Final Status of Bills in the 2024 Florida Legislature updated 3/15/24:
The 2024 Florida Legislature adjourned on Friday, March 8. Below is the final status of each of the bills that we have been watching, showing those that PASSED and those that DIED either in committee or on the floor of the House/Senate. Those marked PASSED are pending the Governor’s signature. Virtually no bill was defeated by vote on the House or Senate floors, though several died there.
Those marked with a “Hands Up” were supported by PC-FLAC and those marked with a “Hands Down” were opposed by PC-FLAC. You can click on the Bill # to access its text and history during the legislative process. BILLS IN RED indicate PC-FLAC representatives were present at committee meetings to give input. We gave spoken testimony FOR or AGAINST a bill as noted; in other cases, we did not speak at the committee referenced, but were present and went on record as “Waiving in Opposition” or “Waiving in Support.” PC-FLAC representatives included Patrick Finn (PF), Suzanne Printy (SP) & John Frank (JF).
- RACIAL JUSTICE / FREEDOM OF SPEECH / VOTING RIGHTS:
DIED 👎 SB 470 & HB 465 — Restrictions on Pro-Palestine University Student Organization;. This bill would have restricted ability of university student groups to organize in support of Palestine, labeling them as in association with terrorist groups and making them ineligible for in- state tuition and scholarships, and requiring that their information be sent to the Dept. of Homeland Security. Both bills died in committee.
DIED 👍 HB 1035 & SB 1522 – Harry and Harriette Moore VOTING RIGHTS ACT of FLORIDA; Taken together, these two bills are the basis of landmark legislation designed to protect and enhance voting rights by eliminating voting barriers and discriminatory anti-voter policies. The bill would have reversed laws that have been enacted throughout Florida’s history, and most recently during the DeSantis era, that have been particularly discriminatory to people of color. No committee in either chamber heard the bill.
DIED 👎 HJR 335 – Requirement to Amend the Florida Constitution; This dangerous bill would have Impeded the voice of the people by requiring 66.67% votes to approve an amendment, rather than the current requirement of 60%; Opposed by civil liberty organizations across the board; Died in Committee.
PASSED 👎 HB 75 & SB 184 – Impeding, Threatening, Harassing First Responders; Sponsored in the Senate by Avila (Hialeah Gardens) and in the House by Rizo (Hialeah), and opposed by proponents of freedom of speech and the first amendment, this bill requires protestors warned to stand back within 25 feet from first responders or be subject to a first-degree misdemeanor and up to one year in jail. It does allow for an exception for photographing and observation. PC-FLAC spoke in opposition (JF) at House Judiciary Comm (1/23) and requested that an exception also be added for nonviolent protestors;
PASSED 👎 HB 601 & SB 576 – Complaints Against Law Enforcement and Correctional Officers; Sponsored by Dugan (Jacksonville), the bill disbands and pre-empts local civilian review boards from investigating accusations of police abuse; PC-FLAC waived in opposition (SP & JF) on SB 576 at Senate Community Affairs Comm (2/6); PC-FLAC spoke in opposition on HB 601 (PF) at House Judiciary Comm (2/7) and JF and SP Waived in Opposition.
DIED 👍 SB 134 – Crimes Evidencing Prejudice; Sponsored by Senator Berman (Boynton Beach), this bill would have expanded the grounds for the reclassification of crimes to include acts of prejudice based on race, gender, religion, sexual orientation and other identities; Never had its first hearing in a Senate Committee and had no House companion bill.
PASSED 👎 HB 1209 – Disassociation from Council on American-Islamic Relations; This is a non-binding resolution, a so-called “narrative bill” to express the sentiment of the House. Sponsored by Fine (Palm Bay), it calls for suspension of all government contact and engagement with CAIR. Politically charged to show support of Israel appealing to the Republican party base during the current Hamas-Israel conflict. There was no Senate companion resolution.
PASSED 👎 SB 1044 & HB 931 – School Chaplains; Sponsored in the House by McClain (Ocala) and in the Senate by Grall (Ft. Pierce), the bill allows local schools to staff voluntary chaplains in the schools, without regard to the religious diversity of the student body. Opposed by first amendment advocates and sets up a dangerous potential platform for in the infiltration of Christian nationalism into the school system. PC-FLAC spoke in opposition (JF) to SB 1044 at Senate Education PK-12 on 2/6 and SP Waived in Opposition.
PASSED 👎 SB 1372 & HB 1291 — Educator Preparation Programs; The House bill passed, sponsored by Snyder (Palm City); Prohibits curriculum in secondary and higher education from addressing issues impacting diversity education, racism, sexism, and oppression in educators’ preparation courses. Reinforces last year’s “Stop WOKE Teacher Training” bill and explicitly prohibits curriculum “based on theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States,” restricting teachers’ ability to convey honest and accurate teachings and discussions about our past in hopes of creating a better future. PC-FLAC spoke in opposition (JF) at House Education & Employment Comm on 2/7.
