The Florida legislature closed up shop last week. Here’s a run down of the action on certain bills in case you missed it.
Cohabitation: Known affectionately by some as the “shacking up” bill, lawmakers at last successfully repealed an 1868 law that prohibits unmarried couples from living together. Violators faced a $500 fine or up to 60 days in jail. Previous efforts never made it all the way through the Legislature.
Abortion regulations: Lawmakers passed a major bill related to abortion rights that gained support in both chambers, despite Democratic opposition. The bill cuts state, local and Medicaid funds from going to abortion providers or providers affiliated with them. It also requires abortion doctors to have admitting privileges or transfer agreements in place at a nearby hospital, in addition to creating other regulations.
Alimony: Three years after Scott vetoed a related measure, lawmakers again revamped alimony and child support laws, including a provision that will require judges to start with the premise of equal child-sharing in divorce cases.
Florida Competitive Workforce Act: Lawmakers caught up in which public accommodations a law updating the state’s anti-discrimination code would permit transgender people to use blocked the bill from proceeding. But 2016 was the first time in a decade that the bill adding gay and transgender people to the list of protected classes in the Florida Civil Rights Act had a hearing.
Film incentives: Support for Sen. Nancy Detert’s plan to revamp and refund a film incentive program that provides tax credits for productions that relocate to Florida seemed strong earlier this year. But the plan was omitted from the final budget. “Three years I worked on it and it didn’t get done,” Detert said. “Other than that, we had a great year.”
Gambling: Known as the Seminole Compact, a gambling deal negotiated by Scott would have allowed the tribe to add craps and roulette tables at their casinos in exchange for $3 billion over seven years, among other things. The deal had the potential to bring in $10 billion over a 20-year lifespan. But gambling lobbyists asked for numerous additions, and the Legislature eventually dropped the initiative.
FAILED
- Rick Scott’s budget priorities: $1 billion in tax cuts and $250 million economic incentive fund
- Open carry: Concealed weapons permit holders openly displaying firearms in holsters or bags
- Campus-carry: Concealed weapons permit holders bringing firearms on college campuses
- Computer coding: Computer coding classes fulfilling foreign language requirements
- Recess: Enforcing mandatory play time for elementary-school students
- Red light camera repeal: Outlawing use of red-light traffic cameras
- Fracking: Regulating the use of fracking as a technology for extracting oil and gas in the state
- Gaming: Permitting the Seminole Tribe to have craps and roulette tables at their casinos for $3 billion over seven years
- Specialty plates: Authorizing more than three dozen new plates
- Florida Competitive Workforce Act: Including gay and transgender people in anti-discrimination state code
- Attacks on real estate agents: Creating harsher penalties for assaulting a real estate agent or broker
- Film incentives: Refunding the state’s film incentive program
PASSED
- Cohabitation: Repealing an 1868 bill banning unmarried couples from living together
- Abortion: Eliminating state, local and Medicaid funds for abortion providers
- *Padi Bill: Challenging euthanasia decisions involving dogs that injure humans
- Alimony: Starting with the premise of equal child-sharing in divorce cases
- Medical marijuana: Creating access to low-THC cannabis for the terminally ill/regulations for dispensaries
- *Pastor protection: Protecting religious groups from lawsuits for not performing same-sex marriages
- Sexual assault kit: Requiring the submission and testing of all incoming kits under stricter deadlines
- Death benefits: Increasing retirement benefits to families of fallen law enforcement, firefighters and other groups
- Death penalties: Requiring ten jurors to recommend a death penalty.
- Maxwell Erik ‘Max’ Grablin Elevator Bill: Creating requirements for elevators in private residences
- Budget: Approving $82.3 billion spending plan
- *Guardianship: Expanding oversight by the Department of Elder Affairs and creating regulations for professional guardians
- *Parking for Disabled Veterans: Granting free parking at public airports to vehicles with a Disabled Veterans or a Paralyzed Veterans of America designation
- *Water policy: Protecting and restoring Florida’s natural springs, improving water quality in major systems like the Everglades
- *Educational opportunities: Enhancing scholarships for disabled students
- *Unique Abilities: Recognizing Florida businesses that hire workers with disabilities
*Signed by Gov. Rick Scott