by Andrew Powell
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed all of the bills passed this week during the Florida Legislature’s special session.
The special session was called in response to several pressing issues, including communities in need of relief from recent Hurricane Idalia, increasing access to education funding for disabled children and violence that has erupted in the Middle East.
House Bill 1C sponsored by Rep. Jason Shoaf, R-Port St. Joe, provides disaster relief for the Big Bend region, which was affected by Category 3 Hurricane Idalia at the end of August.
The bill appropriates just over $416 million in total and provides a range of tax breaks and refunds sales tax on certain equipment like fencing supplies and building materials. My Safe Florida Home Program — the state’s initiative to provide roof hardening — will receive an additional $176.17 million in funding.
HB 3C sponsored by Rep. Josie Tomkow, R-Auburndale, expands the number of disabled students who can access the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program. Beginning in the school year 2024-2025, the maximum number of students will increase annually by 3%.
The Legislature included provisions to address growing anti-Semitism in Florida after the terror group Hamas attacked Israel with terrorist raids and rockets, killing over 1,400 people.
Rep. John Snyder, R-Jupiter, sponsored HB 5C. It amends the Protecting Florida’s Investments Act, expanding the definition of a “scrutinized company” to include companies that are in business with the Iranian government and its petrochemical, energy, financial, construction, manufacturing, textile, mining, metals, shipping, shipbuilding and port sectors.
Previously, “scrutinized companies” included only oil-related and mineral-extraction activities.
The bill also forces the State Board of Administration to divest any current holdings in the Florida Retirement System’s portfolio from scrutinized companies and forbids any new investments.
HB 7C, sponsored by Rep. Randy Fine, R-Palm Bay, amends provisions within the Nonprofit Security Grant Program which awards grants to increase security for nonprofit entities at high risk of violent attacks and hate crimes.
The bill provides $20 million in funds to implement the program, $15 million to the Department of Education to harden security measures at Jewish day schools, which will receive a further $10 million for security personnel and training.
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Andrew Powell is a contributor to The Center Square.
Photo “Ron DeSantis Signing Bill” by Ron DeSantis.
The ‘missing’ TRIFECTA:
GOV RON claims he used to support FLAT TAX… but, refuses the simple plan first proposed by then FL House Speaker Marco Rubio… Sales Tax WITH NO EXEMPTIONS to prevent the doubling of property taxes from Save Our Homes.
Updated… at 6% taxing 85% of gross receipts rather than current paltry 35%… the State and Local GOVT can each take their half to replicate revenues from current Sales Tax and ALL Local Assessments including Residential & Business Property Taxes!
AND… small drum roll here… we have $20 BN remaining to actually fund “Named Storms’ within our FL Hurricane CAT Fund. Created after Hurricane Andrew as insurers loudly shouted they had neither capacity nor inclination to insure WIND in Florida… we have danced around the silly frilly fringe for two decades now!
VOILA… take that $20 BN annual excess into FL HCAT FUND… deleting ‘NAMED STORM’ from HO-6 et al property insurance filings. This will cut in half current Homeowners Premiums.. and also include coverage for the storm surge now excluded!!
Hurricane IAN is around $13 BN Insured and $80 BN Storm Surge!! We can handle both for an average of $8 BN annually. WHEN the FL HCAT Fund is $200 BN or so… we cut our Sales Tax back to 5%!!
WHY doesn’t this “conservative outlet” explain Marco accomplished 75 of his “100 Best Innovative Ideas For Florida”… AND revisit the remaining 25 for future action??
My Safe Florida Home Program ‘hardens’ against hurricane damage… including an inspection and double matching funds for windows / doors / bracing / etc. needed based upon that inspection. Sad the author blew the explanation!
SADLY, it remains a contractor boondoggle… quotes remain 5 times higher than any homeowner buying and self installing those windows or doors!!