- GUN VIOLENCE
DIED 👍 SB 786 & HB 857 – Youth Conflict Resolution and Peer Mediation Pilot Program; Sponsored in the Senate by Powell (West Palm Beach) and in the House by Bracey-Davis (Orlando), this bill had hoped to create a Pilot Program for a certain number of middle schools to teach students conflict transformation skills to dissuade school violence, and to contract with a select nonprofit organization to implement the program; PC-FLAC spoke in support of SB 786 (JF) at Senate Education PreK-12 Comm (2/6); Died in committee in both the House and Senate.
DIED 👎 HB 1223 – Minimum Age for Firearm Purchase or Transfer; This bill sponsored b Payne (Palatka) and Sirois (Meritt Island) would have lowered the age from 21 to 18 to buy long guns, like AR-15s, reversing the good that was done in the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas Act. Semi-automatic long guns are the weapons of choice for mass shooters. The shooter who used an AR-15 to murder 17 people and injure 17 others at the MSD High School in Parkland was only 19-years old. PC-FLAC members collaborated with Moms Demand Action on 1/24 and met with legislators to voice opposition to this bill. Though the bill passed the House, it never had a companion bill in the Senate.
DIED 👎 HB 17 & SB 1124 – Expiration of the Mandatory Waiting Period for Firearm Purchases; Currently there is a three-day waiting period when purchasing a gun from a federally licensed dealer. During that time a background check is run. However, this bill would have allowed the buyer to acquire the firearm if the background check was not completed in three days. This bill, sponsored by Rudman (Navarre) would have abrogated good legislation that was created in the wake of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas mass school shooting. SB 1124 proposes to make the 3-day mandatory waiting period applicable to only handguns and would have exempted long guns and other firearms. PC-FLAC members collaborated with Moms Demand Action on 1/24 and met with legislators to voice opposition to this bill. The Senate refused to take up the bill. Thank you Senate President Passidimo!
PASSED 👎 HB 87 / SB 632 – The Taking of Bears; Sponsored by Shoaf (Port St. Joe) this bill allows the killing of bears on one’s property without permit or authorization, so long as one perceives being threatened by the presence of the beer. With so many Floridans now possessing guns and open-carry, advocates who are concerned with need to stop gunviolence and control access the guns see this bill as not only reaffirming Florida’s “stand your ground” law, but also risking accidental killing of neighbors.
DIED 👎 HB 1619 – Open Carry and Possession of Weapons and Firearms; This bill sponsored by Beltran (Riverview) would have expanded carry rights which were granted last year allowing persons to carry concealed weapons without a license. This bill would have allowed guns to be open in more places, including college campuses, voting polls, and government buildings. The House bill never got through committees and there was no comparable Senate bill.
DIED 👍 SB 130 & HB 209: Possession or Use of a Fireman in a Sensitive Location; Among other locations, this bill would have restricted firearms in hospitals, nursing homes, government buildings, municipal parks, houses of worship and libraries. Neither bill was heard in committee.
DIED 👍 HB 145 & SB 180: Sales of Ammunition; Would have required background checks for the sale or transfer of ammunition. Neither bill was heard in committee.
DIED 👍 HB 150 & HB 279: Assault Weapons and Large Capacity Magazines; This bill would have prohibited the sale or transfer of Assault Weapons and Large Capacity Magazines. Neither bill was heard in committee.
DIED 👍 SB 176 / HB 291 / SB 518 / HB 419: Storage of Weapons and Firearms; Several bills known as “safe storage” bills that at one time were talked about being combined into a proposed Responsible Gun Ownership Act; They would have provides several measures for safe storage in various contexts and stiffen penalties for failing to properly store firearms and preventing access to them by minors. None of these bills made it to the first committee hearing.
- CREATION IN CRISIS
PASSED 👎 SB 1624 & HB 1645 – Energy Resources; This bill was sponsored in the House by Payne (Palatka) and though opposed by many environmental groups who see is as going backwards, it further removes incentives for renewable energy. The bill overhauls state energy laws, eliminates references to reducing climate change and greenhouse gas emissions, promotes natural gas use and imposes a ban on offshore wind-energy generation.
DIED 👎 SB 738 & HB 789 – Environmental Management/Attorney Costs for litigation; Sponsored in the Senate by Burgess (Zephyrhills) and in the House by Overdorf (Stuart), though it was passed by the Senate, it died on the House floor. This bill would have weakened the enforcement of environmental laws by discouraging citizens and pro-environmental groups from suing and bringing reasonable legal challenges to state agencies for flawed permitting decisions. Opposed by many environmental groups. Though it passed in the Senate, it died on the House floor.
