Florida's affordable housing plan becomes law, constitutional carry awaits governor's approval, DeSantis faces ethics complaints from political rivals, and more...
March 31, 2023 — This Week's Top Stories in Florida
Welcome to this week’s edition of Floridian Today, a newsletter about all things Florida — from politics, business, real estate, and climate. Reporting from the Sunshine State, these are the most important stories you need to know. To never miss an update, subscribe here:
Here’s the latest from Florida…
Bill designed to address Florida’s affordable housing crisis becomes law
The “Live Local Act,” a hallmark priority of legislative leadership, has been signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis, aiming to increase access and supply of affordable housing options for Florida workers. The Republican governor signed Senate Bill 102 on Wednesday from Naples, the home district of Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, who championed the legislation and made it her number-one priority this session. Amid a housing shortage and rapidly rising population, the bill seeks to encourage attainable housing for working-class Floridians to live in the communities where they work by introducing a range of programs for prospective homeowners and incentivizing developers to build affordable units. The bill represents the state’s largest investment into housing ever with $711 million appropriated through the Florida Housing and Finance Corporation. It will fund the Hometown Heroes Program with $100 million by providing eligible frontline community workers who are first-time homebuyers with down payment and closing cost assistance. Eligible workers include law enforcement officers, firefighters, teachers, healthcare professionals, and active military or veterans. It widens program eligibility for down payment assistance and increases the maximum zero-interest loan amount to $35,000. It will also set aside $259 million for the SAIL program, providing low-interest loans to affordable housing developers, and another $252 million for the SHIP program which provides funding for local governments to provide assistance to purchase or rehabilitate a home to very-low to moderate-income families. The bill also contains a controversial measure that limits a local government’s ability to implement rent control provisions on landlords.
Constitutional carry legislation awaits governor’s approval
Following a 76-32 vote in the Florida House last week and a 27-13 vote in the Senate on Thursday, permitless carry is one step closer to becoming law as it awaits the governor’s signature. Floridians will soon be able to carry concealed firearms without the previously required permit or training, as part of Republican lawmakers’ efforts to reduce any restrictions on the second amendment. Once it becomes law, any Florida resident or non-resident, who meets state requirements, will be able to carry a concealed gun without needing to apply for a license. Current requirements to purchase a firearm in Florida are unchanged. The bill is expected to be approved by Gov. DeSantis as it is one of his leading priorities; however, he voiced objection to the legislation’s absence of open carry provisions, saying that it doesn’t go far enough. Democrat lawmakers and gun safety groups have opposed the bill with concern that it will make the state less safe and increase gun violence. Upon its anticipated approval, Florida will become the 26th state with constitutional carry laws, joining others like Texas, Georgia, Tennessee, and Ohio.
DeSantis faces ethics complaint after being accused of accepting illegal gifts
Political opponents of Gov. DeSantis have filed ethics complaints against the Republican leader, accusing him of accepting illegal gifts and donations as well as abusing his position and taxpayer funds to build his national profile ahead of a likely presidential campaign. The first of two complaints filed with the Florida Commission on Ethics was made by allies of Donald Trump via the Make America Great Again super PAC. The 15-page filing asks the commission to investigate whether the Florida governor has leveraged his office to enrich himself politically by building his national profile and gaining influence. The complaint comes as Trump has increasingly gone on the offensive to criticize his likely Republican foe, including calling DeSantis “disloyal” and saying he regrets endorsing him in 2018. The now-legal fight aims to punish the governor with either removal from office, public censure, ballot disqualification, or fines. Another state ethics complaint against Gov. DeSantis was filed this week by Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried, alleging he illegally accepted gifts from a political committee. The filing says the governor benefited from $235,244.52 paid to the Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach by the Friends of Ron DeSantis PAC in February 2023. It was reported that the Four Seasons resort served as host for a three-day donor-funded retreat that gathered top DeSantis donors and supporters to boost the Republican’s profile ahead of a White House bid. The complaint claims that the governor violated the law by being the beneficiary of PAC contributions on non-political activities unrelated to a campaign. The filing by Fried highlights PAC spending of more than $380,000 in total at two South Florida Four Seasons resorts and a fancy steakhouse. Whether DeSantis will face penalties related to these state ethics complaints remain in doubt as the nine-member commission tasked with investigating such claims is comprised of five DeSantis appointees.
