April 27, 2025_Legislative Session Week 9

The Mayfield Minute - April 27, 2025_Legislative Session Week 9

Good Morning!

Autism "Super Mom" Day

I n 1971, Dr. Bernard Rimland founded the Autism Society of America (ASA), now the world’s largest Autism organization. Dr. Rimland was a scientist and father of a son with Autism and was frustrated by the lack of information and services available for those suffering with the neurodevelopmental condition.

In 1972, Dr. Rimland and other advocates organized the first Autism awareness event called “Autism Sunday" in San Diego to discuss the needs of people with Autism and their families.

In April 1988, President Ronald Reagan issued the first presidential proclamation declaring April as National Autism Awareness Month. Since then, every president has issued a proclamation recognizing Autism Awareness Month.

As part of Autism Awareness Month, April 27th was marked as “Autism Super Mom Day” to celebrate the strength, courage, and determination of mothers of children with Autism. The day of recognition serves to educate others about the challenges and rewards of raising a child with Autism. Mothers of children with Autism are often called ‘super moms’ because they selflessly care for their children 24 hours a day, year-round.

In 2022, the CDC found 1 in 31 children were diagnosed with Autism by age eight in the U.S., an increase from 1 in 36 children in 2020. The prevalence of Autism among boys was 1 in 20 and the 2022 rate is five times higher than it was in 2000.

United States Health and Human Services Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy, has established a team of top scientists and is determined to find the true cause of Autism by year's end.

I also want to applaud Florida's Department of Law Enforcement for a program they established in 2022 to prepare first responders to assist missing children and individuals with Autism. This is critical because autistic children and adults may be at an increased risk of endangerment, and the risk of death is elevated in people with Autism due to drowning and higher rates of incidents within dangerous environments. Over 9,600 first-line responders have successfully completed the training course.

Today, we celebrate the Super Moms and Super Families who selflessly give all of their love, patience, and support to their beloved children suffering from this unfortunate condition. You are to be commended, not just today, but every day.

If you will be visiting the State Capitol during the session and need assistance or an appointment, please contact my Tallahassee office.

I consider it a great honor to represent House District 32. Please share this link with your friends and family so they too, can subscribe to the Mayfield Minute.

If you or someone you know needs my assistance, please do not hesitate to contact Will Gooden in my Tallahassee office at 850-717-5032 or Kelli Lane in the district office at 321-497-8200.

My staff and I are here to serve you!

Bill Action by Governor DeSantis

As of Sunday, April 27th, Governor DeSantis has signed 10 bills into law.

Upon receipt of a bill, the Governor has seven days to sign, veto, or take no action at which point the bill will automatically become law.

Bills received and pending consideration include:

CS/HB 0157 – Service of Process
CS/HB 0479 – Leaving the Scene of a Crash Involving Only Damage to Vehicle or Property
CS/CS/CSHB 0597 – Diabetes Management in Schools
CS/CS/CS/HB 0615 – Electronic Delivery of Notices Between Landlords and Tenants
CS/CS/HB 0791 – Surrendered Infants
CS/CS/HB 1173 – Florida Trust Code
CS/HB 1195 – Fentanyl Testing
HB 7003 – OGSR/Financial Technology Sandbox Applications/OFR

Statewide Update

Recent Job Growth in Florida is Good News, Over 135,000 New Jobs Added

The Florida Department of Commerce recently released a report highlighting job growth in the state. Highlights of the report include:

The manufacturing industry gained new jobs for the fifth consecutive month.
Florida’s labor force of nearly 11.2 million increased by 62,000 to date this year.
Florida is home to 27,310 manufacturing establishments, a 32% increase since first quarter 2019.
As of March 2025, Florida employers have added jobs in 56 of the last 59 months since May 2020.
Total private employment increased by 113,600 jobs (1.3%) over the year.

Visit Florida Insight for more information on the labor market and economic data.

FWC Wants to Hear from You Regarding Modernization of Wildlife Trapping Regulations

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is holding a series of virtual public meetings to collect feedback directly from Florida residents on proposed changes to modernize wildlife trapping regulations.

The meeting dates and times are as follows:

Tuesday, May 6th from 12:00 p.m. through 3:00 p.m. To join, click here.
Thursday, May 8th from 6:00 p.m. through 9:00 p.m. To join, click here.
Saturday, May 10th from 9:00 a.m. through 12:00 p.m. To join, click here.

