Over 1.5 Thousand Bills Filed Prior to Start of Florida Legislative Session

Tallahassee, Fl- Nearly 1.7 thousand laws have been proposed by the Florida legislature prior to the start of the 2024 legislative session. 

While committees have been convening in both the Senate and House of Representatives, the Florida legislative session is set to officially commence tomorrow, January 9th. 

Starting tomorrow, legislators will be able to reject or ratify proposed legislation. In the latter circumstance, accepted proposals would be sent to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for final approval. 

The 2024 session will last for 60 days, until March 8th, 2024. 

In 2023, the Florida legislature passed hundreds of bills on a broad array of subjects including agriculture, criminal justice, finance, transportation, and many more. 

Recently, legislation was introduced to increase accountability for juveniles in the criminal justice system. While emphasizing Florida’s low crime rate under Governor DeSantis, Representative Berny Jacques (R) explained that the bill was proposed to counter growing juvenile gun violence.

In late December, legislation was also introduced to aid Florida’s ‘gaming concentrated’ communities. Senator Blaise Ingoglia (R-11) filed legislation that would create the ‘Prospect Del Vista Incorporation’ to provide administrative and financial support for counties with a high presence of gambling facilities. 

Regarding technology, the Florida legislature will also be debating whether to establish an ‘Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council’. The AI council would be lodged in the  Department of Management Services and surveil the development and use of AI systems across Florida. 

A proposal likely to be extensively debated will be that of deregulating Florida’s minor employment laws. Representative Linda Chaney (R) filed legislation that would, among other things, enable all those 16 and up to work the same hours as adults. 

With limited time and hundreds of proposed laws to review, which bills progress through the legislative process will ultimately be decided by leaders in the House and Senate.