Don’t Say Gay, 15-Week Abortion Ban: 149 FL Laws Taking Effect Friday

FLORIDA — A number of new state laws that passed before the legislative session ended in March are about to hit the books Friday.

During the first half of 2022, the Florida state legislature passed nearly 300 bills, which were sent to Gov. Ron DeSantis for approval.

Now, 149 of these laws, which were signed by the governor, go into effect Friday. They cover a range of issues from the controversial — a 15-week abortion ban and limiting how teachers discuss LGBTQ issues in the classroom — to establishing an official state dessert.

A full list of bills introduced by the Legislature so far this year can be found here, and you can look at some of the new laws going into effect Friday here.

HB 1557 — Parental Rights in Education

Referred to as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill by its critics, the new law limits how gender identity and sexual orientation are discussed in the state's public school classrooms. Instruction on these topics is prohibited in kindergarten through third-grade classrooms and limited for older students. A lawsuit against DeSantis, the state education commissioner, the Florida Department of Education, the State Board of Education and several local school boards is pending.

SB 1006 — State Symbols

This bill designates the strawberry shortcake with natural Florida dairy toppings as the state dessert.

HB 1435 — Code and Traffic Enforcement

People caught playing music too loudly in their car could be ticketed under this new law. If music or noise from a car is “plainly audible” from 25 feet away or more, the driver could be fined. This went into effect when it was signed, but many law enforcement agencies plan to begin enforcement of it Friday.

HB 7/SB 148 — Individual Freedom

Also called the “Stop Woke Act,” this bill targets critical race theory and bans any teaching in school or the workplace that promotes the belief that "members of one race, color, sex, or national origin are morally superior to members of another race, color, sex or national origin."

HB 5 — Reducing Fetal and Infant Mortality

This bill bans abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy and threatens to put doctors in jail for providing them after the first trimester. The American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Florida, Center for Reproductive Rights, Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the law firm Jenner & Block filed a lawsuit against the state to block the ban on behalf of several medical facilities that offer abortion services.

HB 5001 — General Appropriations Act

The governor approved a record state budget of $109.9 billion for the upcoming fiscal year, which starts Friday, according to Orlando Weekly. Before signing off on the budget, he vetoed about $3.13 billion in spending, including $650 million for a new 4,500-bed prison, $195 million for a new prison hospital and $35 million for the Tampa Bay Rays’ planned spring training facility in Pasco County.

HB 3 — Law Enforcement

The new law offers $5,000 bonuses in the recruitment of law enforcement officers from other states and offers other financial benefits to first responders, including $1,000 for training expenses, funds for those adopting children from the state and scholarships for their dependent children. It also increases the base salary for each county sheriff by $5,000.

SB 1054 — Financial Literacy Instruction in Public Schools

Also called the Dorothy L. Hukill Financial Literacy Act, the new law will require high school students to take a financial literacy course to earn their standard high school diploma.

HB 105 — Regulation of Smoking by Counties and Municipalities

Building on the 2002 Florida Clean Indoor Air Act, a constitutional amendment prohibiting smoking in restaurants and other indoor workplaces, the new bill allows cities and counties to ban smoking on beaches.

SB 1048 — Student Assessments

This bill eliminates requirements for students to take the Florida Standards Assessments. The test will be replaced by the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking, which will take place three times a year.

HB 7053 — Statewide Flooding and Sea Level Rise Resilience

This new law establishes the Resilient Florida Grant Program, which is intended to help prepare coastal and inland communities for the adverse impacts of flooding and storm surge. In February, DeSantis announced grants totaling more than $404 million for 113 environmental resilience projects across the state.

HB 7065 — Child Welfare

This bipartisan initiative boosts support for fathers and mentorship programs for at-risk youth throughout the state. Under this law, the Florida Department of Children and Families will develop the “Responsible Fatherhood Initiative.”

HB 1097 — Florida Citrus

Also called the Citrus Recovery Act, this bill supports the state’s citrus industry, updating the Florida Citrus Commission and its districts, requiring certain entities to provide reports on citrus production and calling for the introduction of new citrus fruit varieties.

SB 312 — Telehealth

With telemedicine on the rise, this bill expands the authority of doctors, allowing them to prescribe certain controlled substances through telemedicine.