DIED 👍 HB 723 & SB 1364 – Everglades Protection Area; Sponsored in the House by Busatta-Cabrera (Coral Gables) and in the Senate by Calatayud (Miami), this bill would have required additional layers of review for land use decisions impacting Florida’s Everglades; strongly supported by environmental groups. PC-FLAC Waived in Support (JF and SP) at House Agriculture Comm (2/6). Though it passed the Senate, it died in Committee in the House.
DIED 👍 SB 32 & HB 1581 – Mangrove Replanting and Restoration; Sponsored in the Senate by Garcia (Miami) and in the House by Mooney (Key Largo), this bill would have required the Department of Environmental Protection to adopt rules for mangrove replanting and restoration, addressing erosion in areas of critical state concern, protect barrier and spoil islands, assist Everglades restoration and revitalization efforts, promoting public awareness of the value of mangroves and encouraging partnerships with local governmental entities to create local mangrove protection and restoration zone programs. Died in Committee.
- CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM
PASSED 👎 HB 1181 & SB 1274 — Juvenile Justice; Sponsored in the House by Jacques (Clearwater) and in the Senate by Martin (Ft. Myers), this bill appears to reduce the risk of gun violence by minors under the age of 18, but it has a negative impact from the perspective of criminal justice reform as juveniles would be charged with a third-degree felony if they’re caught with an illegal firearm. The bill also extends how long juvenile detention centers can hold minors before a court begins criminal proceedings. The adjudication process can sometimes take weeks or even months which is too long for kids to be locked away, especially without them being convicted. There are better deterrents without the harmful developmental effects of incarceration.
PASSED 👎 SB 1222 & HB 549 – Retail Theft; The House bill, sponsored by Rommel (Naples) and in the Senate by Trumbull (Panama City) was pushed by big box-store retailers like Walmart and Target and is an illustration of short-sighted legislation for minor nonviolent offenses. Rather than advancing remedial intervention and restorative justice policies that can put an offender on the road to gainful employment and responsible citizenship, the bill calls for longer prison sentences for shoplifting, making it more difficult for offenders to get back on their feet after they get out of prison. PF-FLAC waived in opposition (JF) at Senate Criminal Justice Comm (1/23).
PASSED 👍 SB 62 & HB 767 – Resident Status for Tuition Purposes; Sponsored in the Senate by Osgood (Tamarac) and in the House by Edmonds (West Palm Beach), the Senate version of the bill was adopted and allows individuals who have been incarcerated in Florida to not lose their resident status for tuition purposes in Florida state colleges and universities. PC-FLAC waived in support (SP) at Senate Education Post-Secondary Comm (2/6). PC-FLAC also waived in support (SP and JF) at House Higher Education Appropriations Comm (2/6).
PASSED 👍 HB 1241 & SB 1154 – Probation and Community Parole Violations; Sponsored in the House by Snyder (Palm City) and in the Senate by Simon (Quincy), this bill revises procedures for assessing probation and parole infractions to better accommodate circumstances impacting low-risk offenders with reasonable leniency.
DIED 👍 SB 54 & HB 97 – Expunction of Criminal History Records; This bill would have revised criteria for expunging criminal records for persons who committed their crimes as a minor, enhancing their prospect for gainful employment and citizenship. Died in Committee.
- IMMIGRATION RIGHTS
While recognizing the fundamental need for a comprehensive federal immigration policy that creates pathways to citizenship, we joined the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops (FCCB) and other immigrant support organizations to oppose several bills that exasperate the immigration crisis.
PASSED 👎 SB 1174 & HB 1451 – Identification Documents; House bill sponsored by Michael (Jacksonville Beach) and Senate bill sponsored by Ingoglia (Spring Hill), this bill pre-empts local governments from issuing Identification cards to undocumented immigrants for purposes of enrolling in schools and participating in community-based social services, particularly within the nonprofit sector. PC-FLAC Waived in Opposition (JF and SP) at the Senate Community Affairs Comm (2/6).
PASSED 👎 SB 1324 & HB 1549 – Driving Without a Valid Drivers License; Sponsored in the senate by Ingoglia (Spring Hill) and in the House by Paxon (Longwood), this anti-immigrant bill now establishes more severe criminal penalties for unlicensed driving, impacting undocumented workers more adversely than the general population and with increased likelihood for imprisonment.
PASSED 👎 SB 1036 & HB 1449 – Reclassification of Criminal Penalties; Sponsored in the Senate by Ingoglia (Spring Hill) and in the House by Michael (Jacksonville Beach), this is another “get tough on immigrants” bill that Imposes harsher criminal penalties for illegal immigrants who are arrested for felonies after illegally re-entering the U.S. after they were deported for earlier crimes.
