Here Are Some Lesser-Known Bills Passed By Florida Legislature

TALLAHASSEE, FL — In between the the shouting matches and legislators stomping off the floor in a huff, House Speaker Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, said the bulk of the 2021 legislative session was characterized by cohensive, nonpartisan politics as legislators worked to improve a state battered and bruised by the impacts of the coronavirus and last year's social upheaval.

“Over the last 60 days, the Florida House seized opportunities, took risks and transformed Floridians’ lives,” said Sprowls. “I asked our members and their staff to meet the challenges of today, and I could not be more proud of the results."

From the largest expansion of school choice in the nation to Florida’s first flooding and rising sea level plan, the Legislature took on key issues during its 123rd regular session, he said.

“Together, we not only prepared Florida for the next year; we prepared Florida for the
next decade," Sprowls said. "We were able to address the long-term needs of the state with significant legislation to respond and prepare Florida for the next pandemic, to expand school choice in an unmatched manner nationwide, to change the way people get jobs in Florida forever, to ensure that every Florida child can read on grade level by 2030, to protect our communities and our families, and to respond to the threat of sea level rise with the most robust flood mitigation plan in the nation."

At the start of the 2021 Legislative Session, Sprowls and Senate President Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, challenged the Legislature to address several pressing long-term issues, along with new issues created by the nationwide pandemic and civil strife.

“When I was elected Senate president last fall, I talked about the importance of seizing our days like a farmer, with long-term vision and a solid work ethic, knowing that what we plant today is for a future harvest," said Simpson, a lifelong dairy farmer. "With the leadership of our governor, speaker and my fellow legislators, we accomplished that goal this session with key structural changes to our child welfare system, as well as water quality, environment protection and infrastructure planning, while increasing the minimum wage for state employees to $13 per hour years in advance of the timeline set forth in the constitution.

“We passed pro-consumer insurance reforms that will keep costs down by improving competition in these markets. We passed pandemic liability protections for businesses and health care providers doing their best to serve Floridians during unprecedented times, and prevented an unexpected tax hike on businesses, while replenishing the unemployment compensation trust fund Florida families count on during tough times," he said. "We responsibly invested nonrecurring federal funds in key infrastructure priorities that will create jobs and further bolster Florida’s recovering economy, and used state funds to bolster our rainy day fund to $6 billion in state reserves."

Despite controvery, criticism and claims of coercion, Simpson called this year's session a victory for the people of Florida.

"As we are now coming out on the other side, I believe this session we have created a framework that will benefit our state for generations to come as Florida’s best days are ahead.”

Here are some of the less controversial bills passed by the Legislature:

COVID-19 Liability Protections

Senate Bill 72 and House Bills 7 and 7005 offers strong protections for health care providers and businesses from civil liability related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The legislation was signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis on March 29.

“Our hardworking and dedicated health care providers have been on the front lines of this pandemic from Day 1, putting their own health in jeopardy to help others. Meanwhile, businesses across Florida are doing the best they can to safely reopen and keep people employed during a period of extreme uncertainty,” said Simpson. “The last thing we want is for businesses and health care providers, who do the right thing, to face a constant threat of frivolous lawsuits that hamper their ability to serve their patients and customers.”

Additionally, the Legislature included bonuses for state and local first responders, teachers and child care providers in the 2021-22 state budget.

Child Welfare

Senate Bill 80, sponsored by Sen. Jason Brodeur, R-Sanford, increases protections and consistency for children in out-of-home care.

The legislation expands and clarifies existing laws related to sibling and transition placements for children in out-of-home care. It also recognizes and balances relationships young children develop with out-of-home caregivers and siblings with those of the child’s biological family members to reduce trauma due to abrupt or frequent placement changes that remove children from safe, successful placements.

“All too often people with the best of intentions get so caught up in finding the perfect situation for a child that we pass up a really good home where the child will be loved and cared for," said Simpson, who was adopted at age 6 and has made improving Florida’s child welfare system a top priority of his term as Senate president.

