Legislative Update As Of January 27
The results of activity clearly show Republicans’ top priorities.
(1) HB 211 (criminal penalties for health care practitioners who perform or cause to be performed procedures on minors that affirm transgender transitioning) had its first hearing January 11.
(2) HB 747 (allows health care providers and payers to deny services that violate religious, moral or ethical beliefs) received a favorable vote January 25.
(3) The package of bills expanding “implicit preemption” (HB 403/SB 280; HB 507/SB 620) received varying degrees of favorable votes between November 30, 2021 and January 27. They establish the rationale and processes for businesses to challenge county and municipal ordinances.
(4) Education bills receiving favorable votes: HB 1557 – “Don’t Say Gay” parental rights); H 7/SB 148 (Governor’s “Stop W.O.K.E Act”); SJR 244 (proposed constitutional amendment requiring partisan school board elections)
(5) Reproductive health and freedom favorable votes: H5 (no abortion after 15 weeks).
On the reverse side of the coin, none of the bills that we would support have been voted on: repeal same-sex marriage ban still in FL law; requiring male, female, non-binary markers on FL driver license and ID card; no state-funded conversion therapy; repeal transgender sports ban passed in the 2021 session; expand hate crimes to include gender and gender identity; revise criminal laws related to HIV status; prohibit the use of transgender and gay panic legal defense; require comprehensive, accurate, age-appropriate sex education; greater health care information transparency; increased access to PrEP and PEP; affirm fundamental reproductive health care rights; expansion of background checks for firearms and ammunition; and assault weapons & large-capacity magazine restrictions.
Anthony Ginsberg – Chair & Matthew Eaton – Co-Chair
Legislative Committee
Dolphin Democrats