4/24/25 update:
The Florida House will hear the Tax Package (HB7033 and HB1221) on the House floor on Friday, 4/25. If it passes, it would then move to the Senate next week. We are hearing the Senate does not like this language and is not likely to agree with the House’s position. The Senate has always been the champion of Florida’s tourism industry, and we certainly need them to be that champion now. Please make your voices heard using the resources below!
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A proposal to eliminate county tourism promotion is moving through the Florida Legislature.
Amendments to House Tax Package - HB 7033 and HB 1221 - would eliminate the use of Tourist Development Tax (TDT) revenues for tourism promotion and marketing.
This legislation is a direct attack on Florida’s tourism industry and the millions of Floridians whose jobs, businesses and communities rely on visitor spending.
If passed, these bills would:
- Eliminate funding for tourism marketing and facilities
- Dissolve every Tourist Development Council in Florida by the end of the year
- Force a referendum every eight years just to keep local tourism dollars
- Bring about a loss of jobs in the Keys, not just at hotels and attractions, but in all segments of the community
- Cut critical tourism funding for coral restoration, beach cleaning, funding for Keys arts and culture and more.
Tourism is Florida’s number one economic driver and visitors fund our Monroe County economy.
If these bills pass, residents will pay more and get less. And other states will benefit from our loss.
Now is the time to act. Destinations Florida is asking us and all of you to:
- Contact your representatives and urge them to vote NO on this legislation
- Make your voice heard with the local media
- Share your stories with us about how tourism impacts your business and community and what is at stake. Send to: tdcalert@fla-keys.com
The Florida Keys rely on tourism. Let’s protect our future and make our voices heard.
RESOURCES:
- Monroe County letter to customize and send to Florida Representatives
- Outreach letter & tool from Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association
- Resources, talking points, social media posts, and media kit from Destinations Florida
- Keys Weekly article (April 23)
- KeysNewsTalkRadio spot & transcript (April 23)
REPRESENTATIVES:
- Representative Jim Mooney: jim.mooney@flhouse.gov
- Senator Anna Maria Rodriguez: rodriguez.anamaria.web@flsenate.gov
More information:
Amendments to both bills (HB 7033 & HB 1221) would eliminate the use of Tourist Development Tax (TDT) revenues for tourism promotion and marketing. Including:
- Tourism promotion and advertising
- Beach renourishment and environmental enhancements
- Convention centers
- Professional and spring training sports facilities
- Dissolve all county Tourist Development Councils
- Restrict spending of TDT to only existing contracts in force as of January 1, 2025
- Require counties to reduce their property tax levy starting FY 2026-2027 by the amount of TDT collected
Allow tourism promotion agencies to be reauthorized only if funded from non-TDT sources
