The Regular Session of the Florida Legislature came to a close (sine die) at 2:25 pm on Friday, March 8. The motion to adjourn sine die, Latin for 'without day,' is the last action of a session of the Florida legislature. End of week summaries for the 60-day session are available on our website, including the final summary.
Governor DeSantis vetoed HB 1 on Friday. The legislation prohibits anyone under the age of 16 from having accounts on social media platforms that meet certain criteria, including the use of addictive technologies. The bill also requires pornography websites to conduct age verification to ensure that users are at least 18 years old.
The effort to pass legislation that would allow parents to pursue civil action for the wrongful death of their unborn child was called off on Monday in the midst of nationwide controversy following the Alabama Supreme Court ruling that defined embryos created through in vitro fertilization (IVF) as children under Alabama state law.
On Tuesday, Tammy Fecci, associate for life and dignity, spoke on SB 1436 (Burton) before the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee. “At its core, SB 1436 would allow consumer finance loan companies to charge higher interest rates at the expense of struggling and already economically challenged Florida families and individuals.”
On Friday, the Florida House passed HB 1639 (Bankson) by a vote of 75-33. The bill requires that any health insurance policy that provides coverage for sex-reassignment related services also provides coverage for those seeking de-transition treatment.
On Thursday, the Florida House of Representatives passed (117-1) SB 7016, known as "Live Healthy" - a priority for Senate President Kathleen Passidomo (R-Naples). Since the Senate passed this bill unanimously (39-0) last month, the Legislature will now send it to Governor Ron DeSantis for his signature.
HB 651 was approved by the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday by a 15-7 vote, its final committee of reference. The bill would allow parents to file a lawsuit under Florida's wrongful death statute with the purpose of recovering damages for the wrongful or negligent death of their unborn child.
On Thursday, FCCB expressed support for HB 1639 (Bankson) which was approved by the Infrastructure Strategies Committee by a 15-9 vote. The bill requires that any health insurance policy that provides coverage for sex-reassignment related services also provides coverage for those seeking de-transition treatment.
On Thursday, HB 1 (Sirois) received final passage by a 108-7 vote in the Florida House. The legislation prohibits anyone under the age of 16 from having accounts on social media platforms that meet certain criteria, including the use of addictive technologies. The bill was previously amended to include the substance of HB 3, a bill supported by the FCCB that requires pornography websites to conduct age verification to ensure that users are at least 18 years old.
A grassroots team has come together to stop the extreme abortion amendment pushing for placement on the 2024 ballot. The initiative campaign for the deceptively-titled "Amendment to Limit Government Interference with Abortion" has collected enough petitions to qualify for the ballot, and Florida's Supreme Court heard oral arguments on February 7 to determine whether the language of the proposed amendment is clear and covers only a single subject.
SB 476 (Grall) was approved by the Senate Fiscal Policy committee on Thursday by a 10-6 vote. FCCB indicated its support for the bill, which would allow parents to file a lawsuit under Florida's wrongful death statute with the purpose of recovering damages for the wrongful death of their unborn child
On Thursday, the House Health & Human Services Committee unanimously passed HB 1549 (Grant), a comprehensive health care reform known as “Live Healthy.” This bill seeks to expand access to health care by recruiting and retaining a highly skilled workforce, increasing the use of preventive services and primary care, and incentivizing more providers to serve the poor.
This week Tammy Fecci, associate for life and dignity, indicated in committee that the FCCB is seeking an amendment on SB 1436 (Burton) and HB 1347 (Brackett) that would make new rate caps on consumer finance loans "all-inclusive" of interest, fees, other charges, and ancillary products made in connection with the consumer's transaction.
On Tuesday, FCCB indicated support for SB 1442 (Grall) before the Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services. SB 1442 would establish the Florida State Maternity Housing Grant Program within the Department of Children and Families.
On Thursday, HB 415 (Jacques) received final passage in the Florida House by an 83-33 vote. "This bill will go a long way towards providing key resources to pregnant women, expecting parents, fathers...to make sure that pregnancy is never a burden here in the State of Florida," said House sponsor Representative Berny Jacques.
On Thursday, the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee approved (12-5) an amendment that combines HB 1 and HB 3. HB 1 prohibits anyone under the age of 16 from having social media accounts on platforms that use addictive technologies.
Pictures from the 2024 Catholic Days at the Capitol, Red Mass and Diocesan group photos are available on the FCCB website. Thank you to Derek Diamond, Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee, for photographing this year's events.
Over 320 Catholic Days at the Capitol (CDAC) pilgrims from all seven dioceses in Florida could be found in Tallahassee on February 6-7, advocating at the Capitol and attending the 49th Annual Red Mass of the Holy Spirit.
At the CDAC breakfast on Wednesday, the Florida Bishops presented Representative Jenna Persons-Mulicka with the Defensor Vitae Award and the Florida Council of Catholic Women with the Thomas A. Horkan Jr., Distinguished Catholic Leader Award.
After spending the day at the Capitol on Wednesday, a congregation wearing red filled the pews of the Co-Cathedral of St. Thomas More that evening. Florida's bishops have celebrated the Red Mass tradition in Tallahassee for nearly five decades, inviting the Holy Spirit to guide our state leaders in the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. Public officials who attended included Governor Ron DeSantis, legislators, justices, and judges.
