Inflation has led to significant increases in costs that are negatively impacting families, especially our most vulnerable. However, we are working to ease the pain with broad-based sales tax relief that will be very meaningful for families and seniors.

This week, the Florida Senate introduced Senate Bill 7062, Taxation, which delivers $1.2 billion in broad-based tax savings to families and businesses across the state. This bill creates tax relief opportunities for growing families with new babies, for kids heading back to school, for Floridians looking to prepare their homes for severe weather, and for Floridians, young and old, who want to get out and enjoy all the beautiful natural resources and fun events the free state of Florida has to offer this summer. 

The Senate Finance and Tax Committee voted in support of the legislation. Next week, it will be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Measure to Stop Woke Investment Practices Passes Florida Senate

On Wednesday, the Florida Senate voted in favor of House Bill 3, presented by Senator Erin Grall. HB 3 addresses concerns related to environmental, social and governance investments, social credit scores, and unsafe investment practices.

This legislation requires state investments follow the “sole interest rule,” which ensures only the interests of the beneficiary can be considered when investment decisions are made. This will protect tax dollars and investments from the political agendas and social goals of large corporations, institutional investors, and money managers.

HB 3 also prohibits Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) bonds for state and local government bond issuers. Additionally, these bond issuers will be prohibited from entering into a contract with a rating agency whose ESG score would have a negative impact on the issuer’s bond rating. Further, this legislation protects consumers from discrimination by prohibiting banks and other financial institutions from discriminating against a person on the basis of religious, political, or social beliefs, or using a social credit score. 

HB 3 will be sent to the Governor for his consideration.

Social Media Safety Bill Passes Full Senate

On Tuesday, Senator Danny Burgess presented House Bill 379 on the Senate floor where it passed unanimously. HB 379 establishes a robust social media safety curriculum and provides protections in Florida public schools.

This legislation requires that social media safety curriculum be implemented in all Florida public school students for grades 6-12 and requires that this curriculum also be made available to parents. Making this curriculum available to parents builds upon Florida’s commitment to parental involvement in every aspect of their children’s education.

This curriculum is vital to ensure that Florida students better understand the social, emotional, and physical effects of social media. Through this curriculum, students will be educated on topics such as addiction, mental health, human trafficking, and many other risks associated with social media.

The legislation also prohibits the use of social media in schools and allows teachers to designate a specific electronic device zone for storage during class times, limiting distractions that hurt a student’s education.

HB 379 will now be sent to the Governor.

Florida Senate Votes to Rein in Prescription Drug Costs

Senate Bill 1550, by Senator Jason Brodeur, passed the Senate Floor unanimously this week.

SB 1550, as known as the “Prescription Drug Reform Act," provides prescription drug reform and consumer protections intended to create a healthier marketplace for life-saving prescription drugs.

This legislation requires that prescription drug manufacturers publish information on the Florida Health Finder Website for price increases greater than 15% of the drug’s previous wholesale acquisition cost during the preceding 12-month period. This measure will increase transparency regarding prescription drug pricing in the State of Florida and protect consumers from predatory pricing practices by prescription drug manufacturers.

SB 1550 also prevents Pharmacy Benefit Managers from steering patients to certain pharmacies in order to increase profit. These measures will lead to greatly improved transparency in the prescription drug marketplace, increased accountability for manufacturers and distributors, and potential cost savings for consumers. No company should be able to take advantage of Floridians’ medical conditions to line their own pocketbooks.

SB 1550 will now be sent to the Florida House of Representatives for consideration.

Protecting the Conscience of Health Care Providers

Senate Bill 1580, by Senator Jay Trumbull, passed in the Senate Committee on Rules on Wednesday.

SB 1580 protects the rights of health care providers, allowing providers to opt out of providing services based on a conscience-based objection (CBO).

This legislation also protects the free speech rights of health care practitioners by prohibiting any committee or board from taking disciplinary action against a practitioner solely because they have written or spoken, including on a social media platform, about a health care service.

This legislation does clarify that, in order to be protected under this law, the speech or written communication must not provide specific medical advice or treatment and does not otherwise violate law or rule. Through a comprehensive approach to healthcare freedom, SB 1580 enshrines the Constitutional rights of healthcare providers to speak and practice in line with their conscience.

SB 1580 will now move to the Senate floor.

Standing Up to the Oppressive Cuban Regime

On Tuesday, Senator Jay Collins presented Senate Resolution 1728 in the Senate Committee on Rules, where it passed with strong committee support.

The Cuban regime came into power through murder, intimidation, theft and imprisonment of political enemies, all of which continue today.

This resolution condemns both the tyrannical Cuban government and the Tampa area elected officials who recently hosted Cuban Ambassador, Lianys Torres Rivera, and other Cuban officials for an upscale dinner in Tampa. It also makes it clear that the Florida Senate stands with all Cubans who have escaped the Communist regime and currently reside in Florida and those who are still in Cuba searching for a way to escape oppression.

Through this legislation, the Florida Senate makes resolute its stance that officials from an oppressive, Communist regime should not be regaled or legitimized in our great state. 

The resolution will now move to the Senate floor.

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.

Paid political advertisement paid for by Working Together for Florida P.C., 133 South Harbor Drive, Venice, FL 34285.