There were loud differences over priorities between the Florida House and Gov. Ron DeSantis throughout the 60-day legislative session in Tallahassee.
Added to the commotion at the state capital over the last few months were questions whether funds from a Medicaid overbilling settlement flowed from First Lady Casey DeSantis’ Hope Florida Foundation to a political group that battled against a ballot measure to legalize marijuana last election. An investigation by the House seemingly came to an end as two witnesses never showed up to testify.
Among all the chaos, legislators in the Florida House and Senate passed more than 200 bills which now head to the governor’s desk for either a signature, a veto or no action at all.
Legislation unanimously passed through both chambers establishing permanent protections for public lands. House Bill 209 was prompted after reports last year surfaced over possible commercial developments — everything from pickleball courts to golf courses — for state lands like Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Martin County. No state parks in the Florida Keys were ever considered for such development.
Legislation not only bans new commercial construction in state parks, but it also preserves native wildlife habitats and requires public hearings for any land use changes. The bills also mandate transparency in all park management planning.
Senate Bill 913 unanimously passed through both chambers to alleviate rising costs associated with owning a condominium after new “milestone inspection” laws went into effect in 2022 and 2023, after the tragic condo collapse in Surfside in 2021. For condos three stories and higher, those inspections needed to be complete by last December. As a result, some condo associations slapped large assessments on owners due to needed repairs and maintenance.
Legislation passing through the legislature this session not only pushes the deadline back for completing structural integrity inspections, but it also allows associations to use lines of credit or loans to meet reserve obligations, so long as a majority of the owners approve. It also allows associations to invest their reserve funds without a vote among unit owners.
Not all bills passing through the legislature were unanimous, however. Senate Bill 700, which, among other actions, prohibits the use of fluoride in public drinking water systems, passed via party lines in the House and Senate. Critics of the bill said the practice of adding fluoride to water systems has spanned decades.
“Not only is it safe, it’s a game-changer for dental health,” said Rep. Anna Eskamani, a Democrat from Orlando.
Supporters of eliminating fluoride from public drinking water, including State Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo, say there’s neuropsychiatric risk associated with fluoride exposure. There are currently at least 29 counties, including Monroe County, that actively fluoridate their water. Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority has added fluoride to its drinking water for decades. Water customers had the opportunity last December to share their thoughts regarding future use of fluoride in the supply. DeSantis signed the bill on May 6 in Miami-Dade County.
A bill passing through the Legislature on party lines to toughen the citizens amendment process in the Sunshine State was signed by the governor on May 2. House Bill 1205 adds tougher financial penalties, including a $50,000 fine, if a person who’s collecting or handling the individual petition either is not a U.S. citizen or has been convicted of a felony and hasn’t had their voting rights restored. If a person fills out more than one form, the sponsor is liable for a fine of $50 for each form, and if a form is filled out with a fictitious name, the sponsor will face a $5,000 fine.
The bill also revises the deadline by which petition forms must be delivered by the petition sponsor to a supervisor of elections from 30 days to 10 days. Legislation came after two citizen-led ballot initiatives went to voters in last year’s election. The measures included legalizing the recreational use of marijuana and the right to abortion before fetal viability. Neither measure secured enough voter support.
