Florida's legislative session begins this week. Here are some of the key bills filed in Tallahassee
The Brief
The Florida Legislature begins its annual session Tuesday in Tallahassee.
Bills filed by lawmakers include changes to gun laws, banning fluoride from drinking water, and measures to address housing.
The Florida House and Senate must also pass a budget during its session.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - This week, Florida lawmakers will gather in Tallahassee for their annual legislative session, with several key issues on the table.
Here's a look at some of the high-profile measures the Florida Legislature will consider this year.
There are multiple bills aimed at changing Florida's gun laws, including open carry, something that Gov. Ron DeSantis has publicly supported. Florida currently allows permitless concealed carry, but not open carry.
RELATED: Florida lawmakers file bills to undo gun reforms passed after Parkland shooting
State Sen. Randy Fine (R-Melbourne Beach) filed a separate bill that would open the door to "campus carry," meaning people could carry guns on college and university campuses.
Another measure would roll back the age requirement to purchase a gun, which lawmakers increased to 21 following the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
A measure that's been dubbed the "Florida Farm Bill" would ban local governments from using "water additives," including fluoride, in drinking water.
PREVIOUS:'Florida Farm Bill' would eliminate fluoride from public water supplies statewide
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson is among the leaders who have signaled support for the bill, which comes months after Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo issued guidance recommending the removal of fluoride from public water systems.
Since then, several city and county governments in the Tampa Bay area and across the state have taken steps to eliminate fluoride from water supplies. A statewide ban would, of course, decide the issue for everyone.
State. Rep. Berny Jacques (R-Clearwater) filed a bill that would allow local governments to designate properties for single-family homeownership, thereby limiting the ability of investors and corporations to buy houses and use them as rental properties.
A separate measure would require local governments to permit what's known as accessory dwelling units, which are commonly called "mother-in-law suites."
Florida's ongoing insurance crisis will come up again in Tallahassee this year, including a bipartisan bill that would make windstorm coverage through state-run Citizens Property Insurance available to all property owners statewide.
Currently, Citizens' wind-only coverage plans are only available in select coastal regions of Florida.
Separate legislation would strip condo associations of access to Citizens Property Insurance if they don't comply with new building safety laws passed after the 2021 Surfside condo collapse.
RELATED: Many Florida condo buildings could lose state-run insurance coverage under new bill. Here's why
The state recently found that more than half of all buildings that are now required to perform safety studies, along with setting aside reserves to ensure the structural integrity of their buildings in the future, haven't done so.
DeSantis has proposed a $115.6 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year, marking a slight decrease from the current fiscal year.
The governor is asking for additional tax reductions and sales tax holidays, including what he calls "Second Amendment Summer," which would exempt state sales taxes on guns, ammunition and other gun-related accessories from Memorial Day through July 4.
He also wants to increase pay for all state law enforcement officers and firefighters, with proposed increases ranging from 20-25%.
Other proposals in the governor's budget include $29.7 billion for education – averaging $9,200 per student – along with $1.5 billion for Everglades restoration and water quality projects, and fully funding the waiting list for the My Safe Florida Home program, which offers grants for homeowners to protect their homes from future storm damage through upgrades.
During the session, the Florida Legislature is required to agree on a budget, then wait through a 72-hour "cooling-off period" before the state House or Senate can vote on it. The governor then has line-item veto power once the budget reaches his desk.
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What's next
The 60-day legislative session gets underway on Tuesday, March 4.
The Source
Information for this story was gathered by FOX 13's Kellie Cowan.
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