This year, well over 100 new pieces of legislation have already been signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis, and 87 of them kick in on July 1. Here are the ones most worth knowing about.
- Your vet has to tell you about outside pharmacies. House Bill 89 requires licensed veterinarians to clearly inform clients of their right to receive a written prescription that can be filled at a pharmacy of their choice, not just the vet’s office.
- Domestic violence relocation money goes up. House Bill 277 increases the funding amount for relocation assistance claims for victims of domestic violence from $1,500 to $2,500 per claim, with the lifetime maximum bumped from $3,000 to $5,000. The bill also adds threatening to kill or injure a family pet as a factor judges can consider when determining whether to grant a domestic violence injunction.
- Data centers can’t pass their electricity costs to regular customers. Senate Bill 484 prohibits utilities from passing data center costs, including electricity costs, onto residential and small business customers. It also prohibits utilities from serving data centers controlled by foreign countries of concern.
- Palm Beach International Airport is being renamed. House Bill 919 renames Palm Beach International Airport as the “President Donald J. Trump International Airport.”
- 124 miles of SR-80 is becoming the Trump Highway. Senate Bill 628 designates 124 miles of SR-80 stretching from Palm Beach County to Lee County as the “President Donald J. Trump Highway.” The same bill also renames the Tallahassee airport as the “Bobby Bowden-Tallahassee International Airport,” named after the former Florida State Seminoles coach.
- Special Olympics can count as PE credit. House Bill 453 allows students with disabilities to substitute one school year of participation in the Special Olympics for the PE requirement for a standard high school diploma. The law also specifies that two years of marching band satisfy both the PE and performing arts credits.
- Sex offenders can’t live near public pools. Senate Bill 212 prohibits those convicted of certain sex offenses against children 16 and under from living within 1,000 feet of a public swimming pool. Current law already prohibits proximity to schools, childcare facilities, parks, and playgrounds.
- Pet buyers get new protections. Senate Bill 1004 requires pet dealers to disclose financing terms before a sale, allows consumers to terminate financing agreements without penalty if an animal is later found unfit due to illness, and requires written notice informing buyers of their rights under Florida law, including the ability to return or exchange a sick animal.
- Local governments can’t ban gas-powered lawn equipment. Senate Bill 290 prohibits local governments from banning gas-powered landscape equipment.
- Net-zero greenhouse gas policies are banned statewide. House Bill 1217 prohibits the state and local governments from adopting or enforcing net-zero greenhouse gas emissions policies, including carbon taxes.
Click HERE to see all of the new laws.