"Government is a horrible parent, and childhood is way too short for any kid to spend years waiting in limbo bouncing from home to home," Simpson said. "We know the earlier in life we can give a child a permanent living situation, the better off that child will be in the long run. This great legislation provides a more thoughtful framework for how we make decisions about where a child is going to live, recognizing that in some cases consistency and the depth of relationships developed in out-of-home care count more than biology.”

Tackling Child Abuse

Senate Bill 96, sponsored by Sen. Lauren Book, D-Plantation, combines a series of child welfare reform initiatives to strengthen legislation and streamline child welfare procedures and addresses critical gaps in investigations and information transparency.

“I am grateful to my colleagues for their hard work on these sensitive and difficult issues," Simpson said. "In some cases, government is having to step in because, for any number of reasons, a parent has fallen short of their responsibility to care for a child. This legislation represents a comprehensive series of reforms, from training to reporting, to make sure that no child falls through the cracks."

Knowning that abuse of animals and abuse of children is often linked, SB 96 also requires animal control officers who suspect child abuse to make a report to the Department of Children and Families, and conversely for child abuse investigators to report suspected animal abuse to animal control.

To improve child safety, the bill requires various steps, including school educational programs, to help children become knowledgeable about their rights to be free from abuse.

To improve transparency, the bill expands access to confidential reports and records in cases of child abuse or neglect to include employees, authorized agents and contract providers of the Agency for Health Care Administration and the Agency for Persons with Disabilities.

The bill also implements the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School grand jury recommendation to appoint a commission to specifically examine the mental health services in the state, creating a 19-member Commission on Mental Health and Substance Abuse to examine the current methods of providing mental health and substance abuse services in Florida.

Economic Opportunity Reforms

Following the computer catastrophe and backlog in approving unemployment requests in the wake of mass layoffs due to the coronavirus pandemic, House Bill 1463 and Senate Bill 1948 established the Office of Secretary & Office of Economic Accountability & Transparency; revised the reemployment application process; required the Department of Employment Opportunity to implement an integrated, cloudbased; revised the timeline for employers' responses to notices of benefits claims sent by the DEO; and raised unemployment benefits by $100 a week.

"The pandemic has shed light on Florida’s antiquated reemployment assistance program, so we passed a comprehensive measure to modernize, streamline and provide more accountability for Florida’s reemployment assistance program, complemented by funding in our budget to help the Department of Economic Opportunity execute these changes," said Florida Senate Majority Leader Debbie Mayfield, R-Melbourne.

Preventing Business Tax Hikes

Senate Bill 50, sponsored by Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, creates a fair playing field for Florida businesses by requiring the collection of existing taxes that are owed, but not currently collected, from out-of-state online retailers.

Revenue derived from these collections will be used to replenish the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund depleted by the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring compensation is available for Florida workers seeking re-employment.

When the trust fund reaches pre-pandemic levels, the new law automatically triggers a permanent reduction in the business rent tax.

The legislation was signed into law by DeSantis on April 20.

“Rather than treating additional revenue that is already owed to the state as a windfall, this law makes sure that we reinvest these funds in our Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund, helping businesses survive a situation no one could have anticipated, and shoring up benefits for the struggling Floridians who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own,” said Simpson.

“Moving forward, by reducing the business rent tax, we will continue to help existing businesses, encourage more entrepreneurs, and have an even better recruiting portfolio for businesses we want to lure away from highly regulated, high-tax states," he said.

“We passed legislation to prevent an unexpected tax hike on Florida businesses, create a fair playing field with out-of-state businesses, ensure necessary compensation is available for Florida workers seeking reemployment, and cut Florida’s business rent tax by $1 billion," Mayfield said.

Right to Farm

Senate Bill 88 by Sen. Jason Brodeur, R-Sanford, expands and modernizes protections currently available under the Right to Farm Act (originally passed in 1979) to protect farmers from lawsuits based on their routine farming and agricultural activities.