These proposed changes will include new regulations that will more closely align with the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ best management practices which ensure that trapping is more humane, species-specific, and efficient.

To learn more about the proposed changes to current trapping rules, click here.

House of Representatives Update

Bill Requiring Voter Approval for Government Officials to Receive Salary Increases

CS/CS/HB 1581 prohibits the governing body of a county, municipality, or special district from increasing the salary, retirement benefits, or any other type of compensation received by its members unless the increase is approved at a referendum held during a general election in a presidential election year.

CS/CS/HB 1581 was transmitted in messages for consideration by the Senate.

Bill Updating Requirements for Condominium Associations

CS/CS/HB 913 makes various changes to the structural integrity reserve study requirements for condominium associations. Specifically, the bill:

Requires local governments to confirm with each condominium association by October 1, 2025, that the structural integrity reserve study (SIRS) and milestone inspection have been completed, and to report this information to the Division of Condominiums, Timeshares, and Mobile Homes (Division);
Provides that the amount of adequate insurance coverage for full insurable value, replacement cost, or similar coverage may be based on the replacement cost of the property to be insured;
Allows the board of directors of an association to levy special assessments and obtain loans to perform necessary maintenance, as required by the milestone inspection report and SIRS report, without the prior approval of the condominium association’s membership;
Provides that the members of a unit-owner-controlled association may approve, by majority vote, a secured line of credit to meet the reserve funding schedule recommended by the SIRS report;
Permits an association’s reserve accounts to be pooled for two or more required components of the SIRS;
Provides that it is a conflict of interest for any person who performs a SIRS or milestone inspection to provide services for the repair of the condominium property that was the subject of such SIRS or milestone inspection, or to have a financial interest in the person or entity providing the repairs; and
Requires the Department of Business and Professional Regulation to initiate certain rulemaking.

CS/CS/HB 913 was transmitted in messages for consideration by the Senate.

Bill Making Changes to the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program

CS/CS/HB 393 makes the following changes to the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program. Specifically, the bill:

Amends the definition of “condominium” under the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program (Program) to exclude detached units on individual parcels of land;
Prohibits a condominium association from applying for an inspection or grant unless the association has complied with the milestone inspection requirements and structural integrity reserve requirements;
Prohibits a condominium association from applying for an inspection or grant unless the windows of the association property or condominium property are established as common elements;
Provides that only 75 percent of unit owners, rather than 100 percent of unit owners, must approve the application for the grant;
Clarifies that all grants under the Program must be matched on the basis of $1 provided by the condominium association for every $2 provided by the state towards the actual cost of the project;
Revises the amount that may be funded for roof-related and “opening protection-related” projects (which include projects related to exterior doors, garage doors, windows, and skylights); and
Revises the roof improvements that are eligible for funding.

CS/CS/HB 393 was transmitted in messages for consideration by the Senate.

Bill Requiring Schools to Implement Cardiac Emergency Response Plans and Expand Training in CPR/AED Use

CS/HB 1607 requires school districts to provide basic training in first aid, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) once during middle school and once during high school in a physical education or health class. The instruction must allow students to practice the skills associated with performing CPR and use an automated external defibrillator (AED).

The bill also requires, by July 1, 2027, that every public school, including charter schools, have at least one operational AED on school grounds. Each public school must also develop a plan for urgent life-saving emergencies (PULSE) to guide school personnel in responding to sudden cardiac arrest or similar emergencies on school grounds.

The Senate adopted an amendment to CS/HB 1607, designating it as the “Rafe Maccarone Act”, before transmitting the amended bill in messages for consideration by the House.

Bill Requiring Registration of Agents and Organizations Associated with Foreign Countries of Concern

CS/HB 583 requires an individual or organization acting as an agent of a foreign country of concern—China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela (Maduro regime), Qatar, or Syria—to register with the Division of Elections (Division) under the Department of State within 10 days after becoming an agent. Registrants must disclose their identity, affiliations, financial transactions, and political activities.

Foreign-supported political organizations must register with the Division by January 1, 2026, and must provide details on leadership, funding, and political expenditures from the past year. All registrations must be updated at least every 90 days. The bill authorizes the Florida Elections Commission to enforce compliance, imposing fines up to $500 per violation, escalating to $2,000 for willful or repeated offenses.