Florida courts see a flood of lawsuit filings before tort reform takes effect
When Gov. DeSantis signed Florida’s tort reform bill into law on Friday, aiming to reduce frivolous lawsuits from being filed, court clerks saw a flood of last-minute new civil filings by attorneys in the days leading up to its anticipated approval. HB 837 establishes limits on injury and insurance lawsuits and eliminates one-way attorney’s fees, effectively reducing how much plaintiffs and attorneys can earn in negligence cases. Clerk-of-court offices across the state were inundated with new cases that were rushed to be filed before the litigation reforms became law and were put into effect immediately. In Pinellas County, auto negligence case filings jumped more than 4,000% (yes, 4,000%) from March 17 to March 23, compared to the same time last year. Premise liability cases saw a similar spike. According to the county clerk, Pasco County sees about 12 new filings daily, but last Tuesday, they received more than 800. In neighboring Hillsborough County, the clerk’s office has seen nearly 50,000 new cases filed so far in March, whereas 9,293 were filed just a month earlier. The overhaul of Florida’s legal environment was sparked by predatory trial attorneys and “billboard lawyers” driving up costs for Floridians by litigating insurance providers and businesses. Among other changes in the bill are limitations on how much plaintiffs can collect in medical expenses from negligence lawsuits and a reduction of the statute of limitations to two years.
Anti-abortion proposal awaits Senate vote and aims to reshape women’s healthcare
In one of the most controversial pieces of legislation debated by lawmakers this session, reproductive rights advocates are fearful of what women’s healthcare will look like in the state come July. That’s when Florida’s not-yet-passed six-week abortion ban could take effect if the GOP supermajority acts as expected in approving the bill. SB 300 by Sen. Erin Grall (R-Fort Pierce) would outlaw the termination of pregnancy “after the gestational age of the fetus” is more than six weeks, with exceptions. This proposal claws back the current 15-week law passed by lawmakers last year. But included in the bill is a measure that would set aside $25 million for anti-abortion clinics – more than a fivefold increase over the $4.45 million budgeted in 2022. Another $5 million would be appropriated for family planning programs. These centers that stand to gain additional funding provide medical services to women but also discourage consideration of abortion and instead advocate for parenting or adoption. The use of contraceptives is also often dissuaded by staff at these clinics. Reproductive rights organizations have long viewed the so-called crisis pregnancy centers as detrimental to their aims and an extension of the growing anti-abortion campaign in the community. One argument they make against additional funding is the lack of oversight for such clinics, including the state’s absence of license or inspection requirements. The measure doesn’t include any stricter rules regulating the pregnancy center industry nor obligates that they provide medical screenings. The bill passed its final Senate committee on Tuesday and awaits a vote on the floor.
DeSantis signs universal school voucher expansion into law
One of the nation’s most comprehensive school voucher programs is now law after Gov. Ron DeSantis gave his signature to the legislation on Monday. The new law will expand school choice for nearly all Florida students, regardless of income or ZIP code, as DeSantis touted Florida as “No. 1” in “education freedom and education choice” during the signing ceremony. HB 1 provides funding to families with children attending public schools to enroll them in private or home schools. Proponents of the bill said parents and students will be empowered to select the school that best meets their children's needs The measure will prioritize low- and middle-income students and those with disabilities, who are often waitlisted for alternative schooling options. Opponents of the new law say it will deplete funding for Florida's public education system and reduce accountability requirements for student learning that is mandated for traditional K-12 public schools. House and Senate lawmakers remain at odds on how much the expanded voucher program will cost taxpayers or how to pay for it. Estimates range from $2 billion to more than $4 billion to operate the program. Currently, more than 177,000 students receive state-backed scholarships to attend private schools and that number is expected to cross 250,000 by the Fall. The measure will take effect on July 1.
