We have reached the halfway point of the 2023 Ron DeSantis Show. Excuse us, we meant the Legislative session. In less than 30 days, our legislators have passed sweeping changes to our state laws that will have major implications for the people of Florida for years to come. There have been 19 bills passed by the Legislature with hundreds more that have yet to receive a committee hearing.  Many of the laws we have seen fast-tracked through the process are legislative priorities of Governor DeSantis and are bound to give him momentum with his base as he allegedly prepares to mount a Presidential campaign. 

In just one month we have seen major action on public education funding, tort reform, concealed weapons permits, abortion restrictions, housing and preemption of local government, and the creation of the largest taxpayer-funded private school voucher program in state history.
 

• School Vouchers: HB 1 offers nearly all students the option to use taxpayer dollars to cover private school expenses.
• Tort Reform: HB 837, “The Civil Remedies Act” eliminates one-way attorney’s fees and multipliers, the time frame for filing negligence lawsuits, and makes it more difficult for consumers to file suit against large corporations and insurance companies. 
• Affordable Housing: SB 102 is the $800 million measure that provides record-level funding for the SHIP & SAIL program,  creates tax exemptions for developments with at least 70 affordable housing units, speed permits and development orders, and bars local rent control. 
• Permitless Carry: HB 543 Does away with background checks, training, and fees for a concealed-carry weapons license in Florida and allows anyone who legally possesses a firearm to conceal carry. 

• Abortion Ban: SB 300, would ban abortion at six weeks of pregnancy, before many people even know that they are pregnant. The bill has passed the Senate and is waiting to be considered in the House
• Partisan School Board Races: HJR 31: Places on the 2024 ballot the question of whether school board candidates must run as a political party nominee.
• Environmental, social, and governance Ban: HB 3 forbids the state from doing business with financial institutions that invest based on environmental and “WOKE” policies.
• Labor Organizing:  SB 256 would strip the rights of public sector workers to join or remain in their unions. It would also bar the automatic deduction of union dues from public employee union members, forcing them to pay their dues separately.
• Media Defamation: House Bill 991 intends to provoke a trial before the United States Supreme Court in hopes of overturning New York Times v. Sullivan, a 1964 decision that sets a high bar for public officials to prove they have been defamed. Parental Rights in Education expansion: HB 1069/SB 1320, would extend the prohibition on sex and gender discussions to middle school. This bill would also make it easier for school districts to ban books. Last year’s version of the bill was dubbed “Don't say gay”

        

Yet again the people of Florida are confronted with the reality that their state government has waged an unrelenting assault on their voting rights. Last week the House Ethics & Elections Committee introduced and passed SB 7050. This bill will further complicate our elections process, give expanded powers to the elections police, and make it harder for nonprofit organizations like Equal Ground to provide voter assistance. Presently the bill has not been assigned any additional committees in the Senate and does not have a companion in the House. This bill is a priority to the Legislative Leadership and the Governor and we expect it to be fast-tracked. Below are some of the key provisions contained within the bill.
 

• Third-party voter registration organizations must apply to register voters every election cycle
• Requires first-time Florida voters to vote in person if they don't have a verified social security card, driver's license, or ID card.
• The Elections police have expanded authority to investigate and prosecute election alleged violations.
• Requires a third-party voter registration organization that collects voter registration applications to provide a receipt to each applicant upon accepting possession of the application.
• Removes the government's liability of returning citizens voting after receiving voter registration card by adding the following statement to the voter id card: “This card is for information purposes only. This card is proof of registration but is not legal verification of the eligibility to vote. It is the responsibility of a voter to keep his or her eligibility status current.”
• Increases the frequency and methods someone can be purged from the voter rolls.
• If two vote-by-mail ballots arrive in the same envelope, both ballots are invalidated.
• Bans vote-by-mail ballots from being forwarded to alternative addresses.
• Raises the aggregate amount of fines assessed to third-party voter organizations to $100,000- an increase of $50,000 from 2022 and $1,000 previously.
• New signature matching training for elections staff. 
• Limits the use of third-party voter organizations from using voter guides.
• Third-party voter registration groups are prevented from prefilling voter registration or vote by mail forms to assist voters.
• Preempts local government from enacting laws or policy that conflicts with the proposed law. 

         

Back in our week 3 edition of the newsletter, we told you about SB 266 & HB 999 - a terrible bill that seeks to defund diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts at state institutions, concentrate hiring power in the hands of trustees, and eliminate majors in subjects focused on black studies, critical race theory, and gender. After almost a month of this bill not being heard in committee, the leadership of the Senate has added the bill to the Senate Appropriations Committee on Education for this Wednesday, April 12th at 11:30am. After much opposition to the bill, we anticipate there will be substantial changes introduced during the committee meeting. We will be sure to keep you update. Click HERE to tell Senators to vote no. 

Last week, several advocates were arrested outside of Tallahassee City Hall for peacefully protesting the imminent passage of the near-total abortion ban making its way through the legislature. When signed into law, the bill would ban abortion in the state of Florida after 6 weeks- a time when most women are not even aware they are pregnant. Among the 11 people who were arrested include Democratic Party Chair Nikii Fried and Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Lauren Book. 

On Wednesday, April 12th at 11:30am the Senate Appropriations Committee on Education will consider SB 266. This omnibus bill aims to defund diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts at our state institutions of higher learning, concentrate hiring power in the hands of trustees, and eliminate majors in subjects focused on black studies, critical race theory, and gender. CLICK HERE to tell the committee members to vote no! 

          
 

For three consecutive legislative sessions, Tallahassee politicians have injected intimidation and chaos around our election process - enough is enough! Email state Legislators to tell them to oppose this unnecessary bill that is rife with 98 pages of voter suppression. CLICK HERE TO ACTION.

   
 

• What’s passed during Florida’s legislative session — and what’s ahead
• Poll: Floridians sour on school voucher expansion
• Here’s where Florida Legislature stands at halfway point
• DeSantis signs bill allowing carry of concealed weapons without a permit
• ‘Buckle up': DeSantis escalates Disney dispute, eyes hotel taxes and road tolls
• On bus trip to Tallahassee, Black Floridians fight uphill battle at Capitol
• Black activists speak out against DeSantis' 'anti-woke agenda
• Shevrin Jones shreds Ron DeSantis’ position on Donald Trump indictment
• Florida Legislature moving quickly on DeSantis priorities
• Florida death penalty requirement could soon be 8 out of 12 jury votes
• Florida NAACP recommends travel advisory 
• DeSantis’ State Guard vision: planes, boats, police powers
• New Florida bill would ban diversity, inclusion programs on university campuses
• Florida Senate OKs private school voucher expansion. Bill heads to DeSantis.
• Florida Legislature OKs incentives for affordable housing, bans local rent control
• Black students are right to take personally Ron DeSantis' latest attack on diversity

• TRACK BILLS - Did you know that you can get alerts on bills? Learn more and sign up to track bills here for the House and here for the Senate.
• To watch full coverage of legislative session including committee meetings and floor debates, visit https://thefloridachannel.org/.
• To learn more about the Florida Senate, find your Senator, and locate senate bills, please visit www.flsenate.gov.
• To learn more about the Florida House of Representatives,  find your representative and locate house bills, please visit www.myfloridahouse.gov.
• Remember to visit your county’s Supervisor of Elections office to find what district you live in.

• Like Equal Ground on Facebook
• Follow Equal Ground on Instagram @EqualGroundFL
• Follow Equal Ground on Twitter @EqualGroundFL
• Be sure you are subscribed to our newsletter