CS/HB 583 was transmitted in messages for consideration by the Senate.

Bill Standardizing Educator Preparation Programs

CS/CS/HB 875 begins the process of aligning the core principles, standards, and content of Florida’s different types of teacher preparation programs. Specifically, the bill:

Requires the State Board of Education (SBE) to adopt a rule establishing the uniform core curricula for all teacher preparation programs, including two mandatory courses
Creates the competency-based Coaching for Educator Readiness and Teaching (CERT) Program;
Repeals the Professional Learning Certification Programs and Professional Education Competency Programs following implementation of the CERT program;
Standardizes the requirements for teacher mentors and clinical educators and requires the Department of Education to develop criteria for clinical educator training;
Authorizes waivers of specified educator certification requirements based on participation in teacher preparation programs using the new uniform core curricula;
Establishes, subject to appropriation, The Florida Institute of Teaching Excellence, housed at Miami-Dade College;
Establishes minimum qualifications for part-time, non-degreed teachers of fine and performing arts;
Requires that professional learning activities be linked to student learning and provide professional growth for instructional and administrative staff; and
Creates a flexible pathway for school counselors by assisting candidates in completing the mandatory internship to become certified school counselors.

CS/CS/HB 875 was transmitted in messages for consideration by the Senate.

Bill Revising Role of DHSMV

CS/CS/HB 961 makes various revisions to Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) processes, including:

Prohibiting and penalizing a person who, without authorization from the DHSMV or a tax collector, sells or offers to sell service appointments offered by the DHSMV or an authorized tax collector;
Authorizing tax collectors to deliver certain documents by mail or make them available at their office;
Revising the requirements governing the issuance of disabled parking permits and creating a lifetime disabled parking permit for persons who are permanently disabled due to amputation or dismemberment;
Revising the deadline by which the transition of driver license issuance services to tax collectors be completed from 2015 to 2027;
Providing that certain driver applicants that cheat on their driver license exams must retake such exams;
Authorizing tax collectors to process specified transactions using the DHSMV’s online license and registration portal and offer licensees certain charitable donation options; and
Requiring the revocation of a restricted driving privilege in certain circumstances.

CS/CS/HB 961 was transmitted in messages for consideration by the Senate.

Constituent of The Week

Ms. Ashley Willis

Our Constituent of the Week is Ashley Willis, Property and Evidence Specialist of the Indialantic Police Department, and recipient of the first ever “Florida’s Finest” award presented by founder of the program, Senator Ashley Moody.

Ms. Willis was born into a military family, and spent her early years in Hawaii. She moved to Brevard County in 1997 at the age of 10 and attended Space Coast Middle School and Titusville High School. Upon high school graduation, she began a career in retail at the age of 18 where she worked until being hired by the Indialantic Police Department as a Property and Evidence Specialist in 2020.

While intaking, cataloging and storing property and evidence remains her full-time job, Ms. Willis became certified to work in the communications center, where she picks up several shifts per week to assist in staffing and scheduling shortfalls.

On May 1, 2023, Ms. Willis was covering a shift in the communications center when she received a 911 call that showed as a “signal” in RapidDeploy, the 911 communications system. “Signal” calls are displayed when a person dials 911, but hangs up before the call is fully connected to the communications center. In those cases, the cell phone provider sends an alert to the communications center to indicate the call was attempted. It is a signal that is easy to miss if one is not paying attention.

In this case, Ms. Wilson noticed and recognized its importance before the message disappeared. While returning the call, she dispatched officers to the last known location of the call. When the officers arrived on scene, they found a seven-month pregnant female who had just been battered by her husband, leading to a domestic violence battery arrest. Due to Ms. Willis’ situational awareness, quick action, and attention to her equipment, officers arrived on scene quickly and the lives of the mother and baby were saved.

In October 2023, Ashley was awarded Employee of the Quarter for the Town of Indialantic because of her dedication, strong work ethic, and positive attitude. Her professionalism was again recognized as she was also named the Indialantic Police Department Telecommunications Officer of the Year and Brevard County Association of Chiefs of Police Telecommunication Officer of the Year in 2023.

