At the end of each week of the 60-day session, the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops (FCCB) provided a summary of activity on priority bills and other items of interest at the Capitol.
On March 9, a bill providing for immigration enforcement within the state of Florida achieved final passage by the Florida Legislature. In response, the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops issued the following statement:
The Florida Senate voted to approve HB 5 by a 23-15 vote, after lengthy debate that concluded late in the evening on March 3. The House voted in favor of the bill with a 78-39 vote on February 17.
The bill unnecessarily expands the public records exemption shielding entities and people involved in distributing, manufacturing and supplying drugs used in lethal injections. In carrying out a death sentence, this could allow the state to utilize drugs from manufacturers that expressly prohibit their use in executions without the manufacturer's knowledge.
After passing the Senate (31-3), SB 254 (Brodeur) was substituted for HB 215 (DiCeglie) and passed by the House (88-29) on March 2. The legislation will head next to the desk of Governor Ron DeSantis to await his signature.
The bill would streamline the state government background screening system, benefiting numerous organizations and industries throughout Florida, including Catholic dioceses, parishes and schools, while keeping children and vulnerable adults safe.
These FCCB opposed bills would prohibit commercial airlines and busing companies from transporting unaccompanied migrant children into Florida if they want to enter contracts with the state or local governments.
The bill would disincentivize renewable energy development through changes in reimbursement rates and additional fees. The FCCB opposed the bill, and staff shared their concerns with legislators while the bill was in committee. The bill does not fairly balance support for the growing solar industry and utility infrastructure costs.
TALLAHASSEE – The bishops of Florida commend Florida’s legislature for passing HB 5 that limits when abortions can be legally obtained in Florida to 15 weeks of pregnancy. This pro-life measure also includes provisions to improve infant health and analyze and reduce fetal and infant mortality.