Capitol Connection

2025 LEGISLATIVE SESSION: WEEK 8

Senator Jennifer Bradley (R-Fleming Island) and Representative Hillary Cassel (R-Hollywood)


Welcome to Capitol Connection week 8. This week marked the end of committee weeks, and the 55-day rule took effect on Sunday, April 27th which states that the Special-Order Calendar shall be published in one Calendar of the House and may be taken up on the day the Calendar is published. After the 55th day of a regular session: no House bills on second reading may be taken up and considered by the House meaning that the path to passage for many outstanding sustentative bills is dwindling. Additionally, the budget process is still in negotiations with budget conferences yet to convene signaling an extension to the 60-day regular.


On Tuesday,  April 22nd   the House Commerce Committee took up a series of bills including HB 743 Social Media Use by Minors by Representative Michelle Salzman, (R- Cantonment) and HB 1225 Employment by Representative Monique Miller, (R- Palm Bay) passing their final committee stop. The House Health and Human Services Committee heard HB 531 Public Education of Background Screening Requirements by Representative Christine Hunschofsky, (D- Coconut Creek) and HB 1085 Children’s Medical Services Program by Representative Vanessa Oliver, (R-Punta Gorda) passing their final committee stop. Lastly, the Senate Committee on Fiscal Policy took up SB 524 Newborn Screenings by Senator Gayle Harrell, (R-Stuart); SB 614 Public Education of Background Screening Requirements by Senator Tina Polsky, (D- Boca Raton); SB 1382 Access to School Readiness Programs for Economically Disadvantaged Households by Senator Alexis Calatayud, (R- Miami); and SB 1490 Children’s Medical Services Program by Senator Gayle Harrell, (R-Stuart) passing their final committee stop.


On Wednesday, April 23rd the House took up and passed a series of bills during its floor session including HB 1267 Education by Representative Demi Busatta, (R- Coral Gables); HB 1255 Education by Representative Dana Trabulsy, (R- Ft. Pierce); HB 1089 Newborn Screenings by Representative Erika Booth, (R-Orlando) which are all in Senate messages. The Senate also took up and passed a series of bills during its floor session including SB 738 Child Care and Early Learning Providers by Senator Collen Burton (R- Winter Haven); SB 584 Young Adult Housing Support by Senator Ileanna Garcia, (R- Miami); and SB 508 Family Empowerment Scholarship Program by Senator Shev Jones, (D-Miami Gardens)which are now all in House messages.


On Thursday, April 24th the Senate during its floor session took up a number of bills including SB 868 Social Media Use by Minors by Senator Blaise Ingoglia, (R- Spring Hill); SB 1314 Juvenile Justice by Senator Corey Simon, (R- Quincy); SB 1102 School Readiness Program by Senator Alexis Calatayud, (R-Miami);and SB 1490 Children’s Medical Services Program by Senator Gayle Harrell, (R-Stuart) which all passed favorably and are in House messages. Additionally, a series of Senate education bills were temporarily postponed including SB 1618 Education by Senator Alexis Calatayud, (R-Miami) and SB 1590 Educator Preparation by Danny Burgess, (R- Zephyrhills). Finally, HB 969 Reporting of Student Mental Health Outcomes by Representative Hillary Cassel, (R-Hillary) was passed out of the Senate and was ordered enrolled. In the House floor session the agenda included HB 859 School Readiness Program by Representative Chase Tramont (R- Port Orange) and HB 1539 Materials Harmful to Minors by Representative Doug Bankson, (R- Apopka) which are now in Senate messages. Additionally, two bills were temporarily postponed including HB 879 Young Adults who are Homeless or were in the Child Welfare System by Representative Alex Rizzo, (R- Hialeah) and HB 1405 Juvenile Justice by Representative Berny Jacques, (R- Clearwater).


On Friday, April 25th the House floor session took up HB 1225 Employment by Representative Monique Miller, (R- Palm Bay) and HB 531 Public Education of Background Screening Requirements by Representative Christine Hunschofsky, (D- Coconut Creek) which passed and are now in Senate messages.

 

As always, we look forward to bringing you all the information from the 2025 Regular Legislative Session.


Until next time!

 

Sincerely,

 

The Florida Alliance of Children’s Councils & Trusts



Voted Favorably By Committee

Did Not Pass Committee Vote

Temporarily Postponed in Committee

Referred to Committee but Not Yet Heard

Bill has not yet been referred to committees

Healthy Development

HB 1089 - Newborn Screenings

Rep. Booth

❶❷❸

SB 0524 - Newborn Screenings

Sen. Harrell

❶❷❸

These identical bills require that the Department of Health's rules require that newborns be screened for Duchenne muscular dystrophy at the appropriate age.