Last week, she was presented the first ever “Florida’s Finest” award by Senator Ashley Moody. Senator Moody has a long standing “Back the Blue” program for highlighting heroic sworn law enforcement officers and other first responders. She recently announced the “Florida’s Finest” program to recognize critical support staff and Ms. Willis of the Indialantic Police Department is the first in the state to receive the honor.

Ms. Willis resides in Rockledge with her husband of almost one year.

HD 32 extends our sincere congratulations to Ms. Willis on this incredible inaugural award. She is truly one of “Florida’s Finest” and because of her quick action a mother and her baby survived a brutal attack.

District Highlights

Brevard County Added To Burn Ban List

Last week, Brevard County became the fifth Central Florida county to be placed on the burn ban list due to ongoing excessively dry weather conditions. Seminole, Orange, Volusia and Lake counties have remained on the burn ban list for several weeks.

Fire danger should be taken seriously. Palm Bay Fire Rescue battled a five-acre brush fire last Wednesday near the Compound. Also last week, several small fires burned through portions of wildland along John Rodes Parkway in Melbourne.

The Brevard County burn ban applies to open burning such as bonfires, campfires, trash burning, and other incineration activities. The ban excludes the use of barbecue grills, authorized public fireworks displays, and fireworks sales authorized by state law.

Further, the Florida Forest Service has also prohibited the burning of household paper products and warming and cooking open fires. Outdoor cooking done with a contained gas or charcoal grill (excluding a fire pit) is permissible under the ban.

The county has not provided an estimated date when the ban will be lifted. They have offered the following safety measures:

Do not discard cigarettes from moving vehicles.
Do not park a hot car or operate all-terrain vehicles on dry grass.
Check lawnmowers and farm equipment for properly working spark arresters.
Extinguish fires when cooking outdoors and never leave fires unattended.

Residents can help protect their home by:

Allowing a 30-foot buffer of non-combustible material around your home.
Cleaning the roof and gutters regularly.
Teaching family members how to use a fire extinguisher and testing smoke detectors regularly.
Raking leaves, dead limbs and twigs and clearing flammable vegetation.
Having a garden hose long enough to reach any area of the home and property.

International Angler's Choice Awards

The International Angler's Choice Awards, which recognizes the exceptional service and dedication of charter captains who consistently deliver outstanding fishing experiences to their customers, has been given annually since 2015.

We would like to congratulate the 11 Brevard captains who received the award out of a total of 84 guides. These captains were recognized for their top customer service, reliability, and the highest quality fishing trips.

The local winners include:

Port Canaveral Anglers -- Nathan Brady of Checkmate Charters; Cole Modade of Southern Mayhem Fishing Charters; Ronnie Rapp of Catch Dog Sport Fishing Charters; Greg Vincent of Reel Magic Adventures; Tony Grillo of Patriot Charters; Michael Adkins of Flight Risk Fishing Charters; David Glasser of Fishing Devotion Charters
Cocoa Beach Anglers -- Joseph Sanchez of Rocket City Charters; Cheyne East of Southern Mayhem Fishing Charters
Melbourne Angler -- Kenneth Krause of Red Alert Fishing Charter
Melbourne Beach Angler -- Bryan Mincey of Southern Thunder Charters

For more information on the criteria to earn the International Angler's Choice Award and how Florida ranks throughout the nation, click here.

Official Flag Lowering at the Closure of Rockledge Hospital

On Tuesday, April 22nd, Rockledge Hospital officially closed after 84 years since its founding in 1941. In 2024, Steward Health Systems declared bankruptcy and offered all three of their hospitals on the Space Coast for sale. Orlando Health purchased all three facilities for $439,000,000.

After the Rockledge Hospital was acquired, and structural inspections were allowed to take place, it was determined that the costs to renovate the hospital would far exceed the cost of a new facility.

As a demonstration of their commitment to the region, Orlando Health has committed to provide the Space Coast Health Foundation with a $10,000,000 grant. The grant includes an initial investment of $3,000,000 for the following projects:

$716,065 for the Brevard Health Alliance.
$188,548 for Space Coast Health Centers.
$800,000 to assist the Department of Health with maternity care.
$800,000 to pay for non-reimbursable transports.
$543,498 to fund an additional ambulance.