The bill also adds agritourism to the definition of farm operation.

The legislation was signed into law by DeSantis on April 29.

“The Senate is committed to preserving Florida’s farms, legacy businesses that contribute to our nation’s food supply and billions of dollars to our state’s economy,” said Simpson. “As more and more people leave densely populated areas of the country and relocate to rural areas of our state, residential development encroaches on our rural areas. Friction between these competing land uses can lead to litigation that threatens the survival of legacy farming communities. We frequently update our laws to recognize changes in other industries, and I want to make sure our hardworking Florida farmers aren’t left behind.”

School Choice

House Bill 7045, sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Manny Diaz Jr., R-Hialeah, maximizes parental choice by expanding eligibility and streamlining key school choice scholarship programs for students with unique abilities and students from lower-income families.

“I’m pleased to see the Legislature stand with Florida parents who overwhelmingly support expanding eligibility for these popular school choice programs. We want school choice to be an option for every family. This important legislation further streamlines our existing school choice scholarships, and expands eligibility for lower-income families, families of students with unique abilities, adopted children and children whose parents serve in our military,” said Simpson.

Investing In Infrastructure

Senate Bill 2512, Documentary Stamp Tax Distributions, a conforming bill associated with the state budget, establishes a three-part statewide infrastructure plan to prioritize investing in state and local affordable housing programs, mitigating the impacts of sea level rise and enhancing wastewater programs, including septic-to-sewer conversions.

The new framework provides funding for all three infrastructure priorities on a recurring basis.

“Floridians have been waiting a long time for comprehensive policy and budget planning that addresses these three critical areas of public policy. Nearly every year we end up sweeping documentary stamp money that is dedicated to affordable housing into our general revenue fund to spend it on the needs of the day," Simpson said. "We also have a tendency to create programs that sound great, but which we don’t actually fund. This proposal addresses all of these issues by modernizing our documentary stamp distributions to dedicate a steady stream of funding in three key areas of infrastructure – affordable housing, wastewater, and mitigation of sea-level rise,” said Simpson.

Under the distribution outlined in SB 2512, during the upcoming fiscal year, affordable housing programs will receive approximately $200 million. Programs established to mitigate the impacts of sea level rise and enhance wastewater programs will each receive approximately $111 million.

Flooding And Rising Sea Level

Senate Bill 1954, Statewide Flooding and Sea-level Rise Resilience, by Sen. Ray Rodrigues, R-Estero, establishes statewide resiliency programs that assess and address inland and coastal flooding and sea level rise.

Establishing the Office of Resiliency, the legislations calls for dedicating $100 million each year starting in 2022-23 to address resiliency issues.

The bill would also set up a three-year Statewide Flooding and Sea Level Rise Resilience Plan that the Department of Environmental Protection would update annually.

“This great legislation elevates flood mitigation as a critical part of Florida’s public safety infrastructure. With 35 coastal counties containing the majority of our population and economy, our risks are only going to increase with time,” said Simpson. “With this legislation, Florida can become a national example of resilient communities. I’m grateful to Speaker Sprowls for his vision and leadership on this key issue, and to Senator Rodrigues for his tremendous work in moving this key legislation through the Senate.”

Lake Okeechobee Watershed

Senate Bill 2516, Water Storage North of Lake Okeechobee, linked to Senate Bill 2500, the General Appropriations Act, provides the policy framework and funding for the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to implement the Lake Okeechobee Watershed Restoration Project.

"Implementation of the LOWRP is the most important element of restoration for the northern Everglades ecosystem, as approximately 95 percent of the water, 92 percent of the phosphorus and 89 percent of the nitrogen flowing into Lake Okeechobee comes from north of the lake," Simpson said.