- INVESTING IN MOTHERHOOD
PASSED 👍 HB 415 & SB 436 – Pregnancy and Parenting Resource Website; Sponsored by Jacques (Clearwater) in the House by Grall (Ft. Pierce) in the Senate, the bill requires the Florida Dept of Health to maintain website providing resources on pregnancy and parenting.
DIED 👍 HB 127 & SB 128 – Paid Parental Leave; This bill would have established a policy for paid parental leave for state employees without regard to accrued sick or annual leave. Neither bill made it to its first committee meeting.
DIED 👍 SB 1466 & HB 933 – Access to Contraception; Endorsed by Faith in Action, the bill wouild have clarified language in Florida law regarding contraception and would have assured a woman’s right to contraception as a means for responsible family planning, offsetting the risk of an unwanted pregnancy and the prospect of abortion. Neither bill made it to its first committee meeting.
DIED 👍 SB 1442 & HB 1609 – Pregnancy Support services. Sponsored by Stevenson (St. Johns) in the House and Grall (Ft. Pierce) in the Senate, the bill would have established a grant program to provide housing and support services to homeless and low-income single mothers. PC-FLAC spoke in support (JF) and SP Waived in Support at Senate Health Policy Comm (2/6); Died in committee in both chambers.
- LGBTQ & GENDER EQUITY
DIED 👎 HB 1639 – Gender and Biological Sex; Sponsored by Bankson (Apopka) and Black (Jacksonville) the bill would have legally defined the difference between “gender” and “sex”and wouild have required that “sex” rather than “gender” be used in forms of identification and that driver’s licenses show a person’s sex at birth. Opposed by Equality of Florida and the ACLU who called it the “Trans Erasure Bill.” Died for lack of a companion bill in the Senate. Note, that despite the bill not passing, the bill had already been implemented administratively as the Dept. of Highway and Motor Vehicles is now telling Tax Collectors to treat gender changes on driver’s licenses as a violation of existing false ID statutes.
DIED 👍 SB 160 / HB 169 – Marriage between Persons of the Same Sex; With the recent passage of the federal Respect for Marriage Act, this bill would have repealed language in the Florida state constitution that states that civil marriage is between a man and woman. Neither bill had its first committee hearing.
8. LABOR (Child labor, Living Wage, Working Conditions, etc.)
PASSED 👎 HB 49 & SB 1596: Employment and Curfew of Minors; The House bill, sponsored by Chaney (St. Petersburg) was adopted but was significantly scaled back. Nonetheless, the bill still rolls-back Child Labor laws and allows 16 and 17year-olds to work longer hours, when they should be focused on education. Put forth by powerful business lobby interests to tap a source for cheap labor, over 100 nonprofits and children’s advocacy organizations and the Florida Policy Institute led the charge in opposition to this bill. PC-FLAC opposed this bill and circulated an Action Email to Legislators. Subsequently, PC-FLAC waived in opposition at House Commerce Comm (1/23).
PASSED 👎 SB 1492 & HB 433 – Employment Regulations; The House version was adopted after significant bait-and-switch tactics throughout the 60-day legislative session. Sponsored by Esposito (Ft Myers), the bill pre-empts local ordinances that support workers through laws been passed in Miami/Dade and other communities to advance Living Wage and Prevent Heat Illness, particularly impacting farmworkers. The bill contradicts the notion of subsidiarity, a foundational tenet of Catholic Social Justice Teaching. The Florida Farmworkers Association strongly opposed this bill. PC-FLAC waived in opposition (JF) at the Senate Commerce Comm (1/23) and again waives in opposition (JF & SP) at the Senate Community Affairs Comm on 2/6.
- HOMELESSNESS and AFFORDABLE HOUSING
PASSED 👎 SB 1530 & HB 1365 – Unauthorized Public Camping and Public Sleeping; House bill sponsored by Garrison (Fleming Island) and Senate bill by Martin (Ft. Myers), effectively criminalizes homelessness by prohibiting counties and municipalities from permitting public sleeping on public property without a permit and providing for enforcement actions. PC-FLAC spoke in opposition (PF) at House Judiciary Comm (2/7), and SP & JF Waived in Opposition.
DIED 👍 HB 41 – Grant program for Homeowners’ Mortgage Loans and Home Insurance; Sponsored by Edmonds (West Palm Beach), this bill would have assisted qualified low-income homeowners in the wake of the large spike in homeowners insurance. It died in committee and had no companion Senate bill.
DIED 👍 HB 31 & SB 64 – Landlords and Tenants; This bill would have relieved tenants by capping rent increases and requiring landlords to provide air-conditioning. Neither version had it first committee hearing.