Miami Beach’s spring break state of emergency
Officials in Miami Beach declared a state of emergency after violence erupted in the city over spring break from large crowds of beachgoers that resulted in the shooting deaths of two people. The emergency declaration was made last weekend and coincided with a curfew as police have made dozens of arrests this spring break season. The arrests spanned from aggravated assault and battery to robbery and felony drug crimes. At least 12 people have been arrested for committing battery on a law enforcement officer as police have struggled to maintain control among unruly crowds. The emergency order included enhanced public safety measures such as preventing the sale of alcohol for off-premises consumption, sobriety checkpoints, and mobile license plate readers. Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber had proposed an end to spring break by further restricting alcohol sales and imposing a curfew that would force local businesses to shut down early. However, the proposal was met with opposition from other city officials and bar owners, arguing that it would harm the local economy. This is the second consecutive year that Miami Beach has declared a state of emergency during the spring break season.
Disney doubles down on commitment to diversity, LGBTQ+ rights amid spat with Florida
After relationships between the Walt Disney Company and Gov. DeSantis soured last year over the entertainment giant’s opposition to the Parental Rights in Education legislation or the “Don’t Say Gay” bill as critics dubbed it, Disney isn’t capitulating on its efforts to promote LGBTQ+ rights and inclusivity. This September, Walt Disney World Resort will serve as host to the Out & Equal Workplace Summit, which touts itself as the “largest LGBTQ+ conference in the world” with more than 5,000 attendees each year. The annual gathering of business leaders, employers, and LGBTQ employees join together to advance diversity, equality, and inclusiveness in the workplace. Conference participants discuss best practices, take part in training, and network with one another in a safe, open space. Disney’s decision to host the conference is an act of defiance against Gov. DeSantis's culture war campaign against “wokeness,” diversity training, and LGBTQ protections as well as a recommitment to the company’s non-heterosexual employees. The conference will be held from September 11-14 and Walt Disney World Resort has already committed to hosting the conference again in 2024.
Tampa International Airport sets passenger record
During the busy spring break travel season, Tampa International Airport (TIA) broke its daily passenger record and reported other record-breaking days in March with a surge of visitors arriving to and departing the Tampa Bay area. TIA reported March 19 was the busiest day for passenger traffic in their history with a record 90,000 passengers traveling through the airport. This was preceded by the airport seeing its top five days for passenger traffic in the first half of March, including 89,000 passengers on March 11. Previously, the single-day record for Tampa International Airport was about 86,000 passengers on March 20, 2022. On average, the airport sees between 60,000-65,000 passengers pass through its terminals with about 450-500 daily flights. The numbers were reported by the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA).
Florida ranks among America’s deadliest beaches
It’s a list no community wants to see their local beach on, but with hurricanes, rip currents, algal blooms, and shark attacks, beaches can be a dangerous place. And unfortunately, Florida is home to some of the deadliest in the United States. A recent report by the travel website TravelLens.co, compiled a list of beaches with the highest fatalities in the U.S. to determine which posed the biggest dangers to visitors. At the top of the list as the deadliest was New Smyrna Beach with a danger score of 8.14 out of 10. The ranking factored in the 32 shark attacks reported since 2010 – more than three times any other U.S. beach – and ten surf zone fatalities. The coastal town has also been hit with 120 hurricanes from 1851 to 2020. Appearing at No. 2 and 3 were Cocoa Beach and Ormond Beach, respectively. Panama City Beach was No. 4 and earned the distinction as the only gulf coast beach in Florida that was ranked on the list. South Carolina, North Carolina, and Alabama also made an appearance in the top ten of deadliest U.S. beaches.
Sarasota Bradenton International Airport breaks ground on expansion project
This week, Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, or SRQ, broke ground on its $73-million terminal expansion project that will add five new gates to the airport. The added 75,000 square feet of terminal space is necessary as airport officials predict traffic among travelers to double within the next few years. SRQ is already setting records in passenger traffic with 4.5 million expected to have passed through the airport in 2023. The new project will add four lanes of security, new ramps, and food and retail spaces as it aims to increase airport capacity to about 7 million passengers per year. The expansion adds to the $200 million in total construction at SRQ, which has grown tremendously since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Just three years ago, six airlines operated from the airport with 12 direct flight destinations. That number has now grown to 11 airlines with 55 nonstop flights.
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