10 big issues from Floridaâs legislative session
What did Florida lawmakers decide on COVID-19, the budget, elections, transgender athletes, social media and education? Hereâs a quick summary.
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Surrounded by lawmakers, Florida Senate President Wilton Simpson speaks to members of the media after the end of a legislative session, Friday, April 30, 2021, at the Capitol in Tallahassee. [ WILFREDO LEE | AP ]
By Jim Saunders
Updated May 3
TALLAHASSEE â The 2021 legislative session ended Friday with a traditional hanky-dropping ceremony in the fourth-floor rotunda of the Florida Capitol.
Lawmakers took up a wide range of issues during the 60-day session, along with passing a budget for the fiscal year that will start July 1.
DeSantis won big during Floridaâs legislative session. Now what?
Floridaâs 2021 legislative session delivered all the victories Gov. Ron DeSantis needs to launch his re-election bid.
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Surrounded by lawmakers, Florida Gov.Ron DeSantis speaks at the end of a legislative session, Friday, April 30, 2021, at the Capitol in Tallahassee. [ WILFREDO LEE | AP ]
An hour before Gov. Ron DeSantis was to appear on Fox Newsâ
Laura Ingraham Show on Thursday night with four other Republican governors dubbed âred state trailblazers,â the Florida House sent him the final collection of his priority bills aimed squarely at the conservative cable showâs audience.
Florida legislators reject landmark data privacy bill
The Florida Privacy Protection Act, would have imposed new disclosure requirements on companies that collect information from anyone who downloads an app or uses a website.
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Florida state Sen. Jennifer Bradley speaks during a legislative session, Thursday, April 29, 2021, at the Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla. [ WILFREDO LEE | AP ]
Updated May 1
TALLAHASSEE - A landmark proposal to lift the veil on companies that collect and sell the electronic data of their clients died on the final day of the legislative session Friday, despite its being a priority of House Speaker Chris Sprowls.
Significantly modeled off a similar measure in California, HB 969, the Florida Privacy Protection Act, would have imposed new disclosure requirements on companies that collect information from anyone who downloads an app or uses a website.
Florida Legislators pass more restrictions on local regulations
Supporters of the measures say they are needed to stop the encroachment of local regulations, smooth out the uneven application of rules and increase business options.
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Florida Sen. Travis Hutson speaks during a legislative session, Thursday, April 29, 2021, at the Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla. The natural gas industry was behind SB 1128 that will prevent local governments from banning natural gas as an energy source in new construction and restricts the ability of local governments to decrease the use of natural gas obtained by fracking, which releases methane that is rapidly worsening the climate crisis. Hutson, R-St. Augustine, said the bill was needed as a precaution. [ WILFREDO LEE | AP ]
Election reforms targeting voting by mail, drop boxes passes Florida Legislature Lawrence Mower, Tampa Bay Times
TALLAHASSEE The Florida Legislature approved along party lines a multitude of changes to the state’s elections laws Thursday night, including a ban on possessing multiple vote by mail ballots and restrictions on the use of ballot drop boxes.
Relenting on a number of ideas that were strongly opposed by county elections supervisors and Democrats, the bill now heading to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk is far less onerous than what Republicans were proposing over the last month.
The bill does not ban drop boxes, an idea DeSantis endorsed earlier this year.