Bills that Passed

LICENSE PLATES An additional 10 new specialty license plates, including “Support Healthcare Heroes” and a Florida State Parks plate, were approved by the Legislature. There are currently 120 authorized plates with another 33 attempting to reach the 3,000 pre-orders within the allotted 24-month period. A cap of 150 was instituted last year. 

K9 MEDICAL AID Passing both chambers unanimously, this legislation allows EMS workers who offer medical aid to help an injured police K-9. An ambulance to transport the dog to an emergency veterinarian is also allowed.

SALES TAX HOLIDAYS This year, lawmakers passed three sales-tax holidays. The popular 10-day back-to-school tax holiday will be held from July 31st to August 9th; a disaster preparedness tax free holiday will run May 28th to June 6th; and a “freedom week” holiday during the first week of July provides a sales-tax exemption on tickets purchased for such things as live music, athletic contests and in-theater movies. The tickets could be used for events that occur later in the year.

ABANDONED CEMETERIES A ten-member task force will be created to study the extent that unmarked or abandoned African-American cemeteries and burial grounds exist throughout the state. They will make recommendations in a report due January 1, 2022.

PURPLE ALERT A new “purple alert” for missing adults with certain disabilities or brain injuries is created similar to the silver alert for missing senior adults.

STATE HOLIDAYS Juneteenth and Emancipation Day are designated as legal holidays in Florida; high school students will receive classroom instruction on the history of the Emancipation Proclamation and its significance to Florida; and instruction on “Victims of Communism Day” on November 7th will be provided.