During the past fiscal year, Florida Governor Rick Scott signed a total of 234 bills, several of which will go into effect on Saturday, July 1. 24 of those bills taking effect on Saturday were just signed into law on Monday.
Highlights of new laws beginning on Saturday signed during the past fiscal year:
Pollution
This new law comes in the wake of the Mulberry sinkhole and sewage discharges that widely impacted the Bay Area last year. The law now establishes new requirements for public notification of pollution incidents within 24 hours by all responsible parties following a pollution incident.
Education
A new education law changes testing and recess requirements and sets aside money for charter schools.
Ride sharing
Ride-sharing companies will fall under new state-wide regulations, such as requiring drivers to meet certain insurance standards. Fares are still set by the companies.
Birth certificates
Families who suffer a miscarriage can get a “nonviable birth” certificate and state employees will get their first pay raise in four years.
Drones and robots
This new law regulates commercial deliveries by drones and "land-based personal delivery devices," such as robots.
Boating
The new law adds additional guidelines to where boaters can anchor or moor their boats.
State parks
The new law gives 50% entry-free discount to state parks for foster home families and a one-time, annual entrance pass for families that adopt a child with special needs.
The 24 new laws that were signed on Monday:
Economic Development
This bill establishes the new $85 million Florida Job Growth Grant Fund to promote public infrastructure and individual job training. It also fully funds VISIT FLORIDA at $76 million and implements new accountability and transparency measures to VISIT FLORIDA and Enterprise Florida (EFI).
Florida Education Finance Program
This bill secures the highest per-student K-12 funding in state history, increasing funding by $100 per student, for a total of $20.6 billion for K-12 public schools included in the Fighting for Florida's Future Budget.
Educational Options
This bill expands the Gardiner Scholarship Program for students with unique abilities and increases the scholarship amounts for the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship program.
Resource Recovery and Management
This bill creates guidelines for the resource recovery and management of certain plastic materials.
Bail Bonds
This bill revises the responsibilities of bail bond agents and the requirements for a bond to be forfeited and discharged.
Controlled Substance Prescribing
This bill modifies reporting requirements to the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program.
Designation of School Grades
This bill provides greater opportunities for K-3 schools to receive school recognition funding.
Stroke Centers
This bill makes additional resources and services available to stroke patients and creates a statewide stroke data registry to further improve care.
Practices of Substance Abuse Service Providers
This bill enhances oversight on licensure and regulation of substance abuse service providers.
Department of Financial Services
This bill updates regulation procedures and requirements within the Department of Financial Services.
Public Records/Department of Elderly Affairs
This bill creates a public record exemption for identifying information in connection with a complaint investigation.
Instructional Materials
This bill allows greater public input and transparency in the K-12 instructional materials adoption process.
Marine Turtle Protection
This bill amends a cross-reference in the Marine Turtle Protection Act.
Laboratory Screening
This bill revises provisions to enhance the Lead Screening Program, the Newborn Screening Program and laboratory screening requirements.
Limited Access and Toll Facilities
This bill requires the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority to reduce tolls for SunPass users, dedicate surplus toll revenues to area transportation projects, and justify proposed toll increases.
Forensic Hospital Diversion Pilot Program
This bill authorizes the Department of Children and Families to implement a Forensic Hospital Diversion Pilot Program in Okaloosa County.
Public Records and Meetings/Campus Emergency Response for Public Postsecondary Educational Institutions
This bill creates a public record and public meeting exemption for information associated with the campus emergency response of state colleges and universities.
Public Records/Workers' Compensation/Department of Financial Services
This bill creates a public record exemption for the identifying information of an injured or deceased employee held by the Department of Financial Services.
Private School Student Participation in Extracurricular Activities
This bill increases opportunities for private school students to participate in sports at public schools.
Condominiums
This bill makes changes to the regulation and operation of condominium associations to provide greater transparency and accountability for unit owners.
School Bus Safety
This bill creates the Cameron Mayhew Act which provides additional penalties for failing to stop for a school bus and causing serious bodily injury or death.
Application of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act to Credit Unions
This bill exempts credit unions from the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.
Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
This bill permanently authorizes the Department of Health to implement the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program using state funds.
Direct Support Organization of the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
This bill extends the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Direct Support Organization to October 2027.
