April 25 • 3:30 P.M.

No deal. The House and Senate remain at odds over the best way to deliver “doable” and meaningful property tax relief to Floridians. After a raucous conference committee meeting yesterday, each chamber met separately this morning to try to patch together a compromise. FAR lobbyists report little progress after either meeting. House is holding firm on its plan to abolish property taxes on primary homes in favor of a higher sales tax. The Senate wants to roll back property taxes to 2005-06 levels, double the $25,000 homestead exemption for first-time buyers and allow homeowners to transfer a portion of savings they accrue under the Save Our Homes amendment when they buy a new home. The House and Senate Conference Committee meets again at 6 pm.

Home inspector regulation bill ready for floor vote. Rep. Carl Domino’s (R-Palm Beach) bill (HB 1399) that would require the licensing of home inspectors, mold remediators and mold assessors cleared its final House committee and is headed to the floor. A similar bill in the Senate, SB 2234 by Sen. Stephen Wise (R-Jacksonville) passed out of its final Senate committee yesterday.