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On April 14, HB 1475 (Tuck) passed the full House (77-40). The measure protects the rights of female athletes and promotes equality in women's sports by recognizing key biological differences between men and women and requiring separate sex-specific athletic teams. Laws and policies that affirm gender identities not aligned with biological sex often overlook the potential for serious, and often irreversible, physical harm to gender dysphoric individuals, especially minors, who attempt to "transition." In a letter to Rep. Tuck, the FCCB outlined its support for HB 1475. The Senate companion, SB 2012 (Stargel), includes an exception for "persons who transition from male to female" if they meet certain conditions, such as specified testosterone levels. SB 2012 was temporarily postponed this week by the Senate Rules Committee but is scheduled for a hearing on April 20.

On April 15, the full Senate passed HB 1 (23-17). In response to recent riots, the bill purports to address public disorder by creating new riot-related crimes and enhancing penalties on existing offenses. The FCCB opposes the bill as it is unnecessary and potentially harmful. Any violence committed during a riot, or at any time, is already prosecutable, and it is unnecessary to raise penalties for those crimes. Additionally, some broad terms in the bill could potentially criminalize some of our ministries' public activities such as praying in front of an abortion facility, sidewalk counseling, and prayer vigils to end the use of the death penalty. FCCB's concerns with the measure are further outlined in a letter. The proposal passed the House (76-39) on March 26. A top priority of Governor Ron DeSantis, the measure will be sent to him for his signature.

As on alternative to HB 1, FCCB offered other approaches to civil unrest including collecting data on use-of-force, de-escalation training, and limiting chokeholds. A bill with these provisions and others, HB 7051, was filed and passed unanimously by two House committees this week. Additionally, the measure prohibits a child younger than seven years of age from being arrested, charged, or adjudicated delinquent, unless the violation of law is a forcible felony. The measure has been placed on the House calendar on second reading.

On April 15, four bills supported by the FCCB were reported favorably by the House Education & Employment Committee:

The legislature passed an amended version of its affordable housing and resiliency plan. SB 2512 passed the Senate (25-14) on April 7 and the House (78-38) on April 8. The Sadowski Affordable Housing Trust Fund will receive approximately $200 million from documentary stamp taxes this year. About half of the revenue that would have previously been available for affordable housing will be protected from future sweeps. This is an improvement over an earlier proposal that redirected two-thirds of funds designated for affordable housing to resiliency efforts. However, the FCCB has long supported full funding of the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. Sea-level rise initiatives and sewage treatment projects will each receive approximately $111.7 million under the revised plan. SB 2512 will go next to Governor DeSantis for his signature.

On April 6, HB 1475 (Tuck) passed its final committee, Education & Employment (15-6), and has been placed on the House Special Order Calendar for April 13. The measure protects the rights of female athletes and promotes equality in women's sports by recognizing key biological differences between men and women and requiring separate sex-specific athletic teams. Laws and policies that affirm gender identities not aligned with biological sex often overlook the potential for serious, and often irreversible, physical harm to gender dysphoric individuals, especially minors. In a letter to Rep. Tuck, the FCCB outlined its support for HB 1475. The Senate companion, SB 2012 (Stargel), includes an exception for "persons who transition from male to female" if they meet certain conditions, such as specified testosterone levels. SB 2012 has been passed by its first two committees of reference and is now in the Senate Rules Committee.

On April 7, the Senate unanimously passed SB 626 (Bracy), which prohibits children who are younger than 7 years of age from being arrested, unless the violation of the law is a forcible felony. Titled the "Kaia Rolle Act," this legislation was filed in response to six-year-old Kaia being placed in zip ties, transported in a police vehicle, and fingerprinted after having a tantrum in an Orlando school last year. The bill is in messages to the House.

SB 582 (Rodrigues, R.) passed its final committee, Rules (11-6), and has been placed on the Senate calendar on second reading. The bill ensures that the right of parents to review instructional materials and curriculum is transparent and forthcoming. It also establishes parental consent requirements for medical care provided to a minor child. Having access to information about their rights allows parents to make informed decisions and better direct their child's education and health care. Companion, HB 241 (Grall), was passed by the full House (78-37) April 1 and has been referred to Senate Rules. FCCB support for the bill is highlighted in a letter to Rep. Grall.

On April 6, HB 1221 (Grall) was passed (12-8) by the House Health & Human Services Committee. The bill prohibits a physician from performing an abortion if the physician knows, or should know, that the woman is seeking the abortion solely on the basis of a prenatal test result or fetal diagnosis of a disability or the potential of a disability. The bill defines disability as any disease, defect or disorder that is genetically inherited including physical disabilities or disfigurement, mental or intellectual disabilities, or Down syndrome, and does not include a lethal fetal anomaly. An exception is provided if the abortion is necessary to save the life of the mother. FCCB supports this measure as an incremental step that limits the harm of an abortion. HB 1221 was passed (12-8) by the House Health & Human Services Committee, its second committee of reference. The Senate companion, SB 1664 (Rodriguez, A.), has yet to be heard in committee.

HB 281 (Duggan) was passed unanimously by House Appropriations on April 8 and will move to its final committee of reference, Education & Employment. The bill provides access to dual enrollment courses for all Florida students. Under current law, public school students and homeschool students have free, unencumbered access to dual enrollment courses. Private school students, however, have very limited access to dual enrollment. Dual enrollment allows students to take college level courses while they are still in high school. Usually these courses are taken on the college or university campus during the normal school day. The Senate companion, SB 52 (Rodrigues, R.), was passed by the full Senate (26-14) on March 25 and is in messages to the House. You can read more about dual enrollment and its benefits for students on the FCCB Education Policy Team blog, Education and the Common Good.

