This week representatives from the national Self Storage Association and the Florida Self Storage Association will meet with legislators to discuss House Bill 459 and Senate Bill 1772, pieces of legislation that propose improvements to the states self-storage lien law. The associations will answer questions about the proposed changes to the House Civil Justice Subcommittee. They will also provide testimony on the laws at a hearing in Tallahassee, Fla., on Wednesday.
The associations aim to save Floridas self-storage operators money by updating the mail-notification and newspaper-publishing requirements surrounding industry lien sales. HB 459 revises the notice requirements relating to lien enforcement and addresses limitations on liability. SB 1772 also revises notice requirements, allowing postal notice by First Class Mail with a certificate of mailing as well as e-mail notification. It also deletes provisions relating to advertisement requirements and clarifies provisions relating to the right to create contractual liens or limitations on liability.
HB 459 (www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2011/0459), sponsored by Rep. Matthew Caldwell (R), was referred to Committee on Feb. 7. SB 1772 (www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2011/1772), sponsored by Sen. Alan Hays (R), was filed with the Senate on March 4.
The SSA and FSSA attempted to introduce legislation that would improve the self-storage lien law last spring, but the larger bill to which the proposed measure was added was removed in the House Rules Committee before a vote was taken.
Florida has more than 2,500 self-storage facilities statewide. The FSSA is running a Capital for the Capitol donation drive to raise money for its legislative action team. With a goal of $60,000, the campaign was kicked off with a $15,000 donation from the SSA. SSA will also match any FSSA member contributions dollar for dollar. Donations can be made at www.floridassa.org/donate.asp.
Sources:
- Self Storage Association: The Monday Morning Globe, March 7, 2011