“It would be almost impossible to do business in Pinellas County under that type of regime,” Brandes said.
But Sen. George Gainer, a Panama City Republican who was a longtime Bay County commissioner, questioned why ridesharing companies would be regulated at the state level, while taxi companies would continue to be regulated locally. Gainer also said he thought it was important that counties have regulatory authority.
“I saw a big value in having local control over the taxis,” said Gainer, who opposed the bill.
The House during the past two years has pushed similar bills, but the issue got bottled up in the Senate, where former President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, wanted to more narrowly address issues such as insurance requirements for ridesharing drivers. Gardiner left office in November and was replaced by President Joe Negron, R-Stuart.
Brandes’ bill still will need to get approval from two Senate committees before it could go to the full Senate. Meanwhile, the House version of the bill (HB 221) has received overwhelming support in a subcommittee and a committee and is ready to go to the House floor.
Originally posted 2017-03-14 16:23:39.
