Becker’s State Lobbying Update: Week 5, March 31 – April 4, 2025
Hot Topics
“Halfway Mark”
The Florida Legislature has reached the halfway mark, with 30 days complete and 30 more days to go in the 60-day legislative session. As legislators head into the second half of the 2025 session, only 44 bills have passed in one chamber or the other, with no substantive bills passing both chambers. It is a significant difference from previous years, with 12 bills having passed both chambers by the halfway point in the 2024 session and 19 bills having passed both bills by the halfway point in the 2023 session. Among the measures that have passed one chamber or the other are the $200 million “rural renaissance” bill, SB 110 by Senator Simon, a priority of Senate President Albritton, and HB 759 by Representatives Salzman and Sirois that repeals the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act lowering the legal age for buying a rifle from 21 to 18. This act was approved by the Legislature in 2018 following the school shooting that occurred at Parkland High School. There are 1,906 bills filed this legislative session, and 820 general bills have yet to be considered by any of their committees of reference.
“Budget”
On Wednesday, April 2, 2025, legislators in both House and Senate budget committees approved their respective spending proposals for the coming fiscal year, moving a step closer to floor consideration and the eventual need to work out a $4 billion gap between the two budgets. The Senate Appropriations Committee moved forward with that chamber’s $117.4 billion budget proposal, SB 2500, which is set to be heard on the Senate floor on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. The House Budget Committee put forward a $113 billion plan, BUC1, which will be heard on the House floor on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. One of the differences between the two proposals is that the House intends to permanently eliminate roughly 7,000 vacant positions, while the Senate proposal would only cut about 1,000 full-time and vacant jobs. The House also wants to keep pay flat for state workers, while the Senate proposes 4% raises. The two chambers will discuss both proposals during the Budget Conference, which has yet to be scheduled. A final budget agreement must be reached by April 29 to adhere to the constitutionally mandated 72-hour “cooling off” period if the Legislature is to end its session on time on May 2.
“Taxes”
On Wednesday, April 2, 2025, the House Ways & Means Committee unanimously approved a $5.43 billion tax package, HB 7031, by the Ways & Means Committee and Representative Duggan. The bill centers around House Speaker Perez’s plan to permanently reduce the state sales tax from 6% to 5.25%, potentially saving taxpayers nearly $5 billion annually. In addition to lowering the rate by 0.75%, the bill would also reduce the rate on commercial rent from 2.0% to 1.25%, the rate on electricity from 4.35% to 3.6%, the rate on sales of new mobile homes from 3.0% to 2.25% and the rate on coin-operated amusement machines from 4.0% to 3.25%; as well as making conforming changes to implement the reductions. This tax reduction is also proposed to reduce local government revenue by roughly $540 million in the upcoming 2025-26 fiscal year, beginning on July 1. Another measure, HB 1485 by Representative Basabe, eliminates the excise tax on aviation gasoline, aviation turbine fuels, and kerosene. The bill favorably passed out of the Ways and Means Committee along party lines with a vote of 12 Yeas and 5 Nays. It is now in its second committee of reference, the Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee, and has yet to be considered.
“Special Elections for CD 1 and CD 6”
On April 1, 2025, former Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis and former State Senator Randy Fine won their congressional races. Former CFO Patronis has replaced former Congressman Matt Gaetz in the 1st Congressional District, representing the counties of Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and a portion of Walton County. Former State Senator Randy Fine will now serve in Florida’s 6th Congressional District representing counties Flagler and Putnam and portions of Lake, Marion, St. Johns and Volusia Counties.
