TAX RELIEF The Legislature is proposing breaks on sales taxes for various items including a 14-day savings on back-to-school supplies, 14-days for disaster preparedness items, and a tax holiday on recreational items such as tickets to movies and cultural events, state parks and fitness facilities from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Consumers will not have to pay sales tax on diapers, wipes, clothing, strollers, cribs and other baby safety items as well as toothbrushes, toothpaste, and adult incontinence products. The bill gives spouses of federal law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty a property tax exemption and cuts the business rent tax from 5.5 percent to 4.5 percent beginning in December.
EDUCATION By 2026, the start time for public middle and high school students will not be earlier than 8:00am and 8:30am respectively. School districts will teach African-American history in compliance with state standards. Last year’s Parental Rights in Education bill (“Don’t Say Gay”) now applies to grades fourth to eighth grade. Additionally, preferred pronouns must be used by students, teachers and other public school employees that matches the person’s sex at birth. Charter school students and Florida public schools can provide free menstrual products to students. Virtual school students can now participate in interscholastic extracurricular activities at private schools.
HIGHER EDUCATION Bills relating to higher education include a ban of diversity programs on college campuses and the teaching of theories on institutional racism. The Board of Governors will have greater control over curriculum; university presidents’ power to hire faculty; and tenure requirements, including reviews every five years. State universities and employees cannot accept grants from certain “countries of concern” such as China, Cuba, North Korea and Venezuela.
VOTING Along party lines, legislators passed a bill that: places additional restrictions on voter-registration groups; eases campaign-finance reporting requirements; and changes a “resign to run” law to help clear the way for the Governor to run for president in 2024 while retaining his current position. The law only applies to candidates for president or vice president of the United States.
SUNSHINE LAWS Several records exemptions bills passed both chambers this year. Once such exemption is for records related to the Governor’s travel, including when and who uses the state plane and who visits with him. Once signed into law, the bill is retroactive so any current public records requests will not be honored. Other bills passed block the release of records involved in amusement ride investigations and one that protects the release of autopsy reports of children who die as the result of abuse.