HB 0743 - Social Media Use by Minors

Rep. Salzman

❶❷

SB 0868 - Social Media Use by Minors

Sen. Ingoglia

❶❷❸

These identical bills require social media platforms to disable certain encryption features for a specified purpose.

HB 1225 - Employment of Minors

Rep. Miller

❶❷❸

SB 0918 - Employment of Minors

Sen. Collins

❷❸

These similar bills remove employment restrictions for minors 16 & 17 years, revise the age at which certain employment restrictions do not apply, and remove the authority of DBPR to grant a waiver of employment restrictions.

HB 0969 - Reporting of Student Mental Health Outcomes

Rep. Cassel

❶❷❸

SB 1310 - Reporting of Student Mental Health Outcomes

Sen. Bradley

❶❷

These identical bills require the Department of Children and Families to annually submit a specified evaluation to the Governor and Legislature by a specified date; remove a provision authorizing a mental health professional to be available to the school district through specified agreements; requires each district school board’s mental health coordinator to serve as the Department of Children and Families’ primary point of contact and coordinate with the department to prepare certain evaluations.

HB 1085 - Children's Medical Services Program

Rep. Oliver

❶❷❸

SB 1490 - Children's Medical Services Program

Sen. Harrell

❶❷❸

These identical bills transfer operation of Children's Medical Services Managed Care Plan from DOH to AHCA; provides construction as to judicial & administrative actions pending as of specified date & time; requires department's Children's Medical Services (CMS) program to collaborate with agency in care of children & youth with special health care needs; requires CMS program to conduct certain clinical eligibility screenings & provide ongoing consultation to agency for specified purpose; conforms cross-reference; requires agency to seek federal approval to amend state's Medicaid Model Waiver for home & community-based services to include certain services; requires agency to implement approved waiver amendment subject to certain conditions; authorizes agency to adopt rules; requires agency to submit results of evaluation to Governor & Legislature by specified date.

Early Learning

HB 0047 - Child Care and Early Learning Providers

Rep. McFarland

❶❷❸

SB 0738 - Child Care and Early Learning Providers

Sen. Burton

❶❷❸

These similar bills revise licensing standards for licensed child care facilities & minimum standards & training requirements for child care personnel; require DCF to conduct specified screenings of child care personnel & issue provisional approval of such personnel under certain conditions; revise minimum standards for sanitation & safety of child care facilities; remove provisions relating to educating parents & children about specified topics; remove provisions relating to specialized child care facilities for care of mildly ill children; expand types of providers to be considered when developing & implementing plan to eliminate duplicative & unnecessary inspections; revise requirements for abbreviated inspection plan for certain child care facilities; provide that certain child care facilities are exempt from specified requirements; authorize certain exempt child care facilities to submit application for licensure to department or local licensing agency; requires department & local licensing agency to adopt rules.

HB 0531 - Child Care Facility and Program Background Screening Requirements

Rep. Hunschofsky

❶❷❸

SB 0614 - Child Care Facility and Program Background Screening Requirements

Sen. Polsky

❶❷❸

These similar bills define "recreational enrichment program"; provide such programs are not required to obtain license from DCF; revise remedies DCF may pursue for failure to comply with screening requirements; revise penalty provisions; require DCF, in conjunction with AHCA & FDLE, to develop & maintain statewide background screening public awareness campaign.

HB 0859 - School Readiness Program

Rep. Tramont

❶❷❸

SB 1382 - Access to School Readiness Programs for Economically Disadvantaged Households

Sen. Calatayud

❶❷❸

These similar bills revise provisions relating to the school readiness program, including revising the Department of Education’s duties for adopting specific program support services to coordinate a comprehensive early learning program; revising duties of early learning coalitions relating to the creation of a uniform waiting list, and revising requirements for the school readiness program plan

HB 0877 - School Readiness Program

Rep. Bartleman

❶❷

SB 1102 - School Readiness Program

Sen. Calatayud

❶❷❸

These identical bills revise criteria for children to receive priority for participation in school readiness program; & provide requirements for school readiness program providers to be eligible for specified funding.