Local Government
Impact Fees
On Tuesday, March 25, 2025, SB 482 by Senator DiCeglie was considered by the Senate Community Affairs committee but received an unfavorable vote of 3 Yeas and 4 Nays. The bill seeks to revise FL statutes concerning impact fee increases imposed by local governments under “extraordinary circumstances,” defining “extraordinary circumstances.” The bill requires criteria such as population growth, total development increases, increase in vehicle miles, and maintenance costs to be met before a local government can raise impact fees beyond the statutory ramp-up of 50 percent over 4 years. During the committee discussion, concerns arose regarding the definition of “extraordinary circumstances” in the local government permitting process, with members and stakeholders emphasizing clarity to avoid passing infrastructure costs to taxpayers. Following the discussion, the bill was deferred for reconsideration. The following day, a motion to reconsider was adopted, and on Monday, March 31, 2025, the bill passed favorably with a unanimous 8 Yeas. The bill now advances to its next committee stop, Finance and Tax. Its House companion bill, HB 665 by Representative Steele, is now in its second committee stop, the House Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee, and has yet to be considered.
Suits Against the Government
HB 301 by Representative McFarland increases the existing caps on the recovery of awards against a governmental entity. For a claim that accrues between October 1, 2025, and September 30, 2030, the cap is increased to $1,000,000 per person from $200,000, and the cap for multiple claims or judgments arising out of the same incident is increased to $3,000,000 from $300,000. The bill also provides one automatic increase in the caps for claims accruing on or after October 1, 2030. The bill has favorably passed two of its committees of reference and is now headed to its final committee, House Judiciary. On Friday, April 4, 2025, HB 301 was scheduled to be heard on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at 8:00 am. Its Senate companion, SB 1570 by Senator DiCeglie, has yet to be considered in any of its referenced committees.
Community Redevelopment Agencies
SB 1242 by Senator McClain amends the Florida statute that regulates the termination of community redevelopment agencies (CRAs) to revise the statute’s sunsetting provisions for CRAs and to prohibit the creation of new CRAs on or after July 1, 2025. The bill eliminates statutory language, allowing local governments to vote on extending the expiration dates of the CRAs they created. It also prohibits CRAs from initiating new projects or issuing new debt on or after October 1, 2025. Through much debate, members questioned whether the complete dissolution of CRAs was necessary or if there was an alternative solution to target “bad actors.” SB 1242 favorably passed out of its second committee, Senate Judiciary, with a vote of 8 Yeas and 3 Nays. It is now headed to Senate Rules, where it has yet to be considered. Its House companion, HB 991 by Representative Giallombardo, has yet to be considered in its second committee of reference, the House Commerce Committee.
Official Actions of Local Governments
SB 420 by Senator Yarborough prohibits counties and municipalities from funding, promoting, or taking official actions related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). The bill defines DEI to include efforts influencing employment composition based on identity characteristics, promoting preferential treatments, and implementing DEI-specific training. Therefore, the bill mandates that a county or municipality may not expend any funds, regardless of the source, or establish, support, sustain, or staff a diversity, equity, and inclusion office or officer. Additionally, it annuls existing county and municipal DEI-related ordinances, rules, and policies. The bill states that a county or municipal governing body member who violates these prohibitions commits misfeasance or malfeasance in office, allowing for legal action by residents. Furthermore, the bill introduces a requirement for potential contract or grant recipients to certify non-involvement with DEI materials before receiving county or municipal contracts. On March 17, SB 420 narrowly passed its first committee stop, the Senate Community Affairs, with a vote of 5 Yeas and 3 Nays. The bill was then scheduled on the Committee agenda to be considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee on April 1, however, the bill was temporarily postponed by the committee and has yet to be rescheduled for consideration. Its House companion, HB 1571 by Representative Black, has been referred to three committees and has yet to be considered.
Education
Educator Certifications and Training
HB 37 by Representative Daley revamps the training and certification requirements for FL educators to include preparedness for mass casualty incidents. The bill requires the Department of Education to develop a list of approved training, which will become part of the requirements for continuing education or in-service training of instructional personnel as a criterion for eligibility. The bill also establishes immunity from lawsuits for losses or damages caused by actions under these trainings unless due to willful misconduct. Representative Daley filed and secured an adopted amendment to refine the bill’s language, further specifying the required training and establishing an effective date. On Wednesday, April 2, the bill was considered by the House Education Administration Subcommittee, where it received 18 unanimous Yeas and passed favorably. The bill now moves to be considered by its second committee stop, the House Education & Employment Committee. Its Senate companion bill, SB 204 by Senator Jones, has been referred to three committees and has yet to be considered.