Highway Projects

Senate Bill 100, Highway Projects, by Sen. Gayle Harrel, R-Stuart, builds on the Multi-use Corridors of Regional Economic Significance (MCORES) task force recommendations of 2020 by redirecting transportation funding to the Florida Department of Transportation.

The bill directs the FDOT to retrofit existing roadways with non-toll road alternatives to traffic intersections such as overpasses to alleviate congestion on local roads to facilitate the free-flow of traffic on U.S. 19, providing an expedited route connecting the Suncoast Parkway to I-10.

The bill also directs and funds the FDOT to prioritize widening projects on rural, two-lane arterial highways throughout Florida that serve high volumes of local and commercial vehicle traffic and provides for non-tolled roadway and access options.

“The task force reports, along with important public input, provide an alternative roadmap to enhance critical evacuation routes and realize improved traffic flow throughout certain rural areas of the state by leveraging existing roadways. Re-envisioning our existing roadways will save taxpayer dollars and serve to better address environmental concerns of Floridians,” said Simpson.

Also approved by the Legislature:

● HB 9 protects Floridians from vaccine-related scams and increases the penalties for pandemic-related fraud;
● SB 1892 and HB 1595 creates Florida’s first ever Emergency Preparedness & Response Fund to make state resources available in case of an emergency;
● SB 2006 and HB 7047 requires the development of a public health emergency plan to ensure that Florida is prepared for every foreseeable public health emergency;
● HB 1507, known as the Reimagining Education & Workforce (REACH) Act, will tear down barriers to success and create a worker-centric, accountable system to help students, workers and job seekers begin and advance in their careers;
● HB 1261 expands access to institutions of higher education to military veterans, to students of grandparents who are Florida residents and state university students who enroll in program linked to high-demand jobs and in critical workforce programs.
● HB 663 increases opportunities for cottage industries in home-based business by increasing the sales limit and allowing for mail delivery rather than only in person.
● HB 403 removes barriers for home-based businesses by allowing them to operate in a residential zone.
● HB 735 preempts local occupational licenses barricading meaningful self-employment;
● HB 667 modernizes building inspections by allowing inspection requests to be submitted electronically and inspections to be conducted virtually;
● HB 1059 removes barriers to the construction permit process by allowing building permits to be submitted electronically;
● HB 1239 expands broadband internet service to underserved areas.
● HB 5, “Portraits in Patriotism,” allows Florida students to hear directly from victims of Communism and share their stories on America’s exceptionalism.
● HB 419, brings accountability to voluntary Pre-K providers;
● HB 3 establishes Florida’s first-ever statewide delivery of free books to kids and support materials for parents;
● HB 7011 puts tools in place to ensure that every child is reading on grade level by 2030;
● HJR 1377 is a constitutional amendment that will give Floridians a property tax break for flood mitigation improvements.
● SB 2518 extends post-partum maternal health care Medicaid coverage eligibility from two months to a full year;
● SB 80 and HB 1473 supports youth by better preparing them for adulthood and providing support to older foster youth who age out of care;
● HB 7017 increases transparency in Florida’s universities from foreign donations;
● HB 1523 places guardrails to protect Florida’s business from corporate theft and malfeasance;
● HB 921 modernizes the crime of written threats by including electronic threats to kill, conduct a mass shooting, or commit an act of terrorism;
● HB 1103 requires special districts to report the total tax dollars collected;
● HB 1079 improves contract oversight by creating continuing oversight teams to ensure state contracts are closely monitored;
● HB 233 requires annual assessment of intellectual diversity in Florida public higher education;
● HB 1157 creates price and identity transparency with freestanding emergency departments.
● SB 50 and HB 15 provides a historic 700 percent tax break and reduction of the commercial rent tax by over half for Florida businesses;
● HB 7061 creates a sales tax holiday (Freedom Week) from Thursday, July 1, through Wednesday, July 7, 2021, exempting certain purchases for outdoor activities – such as boating, camping and outdoor sporting events; it also includes back-to-school and disaster preparedness tax holidays.