Legislature

(The Center Square) — Florida lawmakers have advanced a bill this week that would allow young students and those who teach them the tools to be successful.

State Rep. John Snyder, R-Palm City, sponsors House Bill 1353. It would revise Florida's laws on the state's pre-kindergarten programs known as early learning coalitions and other specified early learning programs.

The Center Square) – Florida driver’s licenses and other state government documents would have to list a person’s gender at birth under a bill pending in the House of Representatives.

House Bill 1639 was sponsored by Republican Rep. Doug Bankson, who helped found and is a pastor with his wife at Victory Church in Apopka.

The legislation would also require insurance companies that cover sex transitioning surgery to also cover detransitioning surgery.

“I call it the Compassion and Clarity Act,” the legislator told The Center Square.

(The Center Square) — Florida lawmakers want to alleviate the state's growing affordable housing shortage by fixing some of the shortfalls in the Live Local Act of 2023.

The bill passed unanimously with the Senate Committee on Community Affairs on Jan. 9 and was due before the Senate Committee on Fiscal Policy on Thursday, however, it was temporarily delayed. No new meeting date has been posted on the state Senate's website. 

(The Center Square) — A Florida lawmaker is hoping a new bill recently filed will bring about an end to plastic bags and other single-use plastics if passed.

Senate Bill 498 is sponsored by state Sen. Linda Stewart, D-Orlando. It would amend two Florida statutes and remove the preemption of local laws regarding the regulation of containers, wrappings, or plastic bags.

(The Center Square) — Florida lawmakers have filed a new bill to cut red tape for certain aspects of public and charter school assessments, accountability, instruction and education choice.

(The Center Square) – Crime convictions three years before applying for barber or cosmetologist licensure would not be held against the applicants under a proposal from an Orlando state senator.

Sen. Linda Stewart, D-Orlando, said she is "giving these important common sense policies that represent my constituency’s interests one last push towards the finish line.” Senate Bill 42 is similar to past efforts that have failed in the last two legislative sessions.

By Andrew Powell | The Center Square contributor

(The Center Square) — The Florida Legislature concluded its special session on Friday, passing bills regarding Disney’s autonomy, transport of foreign nationals and election fraud.