Legislative Issues

BILLS FILED

The bill filing deadline is noon on January 11th, 2022. As of this writing, 2,703 bills have been filed with many more anticipated in the next month. Here is a sampling of some of the bills filed so far.

STATE BIRD The northern mockingbird was designated the state bird in 1927, but some legislators want to change that. Multiple bills in both chambers suggest the blue-headed scrub jay, white ibis, roseate spoonbill and wood stork. The mockingbird can sing up to 200 different tunes and can mimic sounds like car alarms.

FREE MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS Bills have been introduced to require public schools to provide free feminine hygiene products to students.

OVERDOSE PREVENTION This legislation would expand those authorized to possess, store and administer emergency opioid antagonists to include pharmacists and law enforcement officers.

AIRPORTS Bills in both chambers would expand a state airport funding program, revising the types of airports eligible for funding VICTIM COMPENSATION Legislation filed would compensate victims of the now closed Dozier School for Boys, formerly in Marianna, and the Florida School for Boys in Okeechobee. State compensation would be paid to survivors who attended the schools between 1940 and 1975.