Mass shootings in Orlando and Fort Lauderdale have brought conversations about gun rights and restrictions front and center this legislative session. Republican state Senator Greg Steube of Sarasota has proposed 10 bills to expand gun rights. The easiest way to sum up that legislation: Take away as many barriers as you can to bringing concealed…
There have been several bills filed for consideration during this Session that relate to weapons and firearms. Many of these address authorization for persons who are licensed to carry a concealed weapon or firearm to various locations – such as public and private schools, postsecondary institutions, airports, and certain government buildings — where such weapons…
The superintendent of Florida’s largest school district says he has “grave concern” about state lawmakers’ proposed reforms in how charter schools get taxpayer funding for maintenance and construction projects. Read More
Efforts by the Legislature to make explicitly clear the rights students and teachers have to express their religious beliefs in Florida public schools is ready for a floor vote in the Senate, while earning high praise in an initial House hearing. Read More
The House Insurance & Banking Subcommittee voted Tuesday narrowly against requiring workers to pay their own attorney fees in disputes over benefits. The tally went 8-7 against an amendment by Republican Jay Fant to scrap most of a proposed committee bill addressing escalating workers’ compensation premiums. Read More
In separate meetings, the House and Senate versions of bills — HB 303 and SB 436 — relating to Religious Expression in Public Schools drew quite a bit of discussion and public testimony. Though originally identical in content, the House PreK-12 Quality Subcommittee took up and passed a Proposed Committee Substitute (PCS) for HB 303 by Representative…
Back at the end of January, Gov. Rick Scott made teachers a top priority in his budget recommendations to the Legislature for next year. But his proposals aren’t getting much traction, now that lawmakers are delving into the nitty-gritty of their own ideas. Read More
More than 3,000 students in Lake and Osceola counties want to transfer to new schools in August, taking advantage of a Florida law that allows them to attend any public school that has room. Read More
We are looking forward to having FSBA Treasurer Nora Rupert (Broward County), Patty Good (Broward County), and Betsy Condon (Clay County) in town this week to flex their advocacy muscles and participate in the legislative process. These three school board members will be participating in an initiative launched by the FSBA Legislative Committee and Advocacy…
U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos Monday released a new application for states to use in developing their accountability plans for the Every Student Succeeds Act. And, as you might expect, it is shorter and includes fewer requirements than an earlier application released by the Obama administration in November. The biggest difference seems to be…