Scored Bills

Session 2024

Anti-Abortion Taxpayer-Funded Propaganda

HB 415

Requires the Florida Department of Health to establish a taxpayer-funded website for pregnant Floridians that will feature deceptive, religion centered, anti-abortion pregnancy centers, instead of information about resources that provide the full spectrum of reproductive health options. Signed into law by Gov. DeSantis.

Bad for Floridians

Banning Local Control of Short Term Rentals

SB 280

Eliminates local control over vacation rentals with a statewide one-size-fits-all set of regulations. Ties the hands of cities and counties when it comes to regulating vacation rentals and homes rented on platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo. Vetoed by Gov. DeSantis.

Bad for Floridians

Bear Killing, Anti-Conservation

HB 87

Allows the killing of bears if one “reasonably believes their life is in danger”, even though it is already legal to kill bears in self-defense. Allows residents to kill bears without a permit and opens the door for unlimited killing of bears under the guise of protecting property and safety. Signed into law by Gov. DeSantis.

Bad for Floridians

Child Labor Protections Rollback

HB 49

Weakens state child labor laws by allowing 16 and 17-year-olds to work for more than six days in a row during the school year and exempts home and virtual-school students from state child labor laws entirely. Allows for overnight shifts on a school night or for more than 30 hours in a school week, putting some children’s education and well-being at risk. Signed into law by Gov. DeSantis.

Bad for Floridians

Climate Crisis Denial Bill

HB 1645

Removes most references to combatting climate change from Florida law, bans offshore wind energy, promotes fossil fuels, increases Floridians’ electric bills by allowing utilities to charge for methane facility relocation. Signed into law by Gov. DeSantis.

Bad for Floridians

Community IDs Ban

HB 1451

Bans local governments from recognizing or accepting community IDs issued to undocumented and homeless people. Community IDs are used by many Florida residents to identify themselves to law enforcement, schools, banks, etc., and are necessary to participate in and contribute to civic life. Signed into law by Gov. DeSantis.

Bad for Floridians

Corruption in Government

SB 7014

Severely undermines the ability for Florida citizens to file complaints against government officials and politicians who violate the public trust. Bans local ethics commissions from self-initiating their own investigations. Signed into law by Gov. DeSantis.

Bad for Floridians

Dozier School for Boys Victims Compensation

HB 21

Provides $20 million to compensate victims of abuse at the shuttered Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys in Marianna and another state reform school in Okeechobee County. Signed into law by Gov. DeSantis.

Good for Floridians

Funding Affordable Housing

SB 1456

Exempts counties (particularly Monroe) with designated Areas of Critical State Concern from certain affordable housing requirements and allows use of tourism development funds for affordable housing under certain scenarios. Signed into law by Gov. DeSantis.

Good for Floridians

Gun Violence: Background Check Repeal

HB 17

Repeals a portion of the public safety law passed after the Parkland shooting massacre that requires firearm buyers successfully complete a background check, regardless of the length of time required to complete the background check. Passed in House, died in the Senate.

Bad for Floridians

Gun Violence: Repeals Purchase Age Requirement

HB 1223

Repeals a portion of the public safety law passed after the Parkland shooting massacre by lowering the minimum age required to purchase long guns, including AR-15s, from 21 to 18. Passed in House, died in the Senate.

Bad for Floridians

Heat Protections for Workers Ban

HB 433

Bans the ability of local governments to enact heat protections for outdoor workers including requirements to provide breaks in the shade to protect the health and welfare of employees. Signed into law by Gov. DeSantis.

Bad for Floridians

Homelessness Criminalization

HB 1365

Makes it illegal for homeless people to sleep on public property in Florida unless they are inside a secured camp. The bill penalizes local governments that seek flexible options for addressing homelessness and provides zero funding for communities to address the issue. Signed into law by Gov. DeSantis.

Bad for Floridians

Hurricane Damage Insurance Protections

HB 1149

Prevents insurance companies from canceling policies of people whose homes are damaged in hurricanes before they have time to make repairs. Passed in the Senate, died in the House.

Good for Floridians

Impeding Right to Video Police in Public

SB 184

Despite existing law prohibiting interference with a law enforcement officer’s official duties, this bill prohibits approaching a first responder within 25 feet if warned not to do so, a vast overreach of First Amendment Rights and the ability for citizens to document actions as a witness. Signed into law by Gov. DeSantis.

Bad for Floridians

Living Wage Requirement Ban

HB 705

Prevents cities and counties from requiring their construction contractors to pay a living wage or provide adequate benefits to their workers when working on publicly funded projects. Signed into law by Gov. DeSantis.

Bad for Floridians

Polluter Protection Bill

HB 789

Strongly impedes the ability of citizens and nonprofit groups to challenge anti-environmental, harmful decisions by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection or state water management districts by forcing plaintiffs to cover up to $50,000 in legal fees if they don’t prevail in court. Passed the Senate, died in the House.

Bad for Floridians

Predatory Consumer Finance Loans

HB 1347

An anti-consumer bill that raises the allowed interest rates on consumer finance loans to as high as 36% (APR). These “payday” loans, often utilized by low-income Floridians, are exempt from Florida’s usury law that prohibits interest rates above 18% (APR). Signed into law by Gov. DeSantis.

Bad for Floridians

Proposed Amendment to Adjust Homestead Exemption Value

HJR 7017

Places a proposed constitutional amendment on the Nov. 2024 ballot that increases a property tax exemption. The amendment, if passed by 60% of voters, will cost local governments tens of millions of dollars annually and shift the burden to local businesses and renters.

Bad for Floridians

Public Financing Repeal for Statewide Campaigns

HB 7061

Places a proposed constitutional amendment on the Nov. 2024 ballot that would eliminate public financing for qualifying candidates for statewide, state level office. The amendment, if passed by 60% of voters, reduces the importance of small donor, grassroots support, and benefits independently wealthy and/or special interest funded candidates.

Bad for Floridians

Public School Religion Promotion

HB 931

Injects religion into public schools by allowing volunteer chaplains to provide support, services, or programs to students including “counseling”. Signed into law by Gov. DeSantis.

Bad for Floridians

Sexual Assault Evidence Protection

SB 764

Requires law enforcement to store rape kits and DNA evidence for 50 years to better achieve justice for sexual assault victims and prosecute sexual predators. Signed into law by Gov. DeSantis.

Good for Floridians

Strengthens Everglades Protections

HB 723/SB 1364

An Everglades protection bill that requires construction projects and proposed zoning changes within two miles of the Everglades to undergo a coordinated state review. Passed in the Senate, died in the House.

Good for Floridians

Teacher Training Censorship

HB 1291

Expands state censorship of viewpoints on racism and sexism to educator preparation programs and courses. The bill expands harms created by previously passed legislation currently blocked by federal courts, while further restricting the ability of educators to lead 21st century classrooms with honest and accurate discussions of our past to create a better future. Signed into law by Gov. DeSantis.

Bad for Floridians

Trans-Erasure Bill

HB 1639

A sweeping discriminatory bill that directly targets transgender Floridians. Empowers the DMV to revoke transgender Floridians’ licenses or IDs that align with their gender identity, creates new barriers to accessing lifesaving care, and could increase insurance premiums for all Floridians. Passed in the House, died in the Senate.

Bad for Floridians

Workers’ Unions Attack

HB 1471

Requires anyone who wants to be a member of public employee union to sign a government mandated membership form that contains anti-union slogans and propaganda. Public unions risk decertification if 60% of their members do not sign the state created anti-union form. Signed into law by Gov. DeSantis.

Bad for Floridians