TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - New laws signed by Gov. Charlie Crist are designed to boost Florida's economic development.

They include measures to reduce local government impact fees on homes and other construction (HB 227) and provide tax incentives to businesses that locate in low-income communities (HB 485).

Another (HB 7031) gives a sales tax break to nonresidents who buy a boat in Florida or bring one into the state for repairs. The same bill also speeds up the process of approving economic development incentives.

Crist signed those three bills Thursday at a ceremony in Tallahassee. He then headed for Ocala to sign a fourth. That bill (HB 127) would authorize an enterprise zone offering tax breaks and other incentives in Ocala.


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