Senator Baxley, Florida State Senate

Florida lawmakers filed more than 3,000 bills in 2017 and fewer than 250 passed both chambers of the Legislature before it adjourned its annual session. I filed 39 bills this session. Of those, 8 passed both chambers in their entirety, a few others were passed with language in other larger bills.

We passed SB 312 this year which will require state, county, municipal, or other law enforcement agencies that conduct lineups to follow specified procedures. This provision will minimize cases of misidentification and strengthen cases that have used best practices. The Governor signed this into law on June 14^th.

I was able to pass SB 436 this year, which will protect all students and school personnel in their choice of religious expression. This legislation makes it clear that the Legislature supports the constitutional rights of Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Religion for everyone associated with our public school system. This bill protects the expression of all religious beliefs, and protects a student’s decision not to express any religion. The Governor signed this bill into law on June 9^th.

House Bill 361 is the House companion to my bill, Senate Bill 680. This bill revises legislative intent concerning the obligations of a bail bond agent. It also prohibits a person or entity that charges a fee for facilitating the release of a defendant through the posting of a cash bond from using the term “bail” in advertisements and printed materials posted in a jail. The Governor has until June 29^th to sign this bill.

House Bill 699 is the companion to my bill, Senate Bill 684. This bill requires sexual predators & sexual offenders to register each Internet identifier’s corresponding website homepage or application software name with FDLE through sheriff’s office. The Governor has until June 29^th to sign this bill.

House Bill 329 is the companion to Senate Bill 762. This bill prohibits time-sharing plan from requiring or being interpreted to require visitation at recovery residence between specified hours. The Governor signed this bill on June 9^th.

House Bill 455 is the companion to Senate Bill 764. This bill provides exemption from ad valorem taxation for certain first responders under specified conditions & surviving spouses of first responders who have died. The Governor signed this bill on June 14^th.

House Bill 879 is the companion to Senate Bill 776. This bill revises elements that constitute theft of utilities. It also specifies types of monetary damages that can be recovered for damaging property of utility or for theft of electricity services and specifies methods & bases used to determine & assess damages for damaging property of utility or for theft of electricity services. The Governor has until June 29^th to sign this bill.

House Bill 747 is the companion to Senate Bill 830. This bill provides an exemption from regulation for certain securities dealers, investment advisers, and associated persons. It also provides a definition for the term “hold himself or herself out to the public as being in the mortgage lending business,” etc. The Governor has until June 29^th to act on this bill.

We also were able to pass language to allow children to apply sunscreen at school without a prescription, and allow children access to virtual school without attending public school the prior year.

We have worked for the people of Senate District 12 and the people of Florida. To ensure our liberties and freedom remain protected. Our constituents are always our priority.