K-12 Education

SB 1590 - Educator Preparation

Sen. Burgess

❶❷❸

This bill establishes the Task Force for Educator Preparation; requires the Department of Education to provide administrative support for the task force; provides the duties of the task force; provides for expiration of the task force.

SB 0166 - Administrative Efficiency in Public Schools

Sen. Simon

❶❷❸

This bill exempts district school boards from requirements for adopting certain rules; deletes a requirement for a district school board to employ an internal auditor in certain circumstances; requires innovation schools of technology to comply with specified provisions relating to instructional multiyear contracts, in addition to annual contracts, for instructional personnel in addition to annual contracts; revises requirements relating to district school board attendance policies for Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Programs; revises requirements for assessments needed for a student to earn a high school diploma; provides requirements for advanced degrees which may be used to set salary schedules for instructional personnel and school administrators hired after a specified date; revises eligibility requirements for individuals to participate in the Teacher Apprenticeship Program.

HB 1267 - Education

Rep. Busatta

❶❷❸

SB 1708 - Education

Sen. Calatayud

❶❷

These identical bills provide that specified provisions relating to facilities apply to schools of hope of distinction; revise and provide definitions; provide that schools of hope of distinction have the right to locate or co-locate with other public schools in certain facilities beginning on a specified date; require the Department of Education to selectively audit specified surveys from school districts and Florida College System institutions.

HB 1255 - Education

Rep. Trabulsy

❶❷❸

SB 1618 - Prekindergarten Through Grade 12 Education

Sen. Calatayud

❶❷❸

These comparable bills revise provisions relating to critical teacher shortage areas, background screening requirements for private schools, & K-12 instruction. Removes the Florida School for Competitive Academics from audit requirements, specified classification and pay plans, and the definition of a public employer. Prohibits the expenditure of funds by public schools, charter schools, school districts, charter school administrators, or direct-support organizations to purchase membership in, or goods or services from, any organization that discriminates on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or religion. Require the Just Read, Florida! Office to work with the Florida Center for Reading Research to identify certain personnel and reading coaches to participate in specified training; require that intensive reading instruction be provided to students who have reading deficiencies; require the Florida Center for Reading Research to develop content for specified training.

Children with Unique Abilities

HB 0591 - Children with Developmental Disabilities

Rep. Maggard

❶❷❸

SB 0112 - Children with Developmental Disabilities

Sen. Harrell

❶❷

These similar bills revise the scope of the Dr. and Mrs. Alfonse and Kathleen Cinotti Health Care Screening and Services Grant Program to allow grant funds to be used for screenings, referrals for treatment, and related services for autism; revise requirements for the annual grant application submitted by the Department of Health for the Early Steps Program to conform to changes made by the act; provide a purpose for the Early Steps Extended Option; authorize the department to implement the Early Steps Extended Option regardless of certain federal funding; require the University of Florida Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment to fund specialized summer programs for children with autism spectrum disorder.

Child Protection

HB 0879 - Young Adults who are Homeless or were in the Child Welfare System

Rep. Rizo

❶❷

SB 0584 - Young Adult Housing Support

Sen. Garcia

❶❷❸

These similar bills require each Florida College System institution & state university, in consultation with State Office on Homelessness, to develop plan to prioritize placement of certain students in residence halls or dormitory residences; provide responsibilities for Office of Continuing Care, Florida College System institutions, & state universities; requires that certain institutions & universities give priority to certain students for housing & work-study programs; defines “young adult”; requires certain entities, to develop programs & supports to help young adults access certain federal programs & vouchers; provide requirements for such programs & supports; requires specified entities to maintain certain records & provide certain assurances to landlords; provide applicability; creates Fostering Independence Grant Program within DOE for specified purpose; provide eligibility requirements; provide for distribution of grant funds based on whether student receives other types of financial aid; require participating Florida College System institutions & state universities to report certain information to DOE annually; require OPPAGA, in consultation with other entities, to conduct specified study & report its findings to Governor & Legislature by date certain; provides requirements for such study.

SB 1286 - Harming or Neglecting Children

Sen. Grall

❶❷❸

This bill revises the definition of the term “harm” as it relates to a child’s health or welfare; revising the definition of the term “neglect of a child”.

Juvenile Justice

HB 1405 - Juvenile Justice

Rep. Jacques

❶❷❸

SB 1344 - Juvenile Justice

Sen. Simon

❶❷❸

These similar bills create and revise numerous provisions related to juvenile justice, including early truancy intervention, providing for appointment and payment of counsel, and specifying when a guardian ad litem may be appointed.

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