This week, the Florida Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill (SB) 1638, Florida’s Compact to Conserve, sponsored by the Dean of the Florida Senate, Senator Travis Hutson.

SB 1638 dedicates the revenues from the gaming compact between the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the State of Florida to acquire and manage conservation lands, and identify and prioritize critical clean water infrastructure investments.

Conservation and preservation of Florida's land and water resources are essential to maintaining the quality of life we all enjoy, as well as sustaining and growing a thriving economy, including legacy industries like tourism and agriculture.  The Compact to Conserve invests in the strategic expansion of our Wildlife Corridor and will help protect endangered native species, including the Florida panther.  I am grateful to Governor Ron DeSantis, Speaker Paul Renner and Commissioner Wilton Simpson for their vision, steadfast leadership and support in safeguarding Florida’s land, water and wildlife legacy.

Specifically, the bill sets forth the following appropriations of compact revenues:

• $100 million each fiscal year to support the Florida Wildlife Corridor, including the acquisition of lands or conservation easements within the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
• $100 million for the implementation of Florida’s Statewide Flooding and Sea Level Rise Resilience Plan.
• $100 million for the management of state-owned lands and removal of invasive species, which is further subdivided as follows:
  • $32 million for land management within the State Park System.
  • $4 million to implement the implement the Local Trail Management Grant Program.
  • $32 million for land management within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, including state forests.
  • $32 million for land management within the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, including state game lands and management activities for gopher tortoises and Florida panthers.

After the distributions outlined above, the remainder of funds available each fiscal year will be distributed to the Water Protection and Sustainability Program Trust Fund to implement Florida’s Water Quality Improvement Grant Program. $79 million is appropriated for Fiscal Year 2024-25, an amount expected to increase in future years.

Florida Senate Passes Measure to Protect Children from Dangers of Social Media and Harmful Online Content

On Thursday, the Florida Senate passed House Bill 1, sponsored in the Senate by Senator Erin Grall (R-Vero Beach), with bipartisan support.  House Bill 1 provides robust online protections for children and holds big tech companies accountable for unsafe practices. 

The rapid increase of the grip of social media on our society has resulted in very serious negative consequences for all Floridians, especially our children.  Experts have tied the use of social media to increased rates of depression, stress, anxiety, and even suicide.  Unfortunately, social media companies have failed to enact proper protections for users, jeopardizing the safety and mental health of our children.  As recently as January 31, the United States Senate Judiciary Committee hosted a bipartisan hearing with Chief Executive Officers of the major social media companies on their failures to enact proper protections for minors, which included an apology from Meta’s Chief Executive Officer to families negatively impacted by the shortsighted practices that placed profit over the wellbeing of their users. 

House Bill 1 puts the sovereign duty of protecting children first by requiring social media companies to prohibit children under the age of 16 from creating an account or utilizing a social media platform and establishes guidelines for a robust age verification process.  These social media platforms are addictive by design, taking advantage of formative young minds so our children spend more and more time scrolling, watching, and consuming. 

This legislation also seeks to protect all children from harmful material online, establishing strict age verification on adult material to ensure that anyone accessing this content is over 18 years of age.  For decades, youth have been able to easily bypass simplistic age verification methods for graphic content indemnifying online companies from their responsibility to the consumer market. 

While these companies attempt to address these shortcomings, the government has a vested interest and solemn duty to provide strict protections for citizens, especially for our children.  With the constant and rapid evolution of the online space, Florida will take the bold step to ensure Florida’s youth are protected from predatory practices that negatively impact mental health, adolescent development, and the very fabric that bonds Florida’s communities together. 

Senate Proposes More Than $900 Million in Broad-Based Tax Relief for Families and Businesses

On Tuesday, the Senate Committee on Finance and Tax, Chaired by Senator Blaise Ingoglia (R-Spring Hill), passed the Senate’s proposed Tax Package (SB 7074) for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 with unanimous support. 

SB 7074 builds on the historic tax relief passed in the 2023 Regular Session and delivers over $900 million in broad-based tax savings to families and small businesses across the state.  This critical tax relief demonstrates the Florida Senate’s commitment to fighting the inflationary policies of the failed Biden Administration and providing key support directly to Floridians. 

