An Afternoon with Handyman Doug Stewart Our Vice Chair of the DEC, Doug Stewart, is offering an afternoon of handyman service. "Hire" Doug to repair some of those pesky issues you're seeing around your house, or perhaps have Doug work on a special project you have been wanting to undertake. Doug has started his own handyman business, Doug Stewart Services, LLC. Take advantage of this opportunity to hire Doug!! Remember that proceeds from this item go directly to the Martin County Democratic Party. Help yourself and help the DEC at the same time!

A Day with Jim Moir, Indian Riverkeeper The Martin County DEC is pleased to offer this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spend the day with Jim Moir, Indian Riverkeeper. This is how he explains the day tour: Join the Indian Riverkeeper for a Day on the Water. Jim Moir will take you and up to 4 friends (total of 5) on a data collection excursion. I will take you on a tour of the winding Southfork and C-44 up to the S-80 locks and over to the North Fork of the St Lucie River. We will collect samples and talk about habitat health, water management, and water quality issues. We will then take a tour of the Southern Indian River Lagoon. We’ll talk about issues that affect the whole 156 miles of the Indian River lagoon and what both the Indian Riverkeeper and you can do to advocate for a clean river. Our journey will utilize our recently donated Grady White 28’ Sailfish boat. We’ll have some snacks, a light lunch, and cool water. The Indian Riverkeeper is part scientist, teacher and legal advocate with firsthand knowledge of 4 jurisdictional waterways and an unwavering commitment to the rights of community and the rule of law. Whether on the water, classroom or courtroom, waterkeepers speak for the waters they defend with the backing of the community and the collective strength of the Waterkeepers