Capitol Connection
2021 LEGISLATIVE SESSION: WEEK 4
The 2021 Florida Legislative Session is well underway. These eight weeks move quickly in Tallahassee, and we appreciate your interest in monitoring issues that may impact Florida’s children and families. The Florida Children’s Council hopes that the content provided in this digest and the subsequent issues will help inform your advocacy efforts until session ends (sine die) on April 30th.
 
Each week the Capitol Connection will provide a brief summary of relative events from the executive and legislative branches. The update will also include information on legislation that has moved that week and provide updates on presentations, press conferences and conversations that may be of interest. Given that it is the halfway point of the legislative session, bills that have not had any movement have been removed from the summary.
 
The first column lists the bill number, name and sponsor and provides a hyperlink to the bill's text and history. The numbered circles represent the number of committees of reference for each bill, and the final column provides a brief description of the bill(s). Here is a key to help guide you in your review of where each bill is:
This week the Senate and House chambers met for Week Four of the 2021 Legislative Session. Activities this week included the House of Representatives announcing a plan to reduce maternal mortality rates and improve health outcomes for new mothers and infants by extending maternal Medicaid benefits from the two months in current law to a full year following delivery. To read the full press release from the House of Representatives click here. Both chambers also previewed their budget recommendations for fiscal year 2021-2022 through their respective appropriations subcommittees. On Friday, SB 2500 was filed outlining the Senate’s complete budget recommendations. Other items of note were actions in the Senate to abolish the Constitutional Revision Commission through SB 204, and issues relating to Economic Self-Sufficiency, Early Learning, Juvenile Diversion, and Managed Care Plans.
 
On Thursday, Governor DeSantis announced beginning Monday, March 29, all individuals age 40 and older will be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Beginning the following Monday, April 5, all individuals age 18 and older will be eligible to receive the vaccine. To read the governor’s announcement click here

Below are links to news articles published this week that may be of interest to you. 



 

Until next week!

Sincerely,
The Florida Children’s Council
Economic Self-Sufficiency
Economic Self-Sufficiency
Early Learning
Early Learning
Out of School
Out-Of-School Time Programs
Healthy Development
Healthy Development
Children With Disabilities
Children With Disabilities
Child Protection
Child Protection
Juvenile Justice
Juvenile Justice
Equity
Equity
K-12 Education
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For more information, contact: Jenny Foltz - [email protected]