Legislative Update - March 11, 2024

The Florida Legislature wrapped up the 2024 Legislative Session Friday afternoon, giving final approval to a $117.46 billion budget. The traditional “hanky drop” happened at 2:27 p.m., signaling that the House and Senate had concluded their business this Session. 

The Legislature passed a budget totaling $117.46 billion.  The budget, which remains subject to line-item vetoes by Gov. Ron DeSantis, will take effect with the July 1 start of the 2024-2025 fiscal year. The Senate voted 39-0 to approve the budget, after the House passed it in a 105-3 vote. The budget for the current fiscal year, which started July 1, totaled $119.1 billion.

A total of 1,957 bills were filed this session, however only 325 bills will go to Governor Ron DeSantis for final action.  He can sign the bill into law, veto it or let the bill become law without his signature. 

Less Contentious Session, Easy Ending; Wait Starts for DeSantis Bill Actions - The Legislature finished its work Friday after passing the $117.4 billion budget for the coming year and adjourning the session sine die. Focus now will shift to Gov. Ron DeSantis and whether he'll sign or veto the bills passed by lawmakers and if and how he'll exercise his line item veto power on items in the budget. The early, and relatively easy, ending to the session on Friday tracked with what was a two month session with far fewer deeply contentious fights over cultural issues than in the previous two years – perhaps not coincidental to the fact that Gov. Ron DeSantis ended his presidential campaign, during which he had campaigned on many of those controversial culture war items, a few weeks into the session. DeSantis didn't exert the overt pressure on the legislative session that governors often have in the past – though near the end of the session he did have a major effect on the Legislature's work, vetoing and requiring a second attempt at priority legislation regulating kids' use of social media. Among the more contentious measures that didn't pass were proposals that would have set out penalties for local officials who remove Confederate statues, a total ban on all abortions, and a bill that would have banned government agencies from flying Pride flags. Another controversial proposal that didn't find leadership support would have brought back runoff elections. Renner Press Release / Passidomo Press Release / Florida Politics / Orlando Sentinel / Associated Press

GOP Lawmakers Shy Away from DeSantis, More Conservative Measures

Florida legislative Republicans showed a little bit of pushback against Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis in the legislative session that ended Friday, rejecting a few appointees, blocking his push to bring gambling to a Miami Beach resort hotel, and in the Senate, refusing to go along with a couple of the more divisive cultural issue bills that were filed this year. Controversial proposals dealing with guns, mail voting, transgender issues and abortion all failed to pass. Instead of a session dominated by those conservative hot-button issues that play well for Republican presidential primary voters, legislators focused mostly on the top priorities of its Republican legislative leaders, instead, including a contentious, but broadly popular effort to make social media safer for minors and securing hundreds of millions of dollars toward health care initiatives. For some grassroots conservatives, the session wasn't what they wanted. "What's the point of having a Republican majority if you are going to govern like Democrats?" asked Bob White, chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida. The moderation after a couple of years of pushing hard to the right led the Washington Post to conclude in a headline that Florida voters are tired of the "war on woke." Politico / Orlando Sentinel / Washington Post

Tax Package Passes After Some Revisions

The Legislature's annual tax package was revised and approved by both chambers Friday. The proposal (HB 7073), which offers over $1.5 billion in broad-based tax savings over the next two years, includes a governor-backed $450 million toll rebate program for drivers with more than 35 toll transactions per month. A credit for insurance companies lowering homeowner premiums that are expected to save homeowners $417.5 million over two years also made it in the final negotiations of the tax cut proposal. The legislation also provides for four sales tax holidays that seek to save consumers around $97.3 million, including a two-week back-to-school sales tax holiday, a 30-day "Freedom Month" sales tax holiday, a one-week "Tool Time" sales tax holiday and two separate Disaster Preparedness tax holidays. The tax package also includes a remedy for a voter-approved 1% sales surtax in Hillsborough County from 2019 to 2021 that was later deemed unconstitutional by the Florida Supreme Court. Hillsborough County will see a reduction in sales tax until $165 million from the state is drained to replenish the county as part of the plan to dole out $562 million stored with the state due to the local one-cent sales tax. Senate Press Release / Florida Politics

