There have been loud variations over priorities between the Florida Home and Gov. Ron DeSantis all through the 60-day legislative session in Tallahassee.
Added to the commotion on the state capital over the previous few months have been questions whether or not funds from a Medicaid overbilling settlement flowed from First Girl Casey DeSantis’ Hope Florida Basis to a political group that battled in opposition to a poll measure to legalize marijuana final election. An investigation by the Home seemingly got here to an finish as two witnesses by no means confirmed as much as testify.
Amongst all of the chaos, legislators within the Florida Home and Senate handed greater than 200 payments which now head to the governor’s desk for both a signature, a veto or no motion in any respect.
Laws unanimously handed by each chambers establishing everlasting protections for public lands. Home Invoice 209 was prompted after stories final 12 months surfaced over doable business developments — all the pieces from pickleball courts to golf programs — for state lands like Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Martin County. No state parks within the Florida Keys have been ever thought of for such improvement.
Laws not solely bans new business building in state parks, nevertheless it additionally preserves native wildlife habitats and requires public hearings for any land use modifications. The payments additionally mandate transparency in all park administration planning.
Senate Invoice 913 unanimously handed by each chambers to alleviate rising prices related to proudly owning a condominium after new “milestone inspection” legal guidelines went into impact in 2022 and 2023, after the tragic condominium collapse in Surfside in 2021. For condos three tales and better, these inspections wanted to be full by final December. Because of this, some condominium associations slapped giant assessments on homeowners as a result of wanted repairs and upkeep.
Laws passing by the legislature this session not solely pushes the deadline again for finishing structural integrity inspections, nevertheless it additionally permits associations to make use of strains of credit score or loans to satisfy reserve obligations, as long as a majority of the homeowners approve. It additionally permits associations to take a position their reserve funds with out a vote amongst unit homeowners.
Not all payments passing by the legislature have been unanimous, nevertheless. Senate Invoice 700, which, amongst different actions, prohibits using fluoride in public consuming water programs, handed by way of get together strains within the Home and Senate. Critics of the invoice mentioned the apply of including fluoride to water programs has spanned many years.
“Not solely is it protected, it’s a game-changer for dental well being,” mentioned Rep. Anna Eskamani, a Democrat from Orlando.
Supporters of eliminating fluoride from public consuming water, together with State Surgeon Normal Dr. Joseph Ladapo, say there’s neuropsychiatric threat related to fluoride publicity. There are at present no less than 29 counties, together with Monroe County, that actively fluoridate their water. Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority has added fluoride to its consuming water for many years. Water clients had the chance final December to share their ideas concerning future use of fluoride within the provide. DeSantis signed the invoice on Might 6 in Miami-Dade County.
A invoice passing by the Legislature on get together strains to toughen the residents modification course of within the Sunshine State was signed by the governor on Might 2. Home Invoice 1205 provides harder monetary penalties, together with a $50,000 high quality, if an individual who’s amassing or dealing with the person petition both will not be a U.S. citizen or has been convicted of a felony and hasn’t had their voting rights restored. If an individual fills out a couple of type, the sponsor is answerable for a high quality of $50 for every type, and if a type is stuffed out with a fictitious title, the sponsor will face a $5,000 high quality.
The invoice additionally revises the deadline by which petition types have to be delivered by the petition sponsor to a supervisor of elections from 30 days to 10 days. Laws got here after two citizen-led poll initiatives went to voters in final 12 months’s election. The measures included legalizing the leisure use of marijuana and the correct to abortion earlier than fetal viability. Neither measure secured sufficient voter assist.