"Occupational licensing laws kill about 2.8 million U.S. jobs every year. Occupational licensing laws cause U.S. consumers to be overcharged by about $203 billion every year. It is basically legalized price gouging created by the government."
Thursday’s first-ever "Florida Deregathon," is a state-sponsored summit aimed at identifying and eliminating "unnecessary regulations" that hurt small businesses and licensed trade workers.
Gov. Ron DeSantis will host the all-day event at Valencia College in Orlando.
He will be joined by Lt . Gov. Jeanette Nuñez, Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) Secretary Halsey Beshears and representatives from 23 professional licensing boards. According to the agenda, each of the licensing boards will suggest proposed changes to licensing laws affecting their occupations that can be "immediately" implemented by lawmakers after the state Legislature convenes March 5.
"Florida is one of the most attractive states in the nation to do business, but unnecessary government regulations create a burden upon our businesses, both small and large," DeSantis wrote. Nearly 30 percent of the workforce in Florida requires some type of occupational license, the fourth-highest percentage among all states and the highest in the Southeast.
"Aggressive and appropriate deregulation is a top priority of my administration," DeSantis wrote. "Aside from hurting our businesses, harmful regulations are costly, stifle competition and limit our labor pool. I look forward to working with the boards to see what can be done to keep Florida on a trajectory toward continued prosperity."
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