Lawmakers Loosen Teen Work Rules --- A toned-down but still controversial proposal that would loosen decades-old work restrictions for 16- and 17-year-old youths is headed to Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The House and Senate gave final approval to the bill (HB 49) in the final hour of the 2024 legislative session, readying it to go to Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Critics argued that the bill --- while not as broad as initially sought by the House --- would hinder students’ education.

They said it could lead to increased distractions and school absenteeism as students might work more than 30 hours a week during the school year.

But House sponsor Linda Chaney, R-St. Pete Beach, said the measure would help students who already work around the state’s rules.

Senate sponsor Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrhills, said the proposal “gives greater flexibility to certain 16- and 17-year-olds if they are in the workforce.”

Groups such as the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association supported changing the work restrictions. After the proposal was scaled back, the Florida AFL-CIO also backed the bill.

The bill would maintain a 30-hour work week limit for 16- and 17-year-olds when school is in session. But parents, guardians or school superintendents could waive the 30-hour limit.

Also, the measure would lift a restriction by allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to work more than eight hours on Sundays and holidays when school is the next day.

The bill would require that 16- and 17-year-olds working eight or more hours in a day get 30-minute meal breaks after four hours of work.

As the bill moved through committees, critics said it was designed to use minors to address labor shortages, including shortages related to a lack of immigrant workers.

But Florida Policy Institute CEO Sadaf Knight in a statement said the toned-down final version “does not pose the same degree of risk to Florida’s youth as the original version.”

The House voted 76-33 on Friday to pass the final version, while the Senate passed it 27-11.

The approval came after a vote on a separate issue that would prevent people under age 21 from working in adult-entertainment establishments. Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando. said it was ironic that lawmakers passed that bill while also freeing up many 16- and 17-year-olds to work longer in service-related jobs.

“I really think that the most vulnerable age for trafficking actually is going to be less than 18, and unfortunately service jobs have very high rates of sexual harassment,” Eskamani said. “And we’re not providing protection for young people.”

EMPLOYMENT AND CURFEW OF MINORS - HB 49 BY REPRESENTATIVE LINDA CHANEY & SENATOR DANNY BURGESS This legislation addresses the restrictions related to employment of minors aged 15 or younger and 16 and 17 years old. Among other provisions, it allows minors 15 or younger to work before 7 a.m. or after 7 p.m. when school is the next day and work no more than 15 hours per week during school, and limits work to 3 hours on a school day unless there's no school the next day. Permits minors 16 and 17 to work before 6:30 a.m. or after 11 p.m. when school is the next day, work more than 8 hours on holidays or Sundays, and work up to 30 hours per week during school, with a waiver option from a parent or superintendent. Exempts certain minors from these regulations, including those who have graduated high school, are exempt from compulsory school attendance, are facing hardships, are in home education or virtual programs, are in domestic service, employed by parents, or are legislature pages.

EMPLOYMENT REGULATIONS - HB 433 BY REPRESENTATIVE TIFFANY ESPOSITO & SENATOR JAY TRUMBULL This legislation defines “heat exposure requirements” in the workplace and prohibits a political subdivision from establishing, mandating, or requiring an employer to meet or provide heat exposure requirements that are not otherwise required under state or federal law. A political subdivision may not give preference in a competitive solicitation to an employer based on the employer’s heat exposure requirements; however, a political subdivision may still establish or otherwise provide heat exposure requirements for direct employees of the political subdivision. Finally, this legislation prohibits a local government from adopting or enforcing any ordinance that seeks to regulate scheduling, including predictive scheduling by a private employer, except as expressly authorized or required by state or federal law.

