Copy
View this email in your browser
April 2023
2023 Legislative Session is underway and already there have been several huge bills that have passed and have been signed by Governor DeSantis.

The first bill is the Universal School Choice that allows more choice for parents for their children. It is the most expansive school choice law in the nation.

The second bill is the Live Local Act that will expand the supply of housing and make it more affordable for members of our workforce.

The third bill allows for permitless concealed gun carry, which has been signed by the Governor.

Both the House and the Senate passed proposed budgets, which will now go into conference for further consideration.
 
Representative Bob Rommel
District 81
Universal School Choice
On Monday, March 27th, Governor DeSantis signed legislation expanding school choice scholarship eligibility to every student in the state.

Between private scholarships, charter schools, and district choice programs, Florida already has 1.3M students attending schools of their choosing. This legislation takes education freedom to the next level and centers Florida as the nation’s leader in education choice.

Highlights of HB1:
  • Creates universal empowerment scholarship accounts and extends school choice eligibility to all of Florida’s 2.9 million K-12 students.
  • Eliminates the scholarship waiting list for thousands of students with unique abilities. 
  • Creates an online portal for families to explore Florida’s school choice programs.
  • Establishes a pathway for reducing regulations on public schools based on the input of schools, districts, superintendents, teachers and others. 
  • Creates a new personalized education program that gives 20,000 homeschooling families the ability to customize their child’s education using an education scholarship. The cap on the program increases every year until 2027, when the cap will be removed.
Live Local Act
On March 29th, Governor DeSantis signing the Live Local Act in Naples.
 
Budget
The House and Senate released their initial budgets for consideration in their respective chambers this week. The bills will now be placed in conference where differences between the two measures will be resolved. A final bill must then be agreed upon by both chambers before the end of the legislative session on May 5.

The initial $113 billion House proposal (HB 5001) is roughly $700 million under the Senate's proposed $113.7 billion spending plan (SB 2500) for the fiscal year that begins July 1, 2023. Both proposals are less than the nearly $115 billion the governor recommended. The two budgets include raises for state employees, provide more money for infrastructure and land acquisition, increase state dollars for Florida KidCare, and fully fund Florida's Medicaid program. The House, however, did not include money for the state's tourism agency known as Visit Florida, whereas the Senate allocated $80 million. Overall, both chambers are currently proposing an additional $2 billion for education, which is more than a 4% increase per student. The House also designates $250 million for teacher and school staff raises while the Senate provided $200 million. 
Concealed Carry
Without Permit

Gov. DeSantis signed into law a bill that would allow people to carry a concealed gun
without a permit 

A measure that allows people to carry a concealed gun without a permit in Florida was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis after it passed the Republican-controlled legislature along party lines on Thursday.

“What this bill does for the majority of Floridians is ensure that they have a right to protect those they love," said state Sen. Jay Collins (R-Tampa).

The measure eliminates all permitting requirements to carry a concealed weapon, including mandatory training, licensing fees and additional background checks. It will take effect on July 1, 2023.

The bill passed the Senate (27-13) on Thursday after clearing the House (76-32) last week. As promised, Governor DeSantis signed the measure into law when it reached his desk.

The legislation doesn't allow anyone to buy a gun. People who have a felony record or are under the age of 21 aren't allowed to buy a firearm. Criminal background checks and a mandatory three-day waiting period to buy a gun will also remain in place.

The permitless carry bill contains some school safety provisions

Republicans added several provisions to the permitless carry bill aimed at making schools safer. They include increased funding to make school buildings more secure, a gun-sniffing K9 program and allowing private school teachers to carry guns on campus.

Republican Senate President Kathleen Passidomo told reporters earlier this month the addition of school safety provisions in the permitless carry bill was her suggestion. “When it came up last summer and members were speaking with me about the fact that they wanted to file a constitutional carry bill, I asked what are we going to do about school safety and some of these other issues?" she said. "There was no intent other than putting good language with good language.”

The legislation builds upon recommendations from the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Public Safety Commission. It would increase the number of active shooter training hours school employees must complete. It would require all local law enforcement agencies to produce an active assailant response policy. And it would task the Office of Safe Schools with maintaining records on students who might pose a serious threat.

"If that student moves to another jurisdiction, their grades go with them, their athletic accomplishments go with them, but if they made a credible threat against another student, it stays."
Consumer Insurance Fraud
The majority of complaints and consumer issues relating to insurance our office receives fall under the Consumer Services Helpline: (877) My-FL-CFO.  If you have a general insurance related question and do not wish to file an insurance concern, you should email Consumer.Services@myfloridacfo.com.
 
Homeowners Insurance FAQS:
https://myfloridacfo.com/division/consumers/understanding-insurance/faq/home

Download CFO Patronis’ Hurricane Financial Preparedness Toolkit 

Consumer Services Helpline: (877) My-FL-CFO
Fraud Tip Hotline: 1-800-378-0445
Arson Tip Hotline: 1-800-662-7766
Public Assistance Fraud Hotline: (866) 762-2237
Unclaimed Property: (888) 258-2253
I will present information on the challenges of recycling and disposing of lithium-ion batteries along with the negatives of mining the minerals needed for lithium-ion batteries in my next newsletter.
Florida has no income tax and a balanced budget. 
Let’s keep it that way!
Copyright © 2023 State Representative Bob Rommel, All rights reserved.


Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.