On April 8, HB 7045 was passed by House Appropriations (20-5) and will go to the full House for consideration. This bill is the companion bill to SB 48 (Diaz). Similar to SB 48, this bill eliminates the prior-public-school requirement for all scholarships. It also increases the scholarship amount for the Family Empowerment Scholarship (FES) and the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship (FTC). However, unlike SB 48, this bill leaves the FTC as a separate tax credit scholarship and folds the McKay and Gardiner Scholarships for students with special needs and unique abilities into the FES. Additionally, HB 7045 does not create educational savings accounts for FES and FTC. SB 48 passed all committee references earlier in the session and remains on the Senate calendar on second reading.

Each year, Children's Week Florida™ promotes our state's children, youth, and families, while both celebrating achievements and highlighting critical needs. The FCCB joined other faith-based organizations, non-profits, corporations, foundations, and state agencies to help support the event and ensure children and families have their voices heard at the state capitol. Included in the annual activities, children and their teachers from across the state create custom hand artwork to hang in an impressive visual display in the capital city. These vibrant works of art serve as a daily reminder to legislators, advocates, and visitors that the future of our children rests in their hands. For more information, visit childrensweek.org.

The Hyde Amendment, contained in the federal government's annual appropriations legislation, prohibits federal funding of domestic abortions, except in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother. It is a bipartisan provision that has been part of federal appropriations for 45 years (since 1976). In addition to being widely supported by Americans, it saves lives and respects the consciences of Americans. However, it is now under grave threat. 

On April 1, HB 241 (Grall) was passed by the full House (78-37). The bill ensures that the right of parents to review instructional materials and curriculum is transparent and forthcoming. It also establishes parental consent requirements for medical care provided to a minor child. Having access to information about their rights allows parents to make informed decisions and better direct their child's education and health care. FCCB support for the bill is highlighted in a letter to Rep. Grall. The measure will go to the Senate for final passage. Companion bill, SB 582 (Rodrigues, R.), is in its final committee of reference, Senate Rules. 

On March 30, the Senate Criminal Justice Committee unanimously passed SB 1156 (Brandes), which prohibits individuals with severe mental illness that significantly diminished their moral culpability at the time of the offense from being sentenced to death. These individuals would still be held accountable for their crimes; the severe sentence of life without parole would remain a possible sentence. Pope Saint John Paul II, Pope Benedict, and Pope Francis all called on the Church to work for the end to the use of the death penalty. However, as long as the State of Florida maintains the death penalty, we also support incremental improvements in the law that limit its harm. The next committee of reference, Judiciary, is currently not scheduled to meet again. There is no House companion bill.

On March 31, the House Appropriations Committee passed HB 5401 (19-10), which redirects two-thirds of documentary stamp taxes designated for the Sadowski Affordable Housing Trust Fund to address sea-level rise and upgrade sewage treatment. The bill also prohibits the sweeping of the remaining funds into general revenue. FCCB supports protecting affordable housing dollars from being swept, as well as resiliency and infrastructure improvements. However, the new formula would appropriate less money to affordable housing than has been appropriated with previous sweeps. FCCB supports full funding of the affordable housing trust fund, which has been proposed by Governor DeSantis every session during his term, and passed by the House last session. The Senate companion measure, SB 2512, passed the Senate Appropriations Committee (12-8), also on March 31.

HB 895 (Stevenson) passed the House Commerce Committee unanimously on March 29. FCCB supports this measure that gives vulnerable consumers an opportunity to access capital with less risk of exploitation. The bill ensures that borrowers are not penalized for prepayment of loans and that installment loans can be paid in installments. The term "installment loan" would presume multiple payments; however, installment lenders in Florida can require one lump sum payment which often results in borrowers having to re-borrow the same principal amount for additional interest and fees, leading to a cycle of debt. A lender that is licensed under the installment loan chapter, rather than the title loan chapter, can repossess the family vehicle on which the borrower depends to travel to work, making it even more difficult to repay the loan. SB 1478 (Gibson) waits to be heard by its second committee of reference, Commerce and Tourism.

Child Abuse Prevention Month leads us to a heightened awareness and serves as a solemn reminder of the need to be vigilant about providing a safe environment within the Church and our communities. We are all part of a larger culture of protection and healing within the Church, and each one of us can play an important role in strengthening this culture. We can better prevent abuse by eliminating situations that create the potential for abuse and by knowing how to recognize the signs of abuse. Noticing these warning signs, taking them seriously, and immediately reporting them are key to preventing abuse.

In a two-part series, FCCB Executive Director Michael Sheedy discusses gender ideology with Father Tim Cusick, a priest of the Diocese of St. Augustine and Academic Dean, St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary. In sharing his views on this topic, Fr. Cusick said, "There are certain elements of our biological sex which are fixed, that goes down to our DNA, but does that necessarily translate into particular social roles." Father Cusick went on to explain, "That doesn't mean that just because you have certain tendencies, enjoyments, or hobbies that you are a different sex. Gender aspects have now been defining of sex and that is where we get into a lot of confusion." He also talks about some of the impacts on the Church, the family and society." Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Stitcher.

On Friday, March 26, at the invitation of Rep. Erin Grall, Bishop William A. Wack, CSC, of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee offered the opening prayer before the House Session. You can view a recorded broadcast of Bishop Wack delivering the prayer on The Florida Channel (introduction starts at 11:07).