Legislative Update - March 31, 2023

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday signed into law a $711 million plan to make housing more affordable for working Floridians. A priority of Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, the “Live Local Act,” will more than double funding for housing and rental programs, provide incentives for investment in affordable housing and encourage mixed-use developments in struggling commercial areas.

Next week will be a short one for the legislature.  The Senate is scheduled to meet Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.  However, the House has meetings scheduled for Monday and Tuesday only.  Both will consider their versions of the budget before they go home for the upcoming holidays.

Legislative …

Lawmakers Working Quickly on DeSantis Priorities - Lawmakers have moved quickly to put measures pushed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in position for early passage – and in two cases have already sent him major "headline drawing" bills that conservatives will like and that could help fuel the governor's expected presidential campaign. The Legislature ended last week by sending DeSantis bills to shield businesses and insurance companies from lawsuits, and to vastly broaden the state's school voucher system to allow it to be used by any student. Associated Press

The Republican-controlled Legislature passed a bill allowing Floridians to carry concealed weapons without a permit or training, disappointing gun-control activists while falling short of what some Second Amendment advocates wanted, the Orlando Sentinel reports. The measure now goes to the Governor.  Carrying concealed weapons without a required permit is allowed in 25 other states. Backers of the bill, including sponsor Rep. Chuck Brannan, R-Macclenny, said gun owners, who are guaranteed the right to have their weapons by the Constitution, shouldn’t need government permission to carry them. Opponents argued Friday that the bill would make gun violence worse, in part because it would do away with the requirement for training that comes with getting a permit. For some gun rights advocates, the measure doesn't go far enough. They'd like to see legislation allow Florida residents to carry guns openly, rather than concealed. Florida sheriffs oppose that idea, however, and so does Senate President Kathleen Passidomo. Florida Politics / Tampa Bay Times / WKMG / House Press Release Senator Jay Collins (R-Tampa) was the Senate sponsor.

Senate to Start Work on Budget this Week – Dozens of Amendments Filed - Members of the Senate have filed 200 amendments to the chamber's main budget bill (SB 2500) as the chamber prepares to begin work on the spending plan in committee this week. As the committee takes up the $113.7 billion Senate budget, members will work through the amendments, including more than two dozen proposed changes filed by three Republican senators, Sen. Jason Brodeur, who has filed 49 proposed amendments, Sen. Ed Hooper, who has 40 proposed changes and Sen. Keith Perry, who has filed 24 amendments to the budget bill. The measure is set for consideration Tuesday in the Appropriations Committee. LobbyTools Budget Page

House Releases Proposed Budget - The House released its proposed General Appropriations Act (PCB APC 23-01) for the 2023-24 fiscal year on Friday. The $113 billion House proposal, expected to be taken up on Tuesday in the House Appropriations Committee starts out about $700 million under the Senate's proposed $113.7 billion spending plan for the fiscal year that starts this summer. Both budgets provide for less spending than the $115 billion recommended by Gov. Ron DeSantis. The House's budget is about $2 billion, or 1.8% larger than the current year budget, with a $406 million increase in general revenue. The Senate is also scheduled to take up its budget proposal Tuesday in the Senate Appropriations Committee. At least 200 amendments have been filed on the Senate's spending plan, which is $3.7 billion higher than the current fiscal year budget. Both measures include increased funding for K-12 schools, hospitals and mental health programs. While the House aims to rework the Florida Education Finance Program funding formula and eliminate some economic development agencies, the Senate adds funding for tourism marketing, otherwise known as Visit Florida. The chambers will hash out their differences and vote on a budget before the end of the legislative session in May. It is the only constitutionally required item the Legislature must pass during session. Florida Politics / House Press Release

Senate Panel Targets 'ESG' - The Senate on Wednesday started to move forward with a priority of House Speaker Paul Renner to prevent consideration of “environmental, social and governance” standards in investing government money. The Republican-controlled Senate Banking and Insurance Committee voted along party lines to approve a proposal (SB 302) that would expand on a directive issued last year by Gov. Ron DeSantis and members of the state Cabinet that required investment decisions in the Florida Retirement System Defined Benefit Plan to prioritize the highest returns without consideration of the standards known as “ESG.” The bill, sponsored by Sen. Erin Grall, R-Vero Beach, would require state and local-government investment decisions to be based “solely on pecuniary factors” and would prevent “sacrificing investment return or undertaking additional investment risk to promote any non-pecuniary factor.” It would prevent fund managers from considering issues such as climate change and social diversity when deciding how to invest money. Sen. Bobby Powell, D-West Palm Beach, called the proposal “anti-free market” and questioned the ESG definition. “There’s a number of reasons that give me pause with regard to this legislation,” Powell said. “Overwhelmingly, the idea of freedom being redefined with a number of restrictions is problematic for me.” The House approved a similar proposal (HB 3) last week.