HOMELESS: Lawmakers passed a controversial plan that would bar cities and counties from allowing homeless people to sleep at places such as public buildings and in rights of way. Local governments could designate sites for sleeping or camping if they meet certain standards.

10 big issues from Florida’s 2024 legislative session - After a flurry of last-minute votes on bills, Florida lawmakers Friday passed a $117.46 billion state budget and ended the 2024 legislative session. The budget, which remains subject to line-item vetoes by Gov. Ron DeSantis, will take effect with the July 1 start of the 2024-2025 fiscal year. The Senate voted 39-0 to approve the budget, after the House passed it in a 105-3 vote. The budget for the current fiscal year, which started July 1, totaled $119.1 billion. More from the News Service of Florida and the Tampa Bay Times.

Governor DeSantis Highlights Achievements of the 2024 Legislative Session

Last week, Governor DeSantis joined Senate President Kathleen Passidomo and House Speaker Paul Renner to close the 2024 Legislative Session and highlight the record number of historic wins that have been delivered for the people of Florida.

In his remarks, Governor DeSantis thanked Florida’s leaders for their hard work and noted that Florida is the best state in the nation and will remain safe, strong, and fiscally sound for generations to come.

“We have delivered unprecedented victories for the people of Florida,” said Governor DeSantis. “I asked the Legislature to deliver as boldly as they did last session, and they have done so. Florida continues to show the nation how to lead on every issue.”

Governor DeSantis highlighted session achievements citing: 

• Fiscal responsibility
• Florida as the law-and-order state and recognizing that law enforcement officers and first responders are valued and honored in our state
• Greater protections for Floridians from illegal immigration
• New and continuing tax reliefs for Florida families
• Measures taken to fight back against the Chinese Communist Party and their interests in Florida
• Putting a stop to the ‘WOKE’ agenda
• Prioritizing parental rights and protecting children

To view the Governor’s remarks in detail, click here and for a quick snapshot, click here.

Sierra Club Calls for Vetoes

The Sierra Club of Florida, an environmental advocacy group, is calling on Gov. Ron DeSantis to veto two bills passed during the 2024 legislative session that ended Friday. The organization opposes HB 433, claiming it "would preempt local governments' ability to pass protections for workers in extreme heat at a time when climate change is pushing record temperatures higher year after year." The group also wants DeSantis to block an energy bill (HB 1645) that would ban wind energy turbines in Florida offshore waters and onshore along the coast. The group argues it prioritizes fossil fuels over clean energy while preempting local governments and eliminating renewable energy grants. Sierra Club previously gave the governor a failing grade on its "report card" last year. Florida Politics

Fla Measles Outbreak Stabilizes, Ladapo Doubles Down on Parental Rights Protocol

The Florida Department of Health issued an update on the measles outbreak at a Broward County school, saying no additional cases have occurred at Manatee Bay Elementary since Friday, Feb. 16, marking the end of the 21-day infection period. Last month, state Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo issued a memo allowing unvaccinated children to continue to attend class, diverging from federal CDC guidelines. Ladapo said his agency "is deferring to parents or guardians to make decisions about school attendance." The move aligned with Ladapo and Gov. Ron DeSantis' stance on federal health protocol, coinciding with vaccine skepticism, especially with the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine and subsequent boosters. In the most recent update issued Friday, Ladapo emphasized that people with a history of prior measles infection or vaccination with the full series of the Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) immunization are 98% protected and unlikely to contract measles. He added that the state will continue to empower families to make informed decisions without government intervention. "Once again, Florida has shown that good public health policy includes personal responsibility and parents' rights," said Gov. Ron DeSantis. At least 16 other states, including Georgia and California, have reported measles cases this year. Although Ladapo stated that there's a possibility of sporadic cases due to measles' contagious nature and international travel – especially during spring break, he noted that Florida's approach to managing future cases will remain the same. "It's important that public health leaders consider all available data and make decisions that  promote health while respecting the rights of individuals," said Ladapo. DeSantis Press Release / USA Today Network