Property insurance costs continue to impact Floridians across the state, posing major affordability problems for growing families and seniors.  This tax relief package provides critical savings on home insurance premiums by establishing a one-year exemption on taxes, fees, and assessments for residential property insurance policyholders.  These savings will work to address property insurance affordability issues while significant legislative reforms passed during the 2023 Legislative Session come to fruition. 

This legislation helps small businesses to reduce the cost of doing business in the State of Florida.  SB 7074 also increases the Sales Tax Collection Allowance helping to offset additional business costs.

Combined with additional support for businesses that hire persons with unique abilities and/or donate to certain charitable organizations, Florida is sending a clear message that we will support the small businesses that are the backbone of our economy. 

This Senate’s proposed tax package also establishes a robust slate of sales tax holidays that deliver critical tax savings on school supplies, emergency preparedness supplies, tools and recreational items. Building upon legislation last year that created permanent sales tax exemptions for diapers, baby clothing and oral hygiene products, Florida is working to maintain its status as the best place to live, work and raise a family. 

This proposed tax cut now proceeds to negotiations with our legislative partners in the Florida House of Representatives. 

Legislation Enhancing Education on Horrors of Communism Moves to Final Committee 

Tuesday, the Senate Appropriations Committee on Education passed Senate Bill 1264, sponsored by Senator Jay Collins (R-Tampa), with unanimous support.  Senate Bill 1264 requires schools across the State of Florida to offer robust education on the devastating impacts of Communism. 

Communism is a horrific, tyrannical, repressive, and broken ideology that directly challenges the American ideals of freedom, liberty, and justice for all.  Communist regimes have stripped innocent civilians of basic rights, separated countless families, imprisoned people simply for speaking out against tyranny and murdered over 100 million men, women, and children. 

Florida has stood as a beacon of hope for so many who have fled the horrors of Communism, welcoming millions of Cubans, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans who have found new freedom, safety, and opportunity here in the Sunshine State.  We owe it not only to these victims of Communism but to all future generations of Floridians to ensure that our children receive an accurate education on the horrific nature and devastating impacts of Communism. 

Senate Bill 1264 requires that each Florida School District provide a comprehensive, age-appropriate education on the history of Communism and the atrocities committed by Communist regimes such as the People’s Republic of China, the Communist Party of Cuba and other Latin American Communist regimes. 

Florida Senate Expands Legislative Package to Hold Washington Accountable 

Wednesday, the Senate Committee on Rules passed two critical resolutions, presented by Senator Travis Hutson (R-St. Augustine), to hold Washington accountable.  These resolutions build on the Florida Legislature’s initiative to hold Washington accountable and bring common sense back to the Federal Government.  

Senate Resolution 7064 calls for a Constitutional Convention to propose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution which would authorize the President of the United States to slash unnecessary spending from the federal budget. 

Currently, 44 states, including Florida, allow the Governor to cut spending from state budgets through line-item veto power.  This provision weakens the influence of special interests and holds Congress accountable, slashing wasteful funding in the federal budget. 

Senate Resolution 7064 compliments House Resolution 703, passed earlier this session, calling for a balanced budget amendment to the United States Constitution.  With the United States’ debt over $34 trillion, Washington’s spending problem is more evident than ever, and these resolutions send a clear message to Congress that their constituents are fed up with the status quo. 

Senate Resolution 7066 calls for a Constitutional Convention to propose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would prohibit Congress from making any law applying to citizens of the United States that does not equally apply to members of Congress. 

Equality under the law is a fundamental aspect of the American Republic.  Yet Congress has consistently disrespected and disregarded the idea that they should be held to the same standard as those they represent.  Congress’ ability to pass laws that have no impact on Representatives or Senators has created a culture of corruption in Washington that would have our founding fathers turning over in their graves. 

Senate Resolution stands firm against the culture of corruption we see in Washington and calls on Congress to restore equality under the law for every American – there are no second-class citizens. 

As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office any time that I can be of assistance.

Respectfully,

Kathleen C. Passidomo

Senate President
State Senator, District 28

Not paid for at taxpayer expense.

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