TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday received 20 bills from the state Legislature, covering a variety of issues, including human trafficking, school safety and highway racing.
DeSantis has until Tuesday, May 7 to decide whether to sign the bills into law.
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The news bills include the following:
HB 197 - Massage Parlors
House Bill 197 aims to combat human trafficking in the state that channels through illicit massage parlors.
Under the bill, the state Department of Health would be required to issue an emergency suspension of a massage therapist or establishment’s license if any employee at the business is arrested on charges related to kidnapping, human trafficking or prostitution.
In addition, the bill would explicitly prohibit any kind of sexual activity within a massage business.
If signed into law, the bill would take effect on July 1.
HB 285 - Public Record Exemptions
House Bill 285 aims to amend state statutes regarding recording notification services.
Under the bill, there would be a public record exemption for emails, phone numbers, business names and parcel ID numbers that have been submitted for the registration of a recording notification service.
Instead, such information would be kept confidential from the public except under court order, which could potentially help tamp down on title fraud.
If signed into law, the bill would take effect immediately.
HB 341 - SAFE Act
House Bill 341 — dubbed the “Safeguarding American Families Everywhere Act” (SAFE) — involves motor vehicle registration in the state.
In particular, the bill would require that motor vehicle registration applications include a section to let applicants voluntarily indicate whether they have — or whether they’re the legal guardian of a child who has — one of the following disabilities:
- autism
- attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
- down syndrome
- Alzheimer’s disease
- traumatic brain injury
- PTSD
- diabetes
- autoimmune disorder
- deafness/blindness
Applicants who indicate a diagnosis for one of these disabilities would have the designation “SAFE” applied to their motor vehicle record, though that could be updated for removal at any time.
If signed into law, the bill would take effect on Oct. 1.
HB 405 - FMCSA Alignment
House Bill 405 aims to align state laws with changes to federal regulations.
Specifically, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration established requirements in 2021 for state driver licensing agencies to have access to data on driver-specific drug and alcohol program violations.
These agencies have until November 18 to comply with the requirements — hence HB 405.
In addition, the bill would adopt updated FMCSA regulations for commercial motor vehicles.
If signed into law, the bill would take effect on July 1.
HB 761 - Domestic Violence Protections
House Bill 761 aims to amend the state statutes regarding domestic violence.
This bill would get rid of notary requirements for those seeking a petition for protection against domestic violence. Instead, these petitions would only need to be verified by the petitioner.
If signed into law, the bill would take effect on July 1.
HB 1029 - “My Safe Florida” Condo Program
House Bill 1029 aims to establish the “My Safe Florida” condominium pilot program.
The 2006 “My Safe Florida Home” program involves mitigation inspections of single-family homes and provides grants to help vulnerable households bolster themselves against hurricanes.
Under this bill, a pilot program would be enacted to provide condo associations with a program similar to the MSFH, allowing these buildings to better prepare against future hurricanes.
If signed into law, the bill would take effect on July 1.
HB 1077 - Clerks of Court
House Bill 1077 aims to amend the state statutes regarding clerks of court in Florida.
Under this bill, some changes would be made to increase revenue for clerks by redistributing certain service charges. These include:
- Revising which trust funds that certain money is deposited into
- Funding court technology improvements
- Reducing the amount of fees distributed to the General Revenue Fund
- Eliminating state attorney and public defender reporting requirements in affirmative action programs
- Allowing clerks of court to invest specific funds into interest-bearing accounts
If signed into law, the bill would take effect immediately.
HB 1393 - Court Interpreter Services
House Bill 1393 aims to amend the state statutes regarding state-funded due process services.
Currently, “due process services” in Florida can only be provided with state funds for those who are determined to be “indigent.”
Under this bill, state funds could be used to provide court-appointed interpreting services to non-indigent people, as well, which could benefit those with limited or no English proficiency.
If signed into law, the bill would take effect immediately.
HB 1473 - School Safety
House Bill 1473 seeks several changes aimed at bolstering school security in Florida.
The bill would require that sheriff’s offices responsible for certifying school guardians report the information to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
In turn, FDLE would have to keep a list of each person appointed as a school guardian, including their names, dates of certification and appointed schools.
Meanwhile, private schools would have to take on the costs involved in background screening and training for school guardians, though certification could waive those fees.
Additionally, the bill seeks the following changes for school safety:
- Exits/entrances must be secured when students are on campus.
- Exits/entrances must be actively staffed when opened or unlocked (with some exceptions).
- Each school district must develop a discipline policy for staff who violate school safety requirements.
- People are prohibited from operating drones over a public or private school serving students in grades PreK - 12.
- A grant program would be created through FDLE to give funds to law enforcement agencies to conduct security assessments for private schools.
If signed into law, the bill would take effect on July 1.
HB 1509 - School Safety (Public Records)
House Bill 1509 is linked to House Bill 1473, being based on HB-1473′s rules regarding FDLE school guardian records.
Under this bill, a public-record exemption would be established for information held by FDLE, law enforcement agencies, school districts or charter schools that could identify whether a person has been certified to serve as a school guardian.
