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This marked the seventh week of the 2024 Regular Legislative Session. Both chambers continued to move substantive legislation paving the way for budget negotiations to begin during week eight.
On Tuesday, February 20th, the House Appropriations Committee took up HB 635 Child Care and Early Learning by Representative Fiona McFarland, (R- Sarasota) where it passed its last committee stop favorably. In the Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services, SB 1486 Permanency for Children by Senator Jay Collins, (R- Tampa) was presented in its second committee stop.
On Wednesday, February 21st, the House Education & Employment Committee heard HB 929 School Readiness Program by Representative Dana Trabulsy, (R- St. Lucie) and HB 1353 Early Learning by Representative John Snyder, (R- Palm City) marking the last committee stop for both pieces of legislation.
On Thursday, February 22nd, HB 207 Social Media Protection for Minors by Representative Michele K. Rayner, (D- St. Petersburg) was presented in the House Commerce Committee marking its second committee stop. The House Health & Human Services Committee had a packed agenda, taking up HB 185 Dependent Children by Representative Dana Trabulsy, (R- St. Lucie), HB 499 Congenital Cytomegalovirus Screenings by Representative Lauren Melo, (R- Naples), HB 581 Swimming Lesson Voucher Program by Representative Demi Busatta Cabrera, (R- Coral Gables), HB 1061 Community-based Child Welfare Agencies by Representative Fiona McFarland, (R- Sarasota), and HB 1083 Permanency for Children by Representative Dana Trabulsy, (R- St. Lucie) which were all reported favorably. The Senate Committee on Fiscal Policy also took up and passed multiple tracked bills as well, including SB 168 Congenital Cytomegalovirus Screenings by Senator Tina Polsky, (D- Boca Raton), SB 864 Autism Spectrum Disorder Training for Law Enforcement and Correctional Officers by Senator Jay Collins, (R- Sarasota), SB 1224 Dependent Children by Senator Colleen Burton, (R- Lakeland), and SB 1274 Juvenile Justice by Senator Jennifer Bradley, (R- Fleming Island). Additionally, the House passed HB 1267 Economic Self-sufficiency by Representative Adam Anderson, (R- Tarpon Springs) and the Senate passed HB 1 Social Media Use for Minors by Representative Tyler Sirois, (R- Merritt Island).
On Friday, February 23rd, the presiding officers of both chambers submitted HB 1 to the Governor for signature which must be signed or vetoed within seven days.
The Florida Alliance of Children’s Councils & Trusts has continued to remove any bills that have more than two committee stops left during the 2024 Regular Legislative Session from the bill tracker below.
As always, we look forward to bringing you all the information from the 2024 Regular Legislative Session.
Until next time!
Sincerely,
The Florida Alliance of Children's Councils & Trusts
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