10 things to watch as Florida lawmakers begin the 2024 Legislative Session
Florida lawmakers are returning to Tallahassee on Tuesday for the start of the annual 60-day legislative session, during which they’ll delve into an array of issues affecting Floridians’ pocketbooks and personal lives.
From insurance to school regulations and artificial intelligence, here are 10 issues to keep an eye on this year:
Homeowners insurance
Florida’s homeowners insurance market is still in crisis, but after two special legislative sessions in 2022 and major reforms last year, lawmakers aren’t expected to make it a top priority this year. Several Democrats and Republicans have proposed legislation to reduce premiums, but the bills face an uphill climb.
Auto insurance
The cost of insuring a vehicle in Florida has also skyrocketed, and Republican lawmakers have filed bills to repeal and overhaul the state’s “no-fault” insurance system. This also faces long odds. DeSantis vetoed similar legislation in 2021, citing potential “unintended consequences.”
Health care
Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, has unveiled a slate of legislation to boost the number of medical workers and give Floridians more access to health care providers. Expanding Medicaid to nearly 1 million uninsured Floridians is not on the table.
Kratom
Lawmakers are taking steps toward regulating kratom, a substance derived from the dried leaves of a tropical Southeast Asian tree that in recent years has become popular in part because of its purported opiate-like effects. Hundreds of people have died in the state from kratom-related overdoses in the past decade, a Tampa Bay Times investigation found. A legislative proposal would police how kratom products are sold, distributed and labeled, and include financial penalties for those that violate state law.
Prison system in crisis
Florida’s prison system is in distress and in need of billions of dollars in renovations, state auditors have said. Florida will need to build at least one new prison and develop hundreds more hospital beds for inmates. DeSantis’ budget proposal suggests maintaining the prisons, but doesn’t set aside money to build a new facility. The issue will be a key part of budget negotiations throughout the legislative session.
Guns
Under proposed legislation filed this year, Florida could lower the legal age for buying rifles and other long guns from 21 to 18 and eliminate a statewide three-day waiting period to buy rifles and shotguns. If approved, the measures would undo changes enacted after a 19-year-old gunman killed 17 students and faculty members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.
Abortion
Although Florida’s 15-week and six-week abortion bans are in legal limbo, lawmakers are poised to consider proposals that could affect abortion in the state. Two Republicans, who sponsored the state’s abortion bans, have proposed legislation that would allow parents to recover damages under the Wrongful Death Act if an unborn child dies. Similar language has been criticized for endorsing a movement that aims to secure rights for unborn children at any stage of development. Additionally, two Democrats are proposing shielding women who have abortions from being prosecuted, as state law says that it is a third-degree felony to perform or “actively” participate in the termination of a pregnancy outside of the law’s regulations. The Democrat-led proposal is a long-shot in the Republican-dominated Legislature.
School deregulation
Senate Republican leaders want to ease public school regulations to put them on a level playing field with private schools. If it proves successful, the proposal would give local school officials and educators more control over education and other mandates that the state has imposed on them over the years.
Artificial intelligence
Many lawmakers have expressed interest in regulating and policing artificial intelligence in the state. One proposal would require disclaimers on political advertisements that use AI content. Another proposal would try to protect consumers from misinformation. More proposals are expected during the session
Child labor laws
Lawmakers could allow some teenagers to work longer hours on school days and in hazardous professions, resembling a push in several other states that would roll back child-labor protections. The proposals in Florida are backed by a national conservative advocacy group based in the state, as well as the Associated Builders and Contractors and Florida Home Builders Associations, two powerful industry lobbying groups.