If signed into law, the bill would take effect at the same time that HB 1473 becomes law.
HB 1565 - Florida Red Tide Mitigation
House Bill 1565 aims to amend the state statutes regarding red tide mitigation.
Currently, the Florida Red Tide Mitigation and Technology Development Initiative has been working to develop technology that could address the impacts of red tide in Florida.
This bill would require the initiative to establish recommendations for trial deployment of these technologies in state waters once they’re completed.
Under the bill, the Department of Environmental Protection would need to expedite regulatory reviews for these technologies so that they can be rolled out sooner rather than later.
If signed into law, the bill would take effect on July 1.
HB 7067 - Pretrial Detention Hearings
House Bill 7067 aims to amend the state statutes regarding pretrial detention and release.
Under this bill, courts would be allowed to base an order of pretrial detention solely on hearsay if the case involves a dangerous crime like a capital or first-degree felony.
If signed into law, the bill would take effect immediately.
SB 902 - Motor Vehicle Retail Financial Agreements
Senate Bill 902 aims to amend state statutes regarding retail installment sales.
The bill would create the “Florida Vehicle Value Protection Agreements Act,” which establishes requirements for offering vehicle value protection agreements (VVPAs).
These include restrictions on the type of charges, certain conditional sales and sales with duplicative coverage.
If signed into law, the bill would take effect on Oct. 1.
SB 988 - “My Safe Florida Home” Program
Senate Bill 988 aims to make changes to the “My Safe Florida Home” program.
Specifically, the bill would provide public-records exemptions for applicants who submit applications or home inspection reports as part of the program.
The change is being pursued because that kind of personal information is expected to put these homeowners at greater risk of home invasions and lowered privacy if it’s provided publicly.
If signed into law, the bill would take effect immediately.
SB 1136 - Water Well Contractor Licenses
Senate Bill 1136 aims to amend state statutes regarding water resources in the state, revising the qualifications for people taking the water well contractor licensing exam.
Under the bill, exam applicants would need to have at least two years of experience in constructing, repairing or abandoning water wells in Florida.
Furthermore, the bill would make it illegal to advertise water-well drilling or construction services if a business isn’t owned by a licensed water well contractor or doesn’t employ such a contractor.
If signed into law, the bill would take effect on July 1.
SB 1532 - Water Quality Enhancements
Senate Bill 1532 seeks to let private firms purchase credits through the water quality enhancement credit program.
The bill’s analysis reads as follows:
SB 1532 expands the water quality enhancement credit program to allow private entities to purchase credits. Currently, only governmental entities may purchase water quality enhancement credits under the program. Specifically, the bill provides that water quality enhancement credits may be sold to governmental entities seeking to meet an assigned basin management action plan allocation or reasonable assurance plan or to private or governmental applicants for the purpose of achieving net improvement or meeting environmental resource permit performance standards.
Florida Senate
If signed into law, the bill would take effect on July 1.
SB 1628 - Local Government Actions
Senate Bill 1628 would require that local governments complete a business impact statement before adopting any comprehensive plan amendment or land development regulation.
These statements would have to include the following information:
- Estimate of the direct economic impact
- Estimate of compliance costs for businesses
- Identification of new charges and fees
- Estimate of the county/city’s regulatory costs
- Estimate of the number of businesses that would be impacted
If signed into law, the bill would take effect on Oct. 1.
SB 1764 - Car-Racing Penalties
Senate Bill 1764 aims to amend state statutes regarding racing on highways.
Under the bill, violations of these rules would see harsher fines and enhanced penalties.
The bill would also make it so that anyone who breaks these rules while engaging in a “coordinated street takeover” — a situation where at least 10 cars are organized to take over a street — could face a third-degree felony charge and steep fines.
In addition, fines would be increased for spectators at such events.
If signed into law, the bill would take effect on July 1.
SB 7020 - Delivery of Notices
Senate Bill 7020 aims to amend state statutes regarding definitions in Florida law.
Specifically, the bill seeks to expand the definition of “registered mail” to include additional types of delivery services.
Under the bill, the term would also include any delivery service by USPS or a private delivery service “that is regularly engaged in the delivery of documents which provides proof of mailing or shipping and proof of delivery.”
If signed into law, the bill would take effect immediately.
SB 7028 - “My Safe Florida Home” Program
Senate Bill 7028 aims to amend the “My Safe Florida Home” program by implementing some changes.
Those changes include allowing applicants under the program can still receive inspections even if they’re not eligible for a mitigation grant.
Additionally, the bill would require the Department of Financial Services to prioritize reviews and approvals of inspection applications in the following order:
- FIRST: Applications from low-income homeowners who are at least 60 years old
- SECOND: Applications from all other low-income homeowners
- THIRD: Applications from moderate-income homeowners who are at least 60 years old
- FOURTH: Applications from all other moderate-income homeowners
- FIFTH: All other applications
The bill also would make additional changes by establishing new or updated requirements for homeowners under the program.
If signed into law, the bill would take effect on July 1.
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