Below is a summary of the session organized by Florida CAN’s priorities.
Governor DeSantis called the 2023 legislative session a historic success. He said, “We have secured $2.7 billion in tax cuts, and the legislature passed countless legislative priorities that will better the lives of Florida families. Thank you to the Legislature for such a productive session.” A summary of all the bills is available from the Florida Senate.
Education & Parental Rights
HB1. Passed. Expands school choice, more money and more programs
Individual Freedom
SB222/HB305. Never had a vote in committee. It would’ve prevented all vaccines mandates and added vaccination status to Florida civil rights law to prevent discrimination.
SB238. Public Records/Protection from Discrimination Based on Health Care Choices. Passed.
SB252/HB1013. Passed. Prevents COVID-19 testing, making and vaccine mandates for businesses, governments, and educational institutions. Also prohibits mandates for EUA and mRNA vaccines (mRNA prohibition expires 6/1/2025).
HB543. Passed. While politicians are calling this bill Constitutional Carry, it is actually permit-less carry. The bill removes the requirement for a concealed carry permit, but not the standards. Notably missing is the ability to open carry and returning gun ownership rights to all adults (18+), which Senate President Kathleen Passidomo was very vocal in opposing. She’s from the supposedly more conservative part of the state in SW Florida.
Healthcare
HB 1387. Passed. Bans gain of function research.
SB1550. Passed. Requires companies to report any increase of 15% for wholesale cost over 12 months or 30% over 3 years. Requires pharmacy benefit managers to register for certificate of authority and identify ownership affiliations. They must use a pass-through pricing model (no direct or indirect spread pricing) and pass 100% of all manufacturer rebates to the pharmacy benefits plan. They can’t force covered clients to receive drugs by mail, use affiliated health care provider or use affiliated network requirements.
SB1580/HB1403. Physicians’ Freedom of Speech. Passed. Protections for healthcare providers who can opt out of certain services for conscience-based objections; provides whistle-blower protections and prohibits boards from disciplinary action or denying licenses for specified conduct. Supported by the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons.
SB1618/HB1487. Passed. Updates public health emergency statute (381.00315). First renewal is only for 30-days (not 60) and must have governor approval. Further renewals require 2/ of both chambers of the legislature
Culture
SB266/HB999. Passed. Anti-ESG
SB254/HB1421. Passed. No public funds for transition surgery, no change to birth certificates, no transition surgery for minors
SB1320/HB1223. Passed. Can’t require people to use pronouns, can’t teach sexual orientation or gender identity until grade 9
SB300. Passed. Heartbeat Protection Act. Prohibits abortions once the unborn child has a detectible heartbeat, expands pregnancy support network and appropriations. Florida Senate analysis of the bill says the abortion ban cannot go into effect until the Florida Supreme Court overturns In re T.W. or changes its stance on the privacy clause in the Florida Constitution.
Crime
HB1297. Passed. Death penalty for pedophiles who rape kids under 12.
HB1359. Passed. Additional penalties on fentanyl and other drugs made to look like candy to target kids
HB1627. Passed. Uniform statewide bond schedule (judges can’t go lower). No release prior to first appearance for violent offenders. Revoke pretrial release if defendant violates condition of pretrial release. No nonmonetary pretrial release for defendants arrested for “dangerous crimes”
SB1718. Passed. E-verify for companies with over 25 employees; stronger penalties for employing illegals and for human smuggling; no gov’t ID cards for illegals; funds to transport illegals to sanctuary jurisdictions
“Without freedom of thought, there can be no such thing as wisdom; and no such thing as public liberty, without freedom of speech; which is the right of every man, as fas as by it, he does not hurt or control the right of another: And this is the only check it ought to suffer, and the only bounds it ought to know.”
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, SILENCE DOGOOD LETTERS, NO.8, JULY 9, 1772