The Lounge🍊—1.27.2024—Week 4 of the 2024 Legislative Session Wraps Up—DeSantis Flexes After Returning to Capitol—More...

2024 Legislative Session Moves Along into Week 4

As the third week of the 2024 Florida Legislative session comes to a close, the name of the game becomes apparent: protecting children.

From banning children on pornographic websites to prohibiting minors on addictive social media sites, to capturing online pedophiles, it is clear that this week, legislators have taken up the banner of shielding Florida's children from the unregulated nature of the online world.

Heated debate down party lines is no stranger to Florida lawmakers and certainly didn't let up this week.

The most contested legislation came in the form of health insurance for sex changes, abolishment of police review boards, and the striking of systemic oppression curriculum in teacher prep courses.

The Governor, meanwhile, nixed a bill designed to pay former President Trump's legal fees and announced the Florida State Guard was created to circumvent presidential authority at the border.

From protecting kids to revamping education to preventing funds for candidates, this week was full of excitement, and this newsletter showcases it all.

On Social Media Ban for Children:

Rep. Michele Rayner: "I get the First Amendment concerns, but guess what members? I want you to look at [parents of children who have committed suicide from cyberbullying] and say that the First Amendment and Judicial scrutiny are more important than their child's life. I want you to look in their faces and say, 'Well, because we don't really understand, we're just not going to act, because your child's life is not that important.'"

On Abortion:

Sen. Lauren Book: "I believe common sense will prevail on abortion. State by state, the people are making their voices heard. One day, reproductive choices will revert back to women and their doctors, not politicians."

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Keiser University-Yamil Brito, a military #veteran, is embarking on a new career path by enrolling in the Associate of Science in Radiologic Technology program at Keiser University, Daytona Beach. Hear how he hopes returning to school will inspire his kids to follow their dreams.

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DeSantis Says He's Open to Send State Guard to Defend Southern Border

Florida takes a step toward further intervening in the Texas border crisis with a new bill expanding Governor DeSantis' control of the State Guard. The State Guard is under...READ MORE

DeSantis Kills Florida Bill That Would pay for Trump's Legal Fees

Much like it has been the case with one stroke of Governor Ron DeSantis’s veto pen, a legislative measure that would pay for former President Donald Trump’s legal bills, and the legal bills of any future...READ MORE

Online Sting Operation Bill to Catch Pedophiles Passes Florida House Committee—By the Floridian's Liv Caputo—A new bill would help fund local law enforcement agencies in their efforts to create sting operations to track down and arrest child predators...

DeSantis Pushes for Parental Rights Over Social Media Ban for Kids—By the Floridian's Liv Caputo—Gov. DeSantis has weighed in on potential legal concerns for the social media ban for minors bill that passed the House Floor Thursday. Gov. DeSantis...

'A Digital Fentanyl': Social Media Ban for Kids Passes the House Floor—By the Floridian's Liv Caputo—he Florida House passed a measure banning social media for minors Wednesday afternoon, citing positively correlated levels of child suicide and usage...

Florida Republicans Trying to Abolish Police Review Boards—By the Floridian's Jim McCool—After 2020, police regulations were heavily pushed in reaction to reported incidents of police brutality. Now, the Florida Legislature is attempting to do away with...

Florida Moves to Ban Minors from Viewing Porn—By the Floridian's Liv Caputo—Florida is on the precipice of joining 8 other states in prohibiting minors from visiting porn websites. This bill requires pornographic websites...

New Bill Affects Gender and Sex On Driver's Licenses, Health Insurance for De-transitioning Adults—By the Floridian's Liv Caputo—A Florida bill expanding health insurance coverage to people de-transitioning from sex reassignment procedures and changing requirements...

Technology and AI Targeted in New Series of Bills in the Florida Legislature—By the Floridian's Mateo Guillamont—Two bills moving through the Florida legislature could establish new regulations for artificial intelligence (AI) use, virtual currency kiosks, and bolster...

'More Dangerous Than Uranium': Exposing Fentanyl to First Responders May Become a Felony—By the Floridian's Liv Caputo—Exposing fentanyl to first responders would become a first-degree felony under a proposed Florida bill. The measure would penalize any user...

Bill on Patriotic Organizations would Protect ‘Moms for Liberty’ and Similar Groups—By the Floridian's Mateo Guillamont—Florida Senator Tom Wright (R-8) has filed a bill that would protect patriotic organizations’ rights to use school property as part...

Florida Pressures U.S. Congress for Congressional Term Limit Amendment—By the Floridian's Liv Caputo—Florida is calling for an Article V Convention to circumvent Congress and amend the U.S. Constitution to provide term limits for Congressional...

Florida Bill Wants to Pay $5 Million of Trump's Legal Fees—By the Floridian's Liv Caputo—A new Florida bill would create a $5 million "Freedom Fighters Fund" to pay former President Donald Trump's legal fees, who currently faces 91 felony counts...

Education Bill Would Ban Instruction on Systemic Oppression in Teacher Prep Curriculums—By the Floridian's Liv Caputo—A new education bill would prohibit teachers' prep classes from including a curriculum on the existence of systemic racism, sexism, or oppression...

Florida Bill Cracks Down on Driving Without a License—By the Floridian's Liv Caputo—A new Florida bill would strengthen the penalties for driving without a valid license, making third-time offenders liable for a stint in jail. Though the bill...

Florida State Democrats Reflect on 51st Anniversary of Roe v. Wade Ruling—By the Floridian's Jackson Bakich—Democrats in Florida’s State Legislature have provided comments surrounding the 51^stanniversary of the initial Roe v. Wade ruling. The 7-2 decision...

Bipartisan Pre-K Reform Bill Clears Initial Hurdles—By the Floridian's Mateo Guillamont—A new bill modifying current Florida law on private pre-kindergarten instruction and expanding state pre-kindergarten educational programs...

New Bill could Boost Florida’s Housing for Agricultural Workers—By the Floridian's Mateo Guillamont—A bill progressing through the Florida legislature could support housing initiatives for Floridian agricultural workers by providing legal protections...