Renewable Natural Gas Cost Bill Advances - Florida utilities could be able to pass on to consumers some of the costs of renewable natural gas or hydrogen-based fuel infrastructure projects if the effort meets state renewable energy goals and "will not result in an undue hardship to consumers," under Republican-sponsored legislation (SB 1162) approved unanimously Wednesday by the Senate Community Affairs Committee. The proposal would allow state regulators to consider allowing utilities to pass on to customers capital investment costs for such projects, including pipelines and storage facilities and operations and maintenance costs. Renewable natural gas, or RNG, is typically made from high-methane biogas that's been reclaimed from municipal solid waste landfills, livestock farms or other solid waste sources. Approval of the measure came over the opposition of residential utility customers who said they already are facing difficult increases in power bills. The bill goes next to the Senate Rules Committee. A similar House bill (HB 821) is awaiting a hearing in the House Commerce Committee. Miami Herald

House One Step Closer to Eliminating Enterprise Florida - Legislation shifting Enterprise Florida's funding to the state Department of Economic Opportunity cleared the House Ways & Means Committee on Thursday. Enterprise Florida is a public-private economic development organization used to attract businesses to the state. The bill (HB 5), sponsored by Lee County Republican Rep. Tiffany Esposito, passed on a 16-6 vote, with Orlando Democrat Rep. Anna Eskamani joining the Republican majority in favor of the proposal. Those in opposition raised concerns over the measure’s constitutionality, the capability of a state agency to handle the program's duties and the removal of a tax break for the film industry. Proponents argue that it is a move to eliminate incentive programs that offer little or negative return on investment, or are ineffective in recruiting businesses to the state. Under the legislation, the Department of Economic Opportunity would take over the mission and existing contracts with Enterprise Florida. The proposal, which is a priority of House Speaker Paul Renner, has one more committee stop before it's heard by the full House. No Senate version has been filed. Florida Politics 

The Florida Senate passed a bill that would place new restrictions on public-employee unions, including preventing dues from being deducted from workers’ paychecks, the News Service of Florida reports. 

Six Week Abortion Ban Ready for Vote by Full Senate, Consideration on House Floor - The full Senate could vote on legislation further restricting access to abortions in Florida as early as next week. Lawmakers considered 20 amendments on Thursday to a proposal (SB 300), now called the "Heartbeat Protection Act," that would ban physicians from performing most abortions beyond six weeks of pregnancy, rejecting all but two of them. The bill would make exceptions for cases of rape, incest, fatal fetal abnormalities or if the mother is at risk of severe injury or death. A change to the measure added human trafficking victims to the list of exceptions. To qualify for the exception, the measure requires pregnant women to prove they're a victim of rape, incest or human trafficking by producing a restraining order, police report, court order or other evidence. The proposed provisions would allow abortions up to the 15th week of pregnancy if the woman was impregnated by rape, incest or human trafficking, or a combination thereof. Last year, lawmakers agreed to ban abortions past 15 weeks gestation but didn't include exceptions for rape, incest or human trafficking. Before that, Florida prohibited abortions at 24 weeks. Some of the amendments that failed Thursday would have allowed one doctor instead of two to confirm a pregnancy will cause severe injury or death before a woman could obtain an abortion, and another would have allocated $12.5 million for fertility services for state employees. The measure currently includes a $25 million annual appropriation to expand services provided by state-supported pregnancy centers, including clothing, car seats, diapers and counseling, but the centers have been criticized for being run by faith-based organizations. The bill is being carried by Fort Pierce Republican Sen. Erin Grall. A similar House proposal (HB 7) is sponsored by Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, R-Fort Myers, and passed its second and final committee of reference on Thursday as well, setting it up for consideration on the floor. Both Grall and Persons-Mulicka carried the 15-week abortion ban legislation enacted last year which is currently awaiting a decision on its constitutionality by the Florida Supreme Court. Gov. Ron DeSantis has previously said he would support bills that would tighten Florida's abortion laws. Florida Politics / WESH

Governor …

Florida now has school vouchers for all - With the stroke of a pen Monday, Gov. Ron DeSantis made it possible for every school-aged child in Florida to get a taxpayer-funded education voucher or savings account. His signature on HB1, which passed its final legislative stop on Thursday, creates one of the nation’s largest school choice programs. Already, about 1.3 million children receive their education from someplace other than their assigned public school, DeSantis noted. That includes private schools, home education and charter schools, as well as the largest segment — school district programs like magnets. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

“DeSantis signs $711M affordable housing bill. Advocates say it doesn’t go far enough.” via Trevor Fraser and Jeffrey Schweers of the Orlando Sentinel — Gov. DeSantis signed a bill that pumps $711 million into affordable housing, a move that developers cheered but others said didn’t go far enough to help typical Floridians struggling to pay rent. Dubbed the Live Local Act, SB 102 from Senate President Kathleen Passidomo redirects some tax revenue toward affordable housing over the next 10 years and creates incentives for developers of affordable projects. It essentially doubles the money Florida spent on affordable housing last year. But it also strips local governments of control over certain projects and outlaws local rent-control ordinances such as the one Orange County considered last year.

