Bills Signed by Governor DeSantis
VISIT FLORIDA VISIT Florida, the State’s tourism marketing arm, will receive $50 million in recurring funding. Additionally, its authorization to operate has been extended until October 1, 2023.
ELECTRIC BICYCLES This new legislation outlines where an e-bike can operate, but local governments will retain the ability to regulate the operation of e-bikes on their streets, highways, sidewalks, and sidewalk areas.
ALYSSA’S LAW Public and charter schools are now required to install panic alarms. Eight million dollars was appropriated to the Florida Department of Education to create the system. Representative Michael Gottlieb (D-Davie) led the effort for the legislation together with Lori Alhadeff, a parent whose daughter Alyssa was one of the 17 people murdered during the 2018 shooting at Broward County’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
CLEAN WATERWAYS ACT Regulation of the 2.6 million septic tanks in the State will be moved from the Florida Department of Health to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection; utilities will be required to develop inspection, maintenance and replacement plans for their wastewater systems; and the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services must perform on-site verification of agricultural “best management practices” every two years.
SEWERS Penalties for sanitary sewer overflows were increased 100 percent and all other environmental fines were raised by 50 percent. Daily fines are in place until the issue is remediated or a consent order is in place that addresses the violation.
BEAR HUNTING There will be increased penalties for killing bears outside of designated hunting seasons. It raised the killing, possessing or selling a bear out of season from a level-two violation to a level-three, which includes a $500 fine and forfeits any Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission license or permit issued for three years after the date of violation.