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The 2023 Regular Session of the Florida Legislature came to a close (sine die) at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 5. The motion to adjourn sine die, Latin for 'without day,' is the last action of a session of the Florida legislature. Our final summary of the legislative session provides the status of budget priorities and concerns and bills actively engaged by the FCCB.

The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops (FCCB) has requested that Gov. Ron DeSantis stay the execution of Darryl Barwick and commute his sentence to life without parole. Barwick is scheduled to be executed on May 3, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. for the 1986 murder of Rebecca Wendt in Panama City, Florida.

SB 1580 (Trumbull) was approved by the Senate Rules Committee on Wednesday by a 14-5 vote and is now available to be taken up by the full Senate. FCCB's Mike Barrett was present at the committee meeting and indicated FCCB's support for the bill. "We must remember that we live in a diverse society, and protecting diverse viewpoints even in the medical process protects access to care for patients," said bill sponsor Senator Trumbull.

On Monday, FCCB's Christie Arnold, associate for social concerns and respect life, testified in opposition to HB 1267 (Fernandez-Barquin) before the House Commerce Committee. HB 1267 and SB 580 (Gruters) would create an increase of interest rates by between 6% and 18% on what are already high-cost installment loans for consumers who are often in acute financial distress

Today, the Florida legislature passed a bill to replace current law that requires juries in capital cases to be unanimous when recommending a death sentence. Michael Sheedy, executive director for the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops (FCCB) issued the following statement: “It is stunning that the Florida legislature would weaken a common-sense law passed just six years ago that required unanimous agreement by a jury in order to sentence someone to death.

Today, the Florida legislature passed a prohibition on abortion in Florida after six-weeks gestation. The bill, SB 300, also contains provisions providing pregnancy and parenting support. Christie Arnold, associate for social concerns and respect life for the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops (FCCB) issued the following statement: “With the passage of the Heartbeat Protection Act, life is better respected and protected in the early stages of development."

"As lawmakers, we do have to draw the line when drastic life-altering treatments and surgeries are being prescribed for children, sometimes very young children," said bill sponsor Senator Clay Yarborough during his closing statement. "I believe we need to let kids be kids and our laws need to set appropriate boundaries to respect the rights and responsibilities of parents, while protecting children from the very serious health and safety concerns associated with these treatments."

On Monday, the Florida Senate passed the Heartbeat Protection Act, SB 300 (Grall), by a 26-13 vote. "For fifty years the killing of innocent children has been legal," said bill sponsor Senator Erin Grall during her closing speech.

“This legislation is a transformational opportunity to make it clear that the money follows the child, and parents have a right to guide their child’s education as they see fit,” said Senator Corey Simon at the bill signing. “We recognize that parents are a child’s first and best teachers."