The remaining $7,000,000 dollars will be dispersed to the Space Coast Health Foundation over the next seven years. Additionally, Orlando Health has announced that they will be donating the hospital property to the city of Rockledge.

"During this transition, it’s going to take all of us to be part of the solution, and many of our health care partners are stepping up with creative plans toward solutions. I applaud them for that. And lawmakers in Tallahassee have noticed the hard work they’re doing for the Space Coast community, and commending them for their efforts," said Johnette Gindling, President and CEO of the Space Coast Foundation.

Brevard County Fire Rescue, the City of Rockledge Fire Department, and Coastal Health Systems of Brevard have worked together ahead of the closure to ensure that patients can be transported safely and efficiently to nearby alternative facilities.

Last week, in a solemn closing ceremony attended by nearly 200 affiliated with Rockledge Hospital, the American flag was lowered, officially folded according to protocol, and provided to Mayor Tom Price.

Orlando Health plans to make significant investments throughout Brevard County in the coming years with the intent of improving access and delivering high quality, comprehensive healthcare locally. These plans include the construction of a new state-of-the-art hospital and three freestanding emergency departments.

Upcoming Events

3rd Annual Moonlight 5k and Dolphin Dash

The kickoff for Founders Day in Melbourne Beach will take place at the 3rd Annual Moonlight 5K and Dolphin Dash on Friday, May 2nd at 7:00 p.m. at the Spessard Holland Golf Course (2374 Oak Street) in Melbourne Beach.

Attendees will experience a unique course under the setting sun along the Indian River and the rising moon over the ocean all in one race. The event is hosted by Coastal Community School and will be professionally timed by the Running Zone.

Awards will be provided to the first-place male and first-place female in each age category.

To register early, click here.

Pet Adoption Event

A Community Pet Adoption event will take place on Saturday, May 3rd from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at 1900 South Harbor City Boulevard in Melbourne. The one-day event aims connect families with rescue animals in our local community while bringing pet enthusiasts, businesses, and organizations together who are passionate about animal welfare.

Other activities include:

Live Broadcast with 98.5 The Beach – Music, announcements, and giveaways
Food Trucks
Pet-Friendly Vendors – Shop accessories, grooming, training, and more
Fun and Community – Connect with fellow pet lovers and local rescues

Every day, countless pets in Brevard County find themselves in shelters, waiting for a family. Many of these animals never get that second chance.

For more information, click here to connect with the sponsor of the Community Pet Adoption event.

"Down for Derby Gala" Benefitting Down Syndrome Association

The “Down for Derby Gala” benefitting the Down Syndrome Association of Brevard will take place on Saturday, May 3rd from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the Radisson at the Port Resort (8701 Astronaut Boulevard) in Cape Canaveral.

The "Down for Derby Gala" features a festive evening of Mint Juleps, dinner, derby race bets, dancing, photo booths, and a high energy auction led by Sheriff Wayne Ivey.

Tickets are $125.00 and all proceeds directly support individuals with Down Syndrome and their families in Brevard County. To purchase tickets online or to donate to this important cause, click here.

For more information about the Down Syndrome Association of Brevard County, click here.

Brevard Public Schools Summer Camps Pre-Registration is Now Open

The last day of school for Brevard County is Tuesday, May 27th and the summer break officially begins on Wednesday, May 28th.

Brevard Public Schools offers many summer programs yet due to high demand and a short window to register (Monday, May 5th at 6:00 p.m. through Monday, May 19th), parents are highly encouraged to create a student account here and pre-register now.

Registration is on a first come, first serve basis and once registration closes on Monday, May 19th, it will not reopen.

Camps for kids, kindergarten through 11th grade, will begin June 2nd through June 23rd at schools throughout the north, central, and southern parts of the county. Specific locations will be announced soon.

Summer camps run from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for elementary school and 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for grades seven to 11. Grade levels are based on what grade the student was in during the 2024-2025 school year.

Meals will be offered at some (but not all) camps and will be evident at time of registration. Kids can bring their own meals and snacks if they want, and if the location doesn't offer food, students must bring their own meals.

Campers may choose to bring sunscreen and sunglasses, and each should bring a water bottle.

Some camp sites will have busing and the bus schedule with pick up locations for each school camp will be posted here once the website is live.