FSAE Legislative Updates

The FSAE Government Affairs Committee (GAC) is currently monitoring three issues that impact all our members:
(Please login to view the bill descriptions and impacts)

May 17 Updates:

Public Records Lawsuits

SB 80 – by Sen. Greg Steube (R-Sarasota), which was comparable to HB 163 by Rep. Danny Burgess (R-Zephyrhills); both bills passed their respective chambers by unanimous votes.  SB 80 was sent to the Governor for his review and he has until May 24th to sign or not sign the bill.  

The GAC is hopeful that the Governor will sign this important legislation.

Regulatory Boards Indemnification

SB 582 – by Sen. Jack Latvala (R-Clearwater), which was somewhat similar to HB 1193 by Rep. Dan Raulerson (R-Plant City); the Senate bill was approved on the Senate floor on a vote of 37-1, but then died in House Messages at the end of session.  HB 1193 was never heard in any House subcommittee or committee meeting.  The issue will need to be re-filed for the 2018 session.  

 

April 19 Updates:

Public Records Lawsuits

  • SB 80 by Sen. Greg Steube (R-Sarasota) – is on the Senate floor and has been rolled over to 3rd reading scheduled for Thursday, April 20
  • HB 163 by Rep. Danny Burgess (R-Zephyrhills) has been substituted for SB 80

Regulatory Boards Indemnification

  • SB 582 by Sen. Jack Latvala (R-Clearwater) – was passed in the Senate on a vote of 37-1 and is in Messages to the House. Interestingly, there is no comparable/similar/identical bill in the House, so we’ll have to wait and see what the ultimate outcome is.
    Thanks to Vicki Long for bringing this important issue that impacts state regulatory boards and their professional associations

April 5 Bill Updates:

Public Records Lawsuits:

  • SB 80 by Sen. Greg Steube passed the full Senate on a vote of 38-0 on March 29th and has been sent to House Messages; this bill will deny court costs and attorney fees for any cases once the bill is signed by the Governor and takes effect
  • HB 163 by Rep. Danny Burgess is on its last of three committee stops at Government Accountability Committee and will be heard Apr. 6; so far it has enjoyed unanimous votes in the first two committee; Government Affairs Committee (GAC) Chair Barney Bishop testified before the House Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee about the recent lawsuits members have experienced.

Regulatory Boards:

  • SB 582 by Sen. Jack Latvala is on its last of three committee stops; many members of the GAC were at committee meetings to support this good bill which will provide protection for state regulatory boards in light of the court case in North Carolina; this bill has garnered only unanimous votes to date
  • HB 1193 by Rep. Dan Raulerson hasn’t been heard in any of its three committee stops. Subcommittee meetings have now ceased, so the issue may be dead in the House

Here is a recent article on the regulatory board issue

March 23 Bill Updates:

Public Record Lawsuits:  The House Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee heard HB 163 by Rep. Danny Burgess and amended it to conform to SB 80 by Sen. Greg Steube, so both bills are now identical. HB 163 will now go to the House Government Accountability Committee, its last stop before the floor. SB 80 has been placed on the Senate Special Order Calendar for March 23rd.

Sovereign Immunity: SB 582 by Sen. Jack Latvala passed the Regulated Industries Committee unanimously and without debate and now goes to the Judiciary Committee and then to Appropriations. The companion bill – HB 1193 by Rep. Dan Raulerson – is moving as well and will go next to the House Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee, its second of three stops.

 

Thank you to our GAC Chair Barney Bishop for an overview of each of these issues and will continue to keep us updated throughout Session. 

Government Affairs Committee Members: Janegale Boyd, Samantha Hobbs, Tisha Keller, Paul Ledford, Vicki Long, Lance Lozano, Christian Malesic, Lisette Mariner, Al Pasini and Doug Wheeler