The Legislature has passed its halfway mark of the 2023 Session. Thus far, the top priorities of Senate President Kathleen Passidomo (R-Naples) and House Speaker Paul Renner (R-Palm Coast) were approved by the Legislature and signed by the Governor. With a current total of 1,814 bills filed this session, over 600 have not been heard in committee and will be considered dead. However, some of the dead bills’ language could be offered as amendments in bills that have a chance of successful passage. Subcommittees are winding up their last meetings with the remaining weeks of work focused on the outstanding bills and the crafting of the Fiscal Year 2023-24 budget.
A total of 13 bills have been signed by the Governor, most of them revisers’ bills. As of this writing, an additional 6 bills have passed the Legislature and will be sent to him for future action. Here is a brief summary of some of the bills signed into law:
LIVE LOCAL ACT (Signed March 29) This bill provides incentives for investments in affordable housing and encourages mixed-use developments in commercial areas. With $711 million for various programs to expand the availability of housing, provide down payment assistance and broaden the hometown heroes program for military communities, the bill will hopefully address the shortage of workforce housing across the state. Local governments have some limitations including the inability to impose rent controls.
TORT REFORM (Signed March 24) This bill substantially changes Florida’s litigation landscape. Businesses and insurance companies will be shielded from costly lawsuits. The time frame to file a negligence lawsuit is shortened from four to two years; one-way attorney fees are eliminated; new thresholds are established for bad faith lawsuits against auto and liability insurers; attorney-client privilege of treating physicians for plaintiffs is no longer available; and a presumption against liability of property owners based on criminal acts was created. The bill went into effect immediately upon the Governor’s signature.
SCHOOL VOUCHER LAW (Signed March 27) The newly enacted law makes all Florida students eligible for taxpayer-financed vouchers to attend private schools. The income requirement will no longer be a criterion to receive these vouchers. This would translate to roughly an $8,000 award per student, costing Florida’s public schools somewhere between $210 million and $646 million. Additionally, the bill eliminates the high school requirement of taking one credit class virtually.
PERMITLESS CARRY (Signed April 3) Floridians can now carry guns without a concealed weapons license. Several school safety provisions were also amended in this bill, including the creation of the Florida Safe Schools Canine Program. Florida will become the 26th state to offer permitless carry. The bill goes into effect July 1st.
FLORIDA SHARED-USE NONMOTORIZED TRAIL NETWORK (Signed April 11) One of President Passidomo’s priority bills will become law on July 1st. Floridians and tourists will have access to Florida’s Wildlife Corridor to hike and bike along Florida’s Greenways and Trails System and the SUN Trail Network, as well as recreational pathways to heritage small towns across the state. The Corridor was created in 2021 to offer incentives for conservation and sustainable development. Today, it encompasses approximately 17.7 million acres.
ABORTION (Signed April 13) Bans abortions after six-weeks with exceptions for cases of rape, incest or human trafficking, (assuming a police report is produced), two physicians agree there are fetal abnormalities or the mother is at risk for serious injury or death. The bill also provides funding to expand services to pregnancy centers. Last year’s 15-week ban is currently winding its way through the courts.
BUDGET
Both the Senate and House passed their respective budget proposals before the Passover/Easter break. The Senate proposal is $113.6 billion while the House recommends $113 billion. Negotiations to resolve the differences will be underway in the coming weeks.