Nearly 150 bills are set to take effect on Friday, changing the legal landscape in Florida in ways that have gained national attention.
What You Need To Know
- The bills become state law on Friday
- Many impact educational policy
- NEW LAW TEMPORARY FOR NOW: Circuit Judge John C. Cooper has issued a temporary injunction on the state's 15-week abortion ban from taking effect Friday after several requests
The majority of the measures have to do with specific legislative issues that often impact small local governments, but there were several wide-sweeping legislative efforts that gained national attention.
First up, the measure that was dubbed the “Stop Woke Act” will take effect. Also known as HB 7, this law bans any effort to teach what the state identifies as “critical race theory” in schools or to employees. Any violation can be enforced by the Florida Department of Education.
PARENTAL RIGHTS IN EDUCATION BILL
Then, of course, the Parental Rights in Education Bill, known as HB 1557, restricts classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity in Kindergarten through the third grade. It also calls for any such education beyond those years to meet the standard of being “age appropriate.” Opponents of the law have called the effort the “Don’t say Gay bill.”
Also of note is the newly passed “Miya’s Law.” This bill was created after Miya Marcano was killed by a maintenance worker at her apartment complex. This law will require background screenings of all employees at residential complexes, among other safety measures.
"Today is the day we have all been waiting for. I'd like to thank the Governor for his approval of this very important bill, but I would also like to thank the many stakeholders and the group of bi-partisan supporters who all worked countless hours to get this bill to where we are today," Sen. Linda Stewart (D-Orlando), a sponsor of the bill, said after it was signed.
DISSOLVING INDEPENDENT SPECIAL DISTRICTS
Another bill that gained national attention is SB 4-C, which officially will dissolve the Disney's Independent Reedy Creek District that is currently owned and managed by the Walt Disney World Company. The bill calls for the full dissolution of six special districts in Florida within one year of Friday.
One bill certain to change how people listen to music while driving will make playing loud music that can be heard 25 feet from the outside of the car a ticketable offense.
"I don't think I need to be hearing people's music from the whole 25 feet away," according to Marissa Garatino, a 10-year resident of Central Florida who said she is not opposed to the new law.
"I understand if you're next to someone at a red light, their windows are down, or even if they're not down, I get that. But being that far away, it just seems like it could disturb the peace a little bit."
There was also a massive budget that calls for greater spending to support teachers and first responders. The bill funds all of the approved expenditures for the state of Florida for the next fiscal year.
In addition to the two laws discussed above, several other acts addressed education policy.
ELIMINATING HIGH-STAKES TESTING
SB 1048 significantly changed the State’s educational accountability system by replacing the FSA with three tests a year that are better geared towards accurately assessing student progress on an ongoing basis.
Another measure calls for high school students to take specific financial literacy training starting in the 2023-2024 academic year. Another changes how colleges and Universities grade themselves, and changes how professors are able to gain tenure.
HB 7071 prepares for several tax holidays throughout the next year, including a state gas tax holiday scheduled in October. These holidays will allow people to save money on specific purchases throughout the year as scheduled.
MORE LAWS ON THE BOOKS
Four of the measures address Health Care policy. The first prevents abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy, another changes the way that the Agency for Health Care Administration awards Medicaid contracts, another makes it easier for telemedicine professionals to write prescriptions for controlled substances, and finally, the last measure will work to prevent the renewal of licenses for medical marijuana to businesses that have not already started to grow and sell cannabis.
However, a circuit court judge in Tallahassee issued a temporary injunction Thursday that put a hold on the state's 15-week abortion ban, which would have gone into effect Friday.
Law enforcement professionals also received some assistance in three of the bills scheduled to take effect. The first includes support for bonuses to hire away first responders from other states, as well as includes bonuses for current first responders. Another measure supports the reimbursement of vet bills for retired police dogs, and the last bill in this category makes it easier for people enduring financial hardship to replace their driver’s licenses or identification cards.
Another series of laws addressed changes to how law enforcement interacts with family law. HB 195 will expand the ability of minors to purge their arrest records, unless their records include a forcible felony, or a felony associated with a firearm.
HB 7065 creates the Responsible Fatherhood Initiative within the Department of Children and Families. Another measure makes it easier for grandparents to gain visitation rights to minors if one parent is convicted in the death of the other parent.
Finally, some other bills of note include SB 105, which allows local districts to ban smoking at government operated beaches and parks. They cannot ban cigars under the law. Another law, HB 7055, prohibits local government from making ransom payments as a result of ransomware attacks.
One final measure aimed at increasing the state’s already flourishing tourism industry is SB 1006, which officially makes Strawberry Shortcake the state dessert.