School Grades
HB 1483 by Representative Valdés will eventually be known as the Schools Committed to Outstanding Results and Excellence (SCORE) Act. The bill aims to expand and revise educational requirements and interventions in FL to improve student academic performance and engagement. From the 2026-27 and the 2033-34 school years, the bill provides for a transition from the State Board of Education’s current school grading scale to a traditional A-F school grading system. Additionally, the bill also requires student report cards, published by the Department of Education, to include the school’s grade and the percentage of students performing at or above grade level in English Language Arts and mathematics. The bill seeks to expand support for students by amending requirements to the early warning system to identify K-8 students who need added support, specifying indicators like poor attendance, course failure, and standardized assessment scores. Additionally, the bill will aid in updating parental notification rules by ensuring immediate notification and consultation for students in K-8 with substantial reading or mathematics deficiencies. Furthermore, the bill also expands eligibility for the summer bridge program to help students transition from voluntary pre-kindergarten (VPK) to kindergarten. Lastly, the bill mandates the administrator of the New Worlds Reading Initiative to develop a book collection and grant program for classroom libraries in Title I schools. On April 1, HB 1483 was passed favorably by the House Student Academic Success Subcommittee with 12 Yeas and 5 Nays. The bill now awaits consideration by an added committee stop, the House PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee. If passed, its final committee stop will be the House Education & Employment Committee. This bill has no Senate companion.
Young Adults Who Are Homeless or Were in The Child Welfare System
HB 879, by Representatives Rizo & Woodson, plans to improve support for young adults who are homeless or were in the child welfare system by focusing on their educational and housing needs. The bill mandates each Florida College System institution and state university to collaborate with the State Office on Homelessness to develop plans that prioritize housing in residence halls for students under the age of 29 who are homeless, were formerly in foster care, or qualify for tuition exemptions. These institutions will be directed to prioritize these students when assigning on-campus housing and work-study programs. Furthermore, HB 879 introduces requirements for the creation of programs aiding these young adults in accessing federal housing programs and vouchers, including maintaining detailed records and providing landlord assurances for funding. Additionally, the bill instructs the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability to conduct a study by December 1, 2026, on housing barriers faced by young adults not enrolled in educational institutions, providing recommendations for overcoming these barriers. The bill was considered on March 31 by the Careers & Workforce Subcommittee and passed favorably with 16 unanimous Yeas. The bill’s previous reference to the Higher Education Budget Subcommittee was removed, and the bill now awaits consideration in the House Education & Employment Committee. Its Senate companion, SB 584 by Senator Garcia, also passed favorably with 5 Yeas and 0 Nays on March 31 and now advances to the Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services.
Health Care
Memory Care
HB 493 by Representative Redondo specifies requirements for memory care facilities, service provision, and staff qualifications. The bill defines “memory care services” as care addressing health or behavioral issues stemming from Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or other memory disorders. The bill creates minimum licensure standards for assisted living facilities (ALFs) that advertise memory care services to ensure that ALF residents receive the memory care specialty services they pay for by holding ALFs accountable for providing such services as promised. The bill stipulates that such advertisements by facilities caring for memory disorders must disclose their distinctive services in a separate advertisement/document, with records maintained for inspection during license renewal procedures. The bill also mandates that facilities notify a licensed physician within 30 days of a change in a resident’s condition and aid in arranging necessary treatment. Additionally, the bill ensures each memory care facility or unit always has at least one staff member present who stays awake, meets training requirements, and is certified in first aid and CPR. HB 493 favorably passed the House Health Care Facilities & Systems Subcommittee with 17 unanimous Yeas. A Committee Substitute text has been filed as the bill heads into its next stop, the House Health & Human Services Committee. Its Senate companion, SB 1588 by Senator Simon, has been referred to three committees and has yet to be considered.