DeSantis’ Reedy Creek board says Disney stripped its power - Gov. Ron DeSantis’ handpicked board overseeing Disney World’s government services is gearing up for a potential legal battle over a 30-year development agreement they say effectively renders them powerless to manage the entertainment giant’s future growth in Central Florida. Ahead of an expected state takeover, the Walt Disney Co. quietly pushed through the pact and restrictive covenants that would tie the hands of future board members for decades, according to a legal presentation by the district’s lawyers on Wednesday. More from the Orlando Sentinel.

The governor’s book tour resumes today. Stops are scheduled for 2:30 p.m. at the Books-A-Million in Port Richey and 4:30 p.m. at Oxford Exchange in Tampa. Tickets are $35 plus fees and include a copy of “The Courage to Be Free: Florida’s Blueprint for America’s Revival.” 

On Saturday, he heads out of state for a signing at the Books-A-Million in Harrisburg, the capital of Pennsylvania, where he’ll also attend the conservative Pennsylvania Leadership Conference. And Politico reports there’s “a trip to … Long Island this weekend.” 

Business issues …

Unemployment Rate Steady - Florida's unemployment rate stayed the same from January to February, holding at 2.6%, according to the Department of Economic Opportunity. The national unemployment rate is 3.6%. Florida's private sector employment grew by 5% over the year, with trade, transportation and utilities, education and health services, and leisure and hospitality gaining the most jobs. According to Gov. Ron DeSantis, the state's labor force grew by 247,000 over the year, which is faster than the national rate and there are currently more than 409,000 job opportunities available in the state. "Florida's economy continues to be number one in new business formations while growing our labor force and creating jobs faster than the national rate," said the governor. DeSantis Press Release 

Gasoline Prices Down in Florida - Gasoline prices across Florida decreased about 8 cents a gallon during the past week, despite rising demand amid the spring vacation season and a tighter supply. The AAA auto club said the average price of a gallon of regular unleaded in Florida was $3.37 on Monday, down from $3.45 a week earlier. The highest averages were in the West Palm Beach, Naples and Port St. Lucie areas, and the lowest were in Northwest Florida. Concerns about a looming recession are playing a key role in holding global oil prices steady, near $70 a barrel. “We may be seeing a return to seasonal trends in demand with warmer weather and longer days,” AAA spokesman Andrew Gross said Friday in a prepared statement. “But waffling oil prices could mitigate any increase at the pump for now.” AAA said it often takes two weeks for retail prices to adjust to movements in the futures market, which could result in retail gas prices falling further this week before “leveling out or inching higher next week.” The national average price Monday was $3.44 a gallon. Florida’s average is 75 cents less than a year ago but up 8 cents from a month ago.

RATE HIKES: Leaders of the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp. approved a proposal that would raise average rates by 14.2 percent this year, as they seek to push policies into the private insurance market.

Soon-To-Be Retired Supreme Court Justice Will Head Legal Affairs at Citizens - State-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corporation hired Florida Supreme Court Justice Ricky Polston to serve as general counsel and chief legal officer. Polston's appointment was unanimously approved by the insurer's board of governors on Wednesday. He will replace Tim Cerio, who stepped down from the position to become the President and CEO of Citizens. Polston, who served on the state's highest court for 14 years and was chief justice from 2012 to 2014, will be retiring from the bench on Friday. Citizens is expected to grow to 1.5 million policies by the end of the year. Citizens Press Release / Florida Politics

Forecasters predict Florida won't get break from hurricanes in 2023 - With the official start of the 2023 hurricane season just over two months away, one of the first early predictions of what the season could bring has been released. And after a devastating 2022 season, Florida may not catch a break. AccuWeather forecasters predict the 2023 season will be a little less active than most seasons since 1995, but with about the same number of storms as seen in 2022. Forecasters predict two to four storms will impact the U.S. More from the Florida Times-Union.

Marijuana Issues …

Cannabis industry gears up for potential gold rush - Momentum is building to legalize adult, non-medical use of cannabis in Florida, with a ballot initiative well on its way to becoming a factor in the 2024 general election. Legalization could lead to a business bonanza as the Sunshine State, with only a medical marijuana program currently, is already the nation’s third-largest cannabis market. [Source: Business Observer]

Elections …

The 2023 legislative session was designed to give DeSantis victories ahead of a likely run for president, but experts said the issues he’s promoting could haunt him in key swing states, the Orlando Sentinel’s Steven Lemongello writes. 

– Maybe Ron DeSantis doesn’t have to resign to run for president

Behind the scenes, some political spouses hold more sway than others. And then there’s Casey DeSantis, so powerful that she appears to have changed the way her husband says his own name, Yahoo News reports.