TALLAHASSEE – From a report $109.9 billion finances to naming a state dessert, practically 150 laws that Florida legislators handed this 12 months are set to hit the books Friday.
Some of the measures face authorized challenges, resembling a invoice that may stop abortions after 15 weeks of being pregnant and a invoice that may prohibit how race-related ideas are taught in colleges and office coaching.
In all, lawmakers despatched 280 payments to Gov. Ron DeSantis. Of that complete, 149 that had been signed or had been awaiting signatures Monday had July 1 efficient dates. Seventy-five took effect instantly when signed. Others are slated to take effect on October 1, January 1, or at different instances.
As of the tip of final week, DeSantis had vetoed 11 measures handed this 12 months.
Here are among the payments that can turn into legislation Friday:
BUDGET AND TAXES
— DeSantis signed a $109.9 billion finances (HB 5001) for the 2022-2023 fiscal 12 months, which can begin Friday. The report spending plan was bolstered by federal stimulus cash and higher-than-expected state tax revenues.
— Lawmakers handed a wide-ranging tax plan (HB 7071) that features a collection of sales-tax “holidays” on things like back-to-school garments and provides and a one-month suspension of the state fuel tax in October.
EDUCATION
— Dubbed by DeSantis because the “Stop WOKE Act,” lawmakers handed a measure (HB 7) that restricts how race-related ideas are taught in colleges and office coaching. It has drawn a court docket problem.
— Lawmakers authorised a measure (SB 1048) to exchange the Florida Standards Assessments testing program in public colleges with a “progress monitoring system” that may check college students 3 times a 12 months.
— Lawmakers handed a measure (SB 1054) that can require high-school college students, beginning in the 2023-2024 tutorial 12 months, to take financial-literacy programs.
— Lawmakers handed a invoice (HB 1467) to place 12-year time period limits on county school-board members and to enhance public scrutiny of college library books and educational supplies.
— In a problem that fueled a nationwide debate, lawmakers handed a measure (HB 1557) that prohibits instruction about sexual orientation and gender identification in kindergarten via third-grade and requires that such instruction in older grades be age-appropriate. It has drawn a court docket problem.
– Lawmakers authorised a measure (SB 7044) that requires state schools and universities to change accreditors on the finish of every accreditation cycle and revamps the method of reviewing professors’ tenure.
HEALTH CARE
— Amid nationwide authorized and political battles about abortion, lawmakers handed a measure (HB 5) that stops abortions after 15 weeks of being pregnant. The legislation faces a court docket problem.
– Lawmakers handed a measure (SB 1950) that can assist set the stage for the Agency for Health Care Administration to award billions of {dollars} in Medicaid managed-care contracts.
– As the usage of telemedicine has elevated, lawmakers authorised a invoice (SB 312) that expands the authority of physicians to prescribe managed substances via telemedicine.
— Lawmakers handed a wide-ranging Department of Health invoice (SB 768) that can stop renewal of licenses for medical-marijuana companies that haven’t began to develop, course of and promote hashish.
LAW ENFORCEMENT
— Lawmakers handed a wide-ranging invoice (HB 3) that features providing $5,000 bonuses as a software to recruit law-enforcement officers from different states and offers $1,000 bonuses for law-enforcement officers and different first responders in Florida.
— Lawmakers authorised a plan (SB 226) that can cowl veterinary prices of retired law-enforcement canines. Handlers of retired canines shall be in a position to obtain up to $1,500 in reimbursements for annual prices.
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND SPECIAL DISTRICTS
— In a problem stemming from Walt Disney Co.’s opposition to a new legislation involving instruction in colleges about gender identification and sexual orientation, lawmakers handed a invoice (SB 4-C) that can dissolve the Reedy Creek Improvement District, which performs a key position for Disney. The legislation takes effect Friday, beginning the clock on the June 1, 2023, dissolution of Reedy Creek and 5 different particular districts in the state.
— Lawmakers handed a measure (SB 105) that can enable cities and counties to prohibit smoking at seashores and parks that they personal. They won’t be able to ban smoking unfiltered cigars.
— The Legislature handed a invoice (HB 7055) that made a collection of adjustments associated to cybersecurity, together with prohibiting native governments from making ransom funds when hit with “ransomware” assaults.
WATER AND INFRASTRUCTURE
— Lawmakers handed a measure (SB 1038) that can give Putnam County till July 1, 2024, to have a feasibility research to decide if a port may very well be created on the St. Johns River in Palatka.
— With the state threatened by rising sea ranges, lawmakers handed a measure (HB 7053) that creates a new resiliency workplace immediately beneath the governor and expands the Resilient Florida Grant Program.
JUVENILES AND FATHERS
— Lawmakers handed a measure (HB 195) that can develop the flexibility of minors to have arrest data expunged in the event that they full diversion applications. The legislation is not going to apply to arrests for forcible felonies and felonies that contain the manufacture, sale, buy, transport, possession or use of firearms.
— In a precedence of the House Speaker Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, lawmakers handed a invoice (HB 7065) that features creating the “Responsible Fatherhood Initiative” inside the Department of Children and Families.
STATE SYMBOLS
— In a nod to the strawberry trade round Plant City, lawmakers authorised a invoice (SB 1006) that designates strawberry shortcake as Florida’s official state dessert.
