Status of Other Legislative Issues of Interest at Conclusion of Session

Gambling: House and Senate negotiators were unable to reach a compromise on gambling legislation or the renewal of the compact with the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Expansion of casino gambling is opposed by FCCB.

Medical Cannabis: The legislature failed to pass legislation to implement Amendment 2 largely due to a disagreement on the number of dispensaries in the state. This will leave implementation of the November 2016 voter-approved amendment to the Florida Department of Health.

Substance Abuse: The legislature passed higher criminal penalties for the trafficking of fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid often mixed with other drugs such as heroin. On May 3, Governor Scott called a state public health emergency to combat the opioid epidemic. The order will allow Florida to immediately draw down $27 million in federal money that can be used for prevention, treatment and recovery services. There were more than 3,900 opioid deaths in Florida in 2015.

Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST): An FCCB opposed bill that would have established a POLST protocol without proper patient safeguards failed to get a hearing during the session.

Payday Lending: FCCB supports capping the annual percentage rate (APR) for payday lenders. Neither good nor bad legislation that would have protected or harmed poor and vulnerable families passed this session.

Water Pollution: Governor Scott has been sent legislation that creates a reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee that could help to alleviate polluted discharges from the lake that have plagued waterways on the Treasure Coast. The governor has until May 11 to act on this legislation.