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Fla. House Passes Business Deregulation Bill

TALLAHASSEE (CBS4) – The Republican-controlled Florida House has passed legislation that would deregulate 14 businesses, professions and occupations.

The bill (HB 5005) passed on a party line 77-38 roll call Thursday with Democrats arguing that deregulation would leave consumers unprotected from unscrupulous business people.

Republicans argued that regulation is stifling businesses with needless red tape and protecting existing businesses and practitioners against competition. They also argued that deregulation will create jobs.

Affected industries range from interior designers, auto mechanics, auctioneers, sports agents, sellers of business opportunities, charitable organizations, hair braiders and wrappers and body wrappers, dance studios, health studios, intrastate movers, sellers of travel, talent agents, telemarketing, and yacht and ship brokers.

The bill next goes to the Senate, where no similar legislation has been filed.

(©2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The News Service of Florida and the Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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