2021 Scored Bills

This bill overturns three Key West voter approved referendums that restricted large cruise ships from the island in an effort to protect coral reefs, water quality, and residents' quality of life. This bill has been signed into law by Gov. DeSantis.

This bill criminalizes Floridians exercising their First Amendment right to free speech and will increase violence at protests by emboldening vigilantes. Peaceful protesters could be arrested and charged with a felony if others at a protest or gathering became violent or disorderly, even if they themselves didn't. This bill also undermines local authority in policing decisions. The bill was signed into law by Gov. DeSantis.

Bans trans kids from playing sports with their peers. This bill was part of a national effort to bolster far-right political support for some legislators at the expense of the most vulnerable population of young Floridians. While this bill initially seemed like it would die in the Senate, it was revived as an amendment on another bill (SB 1028). This bill was signed into law by Gov. DeSantis.

Prevents class action lawsuits against farmers, including Big Sugar. The bill is designed to provide legal protections for Big Sugar to allow their continued polluting of Lake Okeechobee area neighborhoods with toxic smoke and ash from the outdated practice of pre-harvest sugar field burning. The bill was signed into law by Gov. DeSantis.

Authorizes expanded collection of the online sales tax, estimated to be a $1 billion annual cost to Florida consumers. New tax revenues won't be used for programs that benefit everyday Floridians, instead they will be used to bail out big businesses from paying previously required Unemployment Insurance Premiums and for tax on commercial leases. The bill was signed into law by Gov. DeSantis.

Representing a massive expansion of private school vouchers, this legislation will divert more taxpayer money from our public schools to unregulated private schools that, unlike public schools, do not have to hire college-educated teachers, make student test scores or graduation rates public, or face consequences if their students don’t make academic gains. The bill was signed into law by Gov. DeSantis.

Prevents private tech platforms from moderating their sites due to the threat of litigation, including hate-speech, disinformation from foreign extremists and harmful internet trolls. The bill was signed into law by Gov. DeSantis.

This bill will have a chilling effect on the ability of local governments to enforce their comprehensive plans and land development rules and will undermine protection for conservation lands and waterways. The bill was signed into law by Gov. DeSantis.

Requires the Office of Minority Health and Health Equity to develop new equity programs and requires one representative from each county health department to serve as a minority health liaison. The bill is now law.

Empowers sexual assualt survivors to anonymously and securely track their rape kits through the entire process. From collection through forensic analysis to final storage location and possible destruction, this law ensures that survivors like Gail Gardner, the bill's namesake, do not have to wait decades for justice. This bill is now law.

Florida law currently allows juvenile Floridians to expunge their record for first-time misdemeanor arrests upon completion of a certified diversion program. This bill expands that policy to include juvenile first-time felonies. The Florida Sheriff’s Association, the Police Benevolent Association, police chiefs, prosecutors and public defenders supported the legislation. This bill was vetoed by Gov. DeSantis.

Bans pelvic examinations of patients including anesthetized patients without their prior affirmative consent. The bill is now law.

The latest in a series bills passed by the Florida Legislature in recent years to undermine the citizen initiative process, this bill limits contributions to any political committee formed to sponsor a citizen-led effort to amend the state Constitution to $3,000 in the initial, most critical stages of a ballot initiative campaign. This restriction undermines direct democracy in Florida by making it harder, if not impossible for citizen-led efforts to amend Florida's Constitution. The bill was signed into law by Gov. DeSantis.

Increases weekly unemployment payments $100 from $275 to $375 per weel. Florida's unemployment safety net benefit of $275 is among the lowest in the nation. This bill passed the Senate, but died in the House.