The Florida Swimming Pool Association advocates two new bills that would affect the industry.
At the top of FSPA’s priority list is a bill being tried for the third time. Senate Bill 222 and House Bill 267 would remove the need for pool/spa subcontractors to hold their own licenses, allowing them to work on projects as long as the swimming pool contractor holds the proper licensing.
Last year, similar legislation nearly passed but was pulled at the last minute due to a miscommunication in the legislature.
So far this session, the bills have made a quick start, both passing their committees and moving to the full chamber in the second week of the 60-day session.
“We’re cautiously optimistic,” said Dallas Thiesen, FSPA’s government affairs manager. “We’ve received buy-in from leadership and stakeholders.”
Other legislation addresses swim-up bars, which the state’s building code currently bans in public pools. If passed, Senate Bill 1044 and House Bill 719 would compel the addition of language to allow these features. Some oppose this, citing concerns about how the introduction of alcohol could affect water chemistry and complicate maintenance.
