Weekly Legislative Update - March 15, 2021

COVID Lawsuit Protection Measures Merged Into One Bill

Two of the most-watched bills of the legislative session, measures to provide immunity from lawsuits related to COVID-19, were merged Thursday into one bill in the Senate. The single immunity bill (SB 72), now providing some protections from liability to businesses as well as health care providers, including nursing homes, was approved on a 10-5 party-line vote, with Democrats opposed, in the Senate Rules Committee after approval of an amendment absorbing the health care provider provisions from SB 74. The bill now heads to the Senate floor. "It's easier to defend one fortress than to guard two," bill sponsor Sen. Jeff Brandes said. "I think it's important that we have both the business community and the health care community rowing with us together in the same ship." The combined measure provides protections to health care providers and other businesses if they've made a good faith effort to substantially comply with government health guidelines, and increases the standard of proof for plaintiffs in such suits. Senate Press Release / Florida Politics / WFSU
 

Online Sales Tax Bill Advances, Measure Now Vehicle for Unemployment Comp Fund Rescue

A House committee on Thursday approved legislation to require online sellers to collect Florida sales taxes. The House Ways and Means Committee voted 16-2 in favor of the bill (HB 15) sponsored by Rep. Chuck Clemons, which could generate nearly $1 billion in revenue this year for the state. The proposal is now also part of a broader plan to bolster the state's unemployment compensation trust fund, depleted by COVID-19-related jobless claims. Under that plan, touted by legislative leaders this week, the new revenue from the previously uncollected sales taxes on online purchases would go shore up the unemployment system, preventing an unemployment tax increase for employers. The new plan for how to use the revenue from the move to collect online sales tax held up the Senate version of the bill on Thursday. The Senate bill (SB 50) was on the calendar for consideration by the full Senate, but the measure was postponed to allow the sponsor to draft an amendment to include the unemployment compensation trust fund proposal. Florida Politics / WFSU

Bill to Prohibit Performing 'Disability Abortions' Clears House Panel

A bill that would prohibit doctors from performing abortions in Florida if they know or should know that a woman’s decision is based on a test result or diagnosis that suggests a child would have a disability was approved Thursday in a House committee. The House Professions and Public Health Subcommittee approved the bill (HB 1221) on an 11-7 vote. Florida Politics

DeSantis: Florida to Drop Vaccine Eligibility Age to 55, Could Open to Everyone Next Month

Florida will drop the age for vaccine eligibility further to 55 by the end of March and then likely open COVID vaccinations to all in April, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Thursday. Orlando Sentinel

•       Related: Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine-Cava is proposing that the state should lower the minimum COVID vaccination age by 10 years every two weeks. This means residents 50 and over would be eligible the first week of April; 40 and over by mid-April; 30 and over the first week of May; and 20 and over by mid-May. Miami Herald

•       Florida is reporting a soaring number of COVID-19 mutations, far higher than anywhere else in the nation, raising concern that college students and Daytona Bike Week crowds will bring home the more contagious strains to their communities. Sun Sentinel

As Florida wipes away COVID-19 fines, confusion looms over how to enforce safety rules during spring break

Florida has just wiped away any COVID-19-related fines against people and businesses over the past year — leaving communities trying to figure out how they’ll enforce the safety rules, especially as throngs of people hit the bars and beaches for spring break.