration Budget Subcommittee as a comprehensive deregulation and modernization package to streamline professional regulation, eliminate redundant boards and reduce regulatory burdens while maintaining consumer protections. "HB 607 is a comprehensive deregulation and modernization bill aimed at streamlining professional regulation, reducing unnecessary bureaucracy, and improving workforce mobility," the sponsor said.
Trade groups mounted unified opposition in testimony. Trey Goldman of the Florida Realtors said the bill would repeal post-license education and continuing education for real estate licensees, abolish the Florida Real Estate Commission and replace it with a Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) employee — changes he said would “lower the floor and lessen consumer protections” and could increase litigation and errors in real-estate transactions. "We are not in a position to support the bill today," Goldman told the committee.
Architects, electricians, interior designers and CPAs delivered similar warnings. Peter Haowerstein of the American Institute of Architects said removing the Board of Architecture and Interior Design and cutting continuing education would weaken building-code familiarity and public-safety safeguards; Jeff Sharkey of the National Electrical Contractors Association said eliminating industry input and continuing education would be a public-safety issue for complex commercial and industrial wiring; and Jason Harrell of the Florida Institute of CPAs said eliminating the Board of Accountancy would put Florida CPAs at a disadvantage and shift work away from experienced volunteer board members.
Committee members debated the measure in budget terms as well as policy. Ranking Member Harris said she would vote no because she was concerned DBPR lacks technical expertise for so many fields and that continuing education is important for consumer safety. Vice Chair Cheney said she would reserve policy debate for policy committees and noted the economic analysis shows reduced state revenues with potential administrative offsets; she indicated she would pass the bill in budget committee to allow policy review later. Several members urged further stakeholder work before later committee hearings.
After the sponsor closed, the clerk called the roll. The subcommittee reported HB 607 favorably; at least two members recorded a no vote on the record. Representative Jarkovsky said he had been meeting with stakeholders and pledged ongoing work to refine the measure.
What it means: The bill proposes structural changes to how professional licensing is administered in Florida, including consolidation of boards into DBPR oversight and reductions in continuing-education requirements for some professions; opponents said those changes risk consumer protections and the professions’ ability to self-govern. The subcommittee’s favorable report moves the bill forward to further committee consideration where policy amendments may be made.
