Authorizes the village of Atlantic Beach to impose a hotel, motel and beach club tax

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick

Authorizes Atlantic Beach to levy a hotel, motel and beach club tax to raise local revenue for village services and beach-related needs from short-stay visitors.

ADVANCED TO THIRD READING

Status and Legislative Timeline

Introduced: May 15, 2025

Primary sponsor: Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick

Related companion: Assembly A 5456

Current status: RECOMMITTED TO RULES

Key actions:

2025-05-15: Referred to Investigations and Government Operations
2025-06-09: Ordered to Third Reading CAL.1651; Committee discharged and committed to Rules
2025-06-13: Recommitted to Rules (actions listed twice in the record)

Purpose and Intent

The bill would authorize the Village of Atlantic Beach to impose a local hotel, motel and beach club tax. The aim is to provide a mechanism for generating local revenue from short-stay accommodations and related beach club facilities, presumably to fund village services and beach-related needs (the precise uses are not specified in the information provided).

Key Provisions (as currently presented)

Authorization only: The text provided confirms permission for the village to impose a hotel/motel/beach club tax.

Specific details not provided in the summary: Rate, taxable base, exemptions, administration, collection method, allocation of revenues, sunset/renewal provisions, and any caps or protections for ratepayers are not included in the information given.

Legislative process: The bill is moving through the standard committee and rules process, indicating active consideration and potential floor action.

Who Would Be Affected

Primary: Visitors and guests staying in hotels, motels, and beach clubs within Atlantic Beach, as well as the operators of those establishments.

Secondary: Village residents and the local economy, depending on how the tax revenue is used and how the tax affects tourism and business costs.

Administrative: Village government would oversee the imposition, collection, and allocation of the tax, subject to future text specifying administration and enforcement details.

Fiscal and Administrative Considerations

Revenue impact depends on the enacted rate, exemptions, and the taxable base (rates and rules not provided here).

Revenue use would be determined by accompanying provisions or local law—likely allocated to village services, beach maintenance, lifeguard/public safety, or tourism-related initiatives, though specific allocations are not stated in the available information.

Implementation would require coordination with local businesses for collection and with state or local tax authorities for administration and enforcement.

Next Steps for Interested Readers

Review the full bill text for S 7966 to confirm rate, exemptions, allocation, enforcement, and any sunset provisions.

Monitor further committee actions and the status of the companion Assembly bill A 5456 for parallel provisions.

Consider how the tax might impact tourism, local businesses, and village services in Atlantic Beach once the rate and uses are specified.

Bill