With the legislative session coming to an end at the time of this update, we are currently on day 55 of the 60 day Legislative Session.
Of the 1,873 bills and PCBs filed, 17 have been signed into law and 84 bills are anticipated matters for the Governor to act on. Governor DeSantis came out a clear winner, with the Legislature passing all of his priorities.
Republican lawmakers have wielded their supermajority in the state’s House and Senate to move quickly on legislation long-sought by their party.
So far, legislation that has been approved by the Governor or anticipated to be sent to the Governor are:
Civil Remedies, HB 837, making it harder to sue insurers— the wide-ranging tort reform bill that makes it harder and more expensive to sue insurance companies and businesses. On March 24, 2023, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed HB 837 into law, a wide sweeping tort reform bill that served to overhaul Florida’s litigation landscape. This legislation has a slew of effects on the judicial system and is of particular relevance to lawsuits against insurers and personal injury cases.
Affordable housing, SB 102 — A top priority for Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, DeSantis has already signed into law a $711 million plan to make housing more affordable for working Floridians. 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.
Permitless carry, HB 543 — DeSantis has also signed into law a bill that allows people to carry concealed guns without a permit and without training. The legislation has been opposed on both sides of the gun debate, with some saying it removes reasonable safeguards and others wishing it allowed Floridians to openly carry guns. It takes effect July 1.
The House unanimously approved HB 5 that shifts Enterprise Florida’s funding to the state Department of Economic Opportunity. Enterprise Florida is a public-private economic development organization used to attract businesses to the state. Under the legislation, pushed by House Speaker Paul Renner, the Department of Economic Opportunity would be renamed to the Department of Commerce which would take over the mission and existing contracts with Enterprise Florida, while state programs such as Visit Florida and the Florida Sports Foundation would be folded under the purview of the agency as well. The proposal, sponsored by Lee County Republican Rep. Tiffany Esposito, also repeals various state incentive programs but allows for the continuation of some existing commitments. It now heads to the Senate, where a similar measure (SB 1664), filed by Palm Harbor Republican Sen. Ed Hooper, is scheduled to be heard on the floor later this week
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