This week, I joined Governor Ron DeSantis for another important announcement. On Monday, the Governor awarded $11.9 million to the Town of Fort Myers Beach from the Local Government Emergency Bridge Loan – the first award since the program was created in a Special Legislative Session earlier this year.

The program is modeled after the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program, which the Governor activates during an emergency. Loans are provided interest-free. Our communities brought this concern to our attention earlier this year, and together we took quick action to help make our communities whole!

This week, the Florida Senate passed its proposed budget for the 2023-2024 Fiscal Year and advanced other priorities such as hurricane resiliency funding, protections for children and proposed policies to hold insurance companies accountable. 

To those observing holidays this week, I wish you a Happy Passover and a Happy Easter! Enjoy this blessed time with family and loved ones. The Florida Senate will return to work in Tallahassee next week to serve you all. God bless you.

Senate Budget Proposal Approved on Senate Floor

Monday, the Florida Senate passed Senate Bill 2500, the Senate’s proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2023-2024.

The Senate’s proposed budget includes $500 million allocated to the Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund, over $400 million for workforce development programs, and $711 million for affordable housing programs as established in Senate Bill 102, the “Live Local” Act.

These critical investments in Florida’s future will ensure that we are prepared to react and respond to emergency situations, better equipped to build a robust workforce, and able to provide quality housing to all who live and work in our great state.

The Senate’s budget also makes key investments in transportation, environmental and clean water infrastructure while also setting aside historic state reserves and providing record tax relief to combat inflation.

Comprehensive Protections for Florida’s Youth Pass Florida Senate

Monday, Senator Clay Yarborough (R-Jacksonville) presented Senate Bill 254 on the Senate Floor which it passed with strong support the following day. SB 254 protects Florida’s children from dangerous gender reassignment treatments.

This legislation prohibits harmful and irreversible gender reassignment procedures or prescriptions for children and adolescents in Florida. Additionally, the legislation strengthens doctor-patient consultation requirements for adults who seek these same treatments. The requirement of informed consent for all patients and the prohibition of telemedicine will verify that patients are fully informed on the risks associated with these treatments.

Additionally, SB 254 prohibits the use of Medicaid funds to pay for gender reassignment procedures and prescriptions, keeping Florida’s budgetary policy aligned with the priorities of Floridians.

Florida Senate Moves to Hold Insurance Companies Accountable

Wednesday, Senator Travis Hutson (R-St. Augustine) presented Senate Bill 7052 in the Senate Committee on Banking and Insurance, where it passed with unanimous support. SB 7052 reforms insurance regulations to hold bad actors in the insurance industry accountable.

This legislation expands the regulatory powers, resources, and tools available to the Department of Financial Services (DFS) and the Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR). These additional resources will empower our state regulatory authorities to protect policyholders from abuse and get results for Floridians.

Specifically, SB 7052 will provide enhanced protections for policyholders who have filed a claim with their insurer, protect policyholders from cancellation or nonrenewal of a personal residential or commercial residential property insurance policy in certain instances, protect against stacking of deductibles if a roof deductible is applied, and expedite the timeline in which insurers are required to respond to the Division of Consumer Services that assists policyholders with insurance issues.

This legislation also enacts significant increases in fines for insurers who fail to comply with the regulations included in this legislation. This legislation builds on the efforts of the Florida Legislature to rein in insurance costs for consumers and to weed out bad actors who are solely looking out for their own interests and not those of Floridians.

Florida Senate Passes Heartbeat Protection Act

On Monday, the Florida Senate passed Senate Bill 300, the Heartbeat Protection Act, by Senator Erin Grall (R-Vero Beach).  The legislation protects innocent, unborn life by prohibiting abortions after six weeks gestation.

The Heartbeat Protection Act builds on Florida’s strong track record of protecting the most vulnerable, especially the unborn. The bill strengthens state efforts to promote adoption and support families, with significant resources to benefit infants, young children and parents. We hope these resources will encourage more Floridians in difficult and unplanned situations to choose life for their babies.

The legislation includes strong and clear exceptions for rape, incest, and human trafficking, in addition to those already available for the life of the mother. It also clarifies the existing exception for the horrible situation when parents are facing the heartbreaking diagnosis of a fatal fetal abnormality.

Second Amendment Protections Become Law

Governor Ron DeSantis signed Monday House Bill 543, Public Safety, sponsored in the Senate by Senator Jay Collins (R-Tampa). 

HB 543 eliminates the need for a concealed weapons license in the state of Florida. The bill does not affect laws relating to the purchase of a firearm and will not allow anyone prohibited from possessing a firearm to carry concealed. Florida continues to require full and complete background checks when a firearm is purchased.

I stand with Governor DeSantis, Speaker Renner, and Senator Collins, decorated members of our military, who along with law enforcement leaders from across the state, agree that eliminating the need for a concealed weapons license in the state of Florida will help more Floridians better protect themselves and their families. This comprehensive legislation ensures our laws respect the constitutional rights of law-abiding Floridians while at the same time incorporating valuable tools recommended by law enforcement that will increase the safety of our schools and communities.

The Florida Senate will reconvene next week as legislative session continues. 

Respectfully,

Kathleen

Kathleen C. Passidomo

Senate President
State Senator, District 28

Not paid for at taxpayer expense.

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