Florida tables unsafe used tire legislation

May 7, 2013

For the second year in a row in the Florida legislature, Rubber Manufacturers Association- (RMA) sponsored legislation to ban the sale of unsafe used tires has been tabled.

SB 1588 was introduced at the beginning of Florida’s 60-day 2013 session, which ended Friday May 3. The bill passed two committees unanimously and then was amended to SB 1132, a state transportation measure. The Senate passed SB 1132 while the Florida House passed its own transportation bill.

The RMA says negotiations between the two legislative chambers apparently broke down in the waning days of the session over several issues and no agreement was reached on a final bill before the legislature adjourned for the year.

The RMA says that it is disappointed that Florida did not pass the legislation, but is encouraged that this consumer safety initiative enjoyed substantial support in the legislature.

According to Dan Zielinski, RMA’s senior vice president of public affairs, the group hired a local lobbyist to help and he worked the issue after last year’s session and before this year’s in Florida.

“We also secured the support of the Florida Retail Federation which is a very politically influential small business lobby in Florida and that has been a significant advantage for us,” he says.

A second RMA-sponsored unsafe used tire bill, SB 459, is being considered by the Texas legislature, where the 2013 session ends May 27.

For more information see:

Florida rule amended to add unsafe used tire bill

Unsafe used tire bill passes Texas Senate

Used tire bills progress in Florida and Texas

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