(The Center Square) — Florida’s legislative session begins Tuesday with over 1,600 bills already filed that will be heard over the session’s 60-day duration.
Several priorities have emerged, including a significant emphasis on health care, recruiting qualified physicians and sustaining the future health care workforce in the Sunshine State, a priority for Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples.
Recent studies have shown that Florida will likely have the second-largest shortage of licensed physicians in the nation by 2030. To combat this downward trend, lawmakers have introduced bills to encourage residency retainment, increase the use of innovation and increase patient access.
Education is also a priority for Passidomo, who supports legislation to deregulate school districts, expand parental rights in education and increase student opportunities. This includes Senate Bill 7000 for teacher recruitment, SB 7002 which simplifies school board rule-making and SB 7004, which would deregulate public schools and drop certain assessments currently needed to gain a high school diploma.
Florida is known as a law and order state and this theme continues this session after several filed bills aimed at increasing penalties for undocumented aliens who commit felonies, for adults who attempt to lure or entice children and for those who harass and threaten first responders while they are performing their duties.
This session will also see lawmakers aim at social media and device manufacturing as House Bill 1129 would require smartphone and tablet manufacturers to enable a filter upon activation of a device used by minors and further provides civil liability for individuals who allow the removal of a password or filter on a device in the possession of a minor.
Other bills aim to improve the state’s prison system and inmate outcomes, including SB 1048 which would expand Florida’s prison incentive program designed to reduce recidivism.
Homeowner associations have filed several bills to address growing concerns from Florida residents about increasing costs and overblown fines for residents who allegedly violate rules.
HB 431 would prohibit this, restricting fines to no more than $100 per violation and in most cases would be restricted to a maximum of $500 for an ongoing violation.
Property insurance cost increases will be addressed by state lawmakers, who are hoping to curb some of the cost through different legislation, including SB 348 which would give rebates to low-income seniors.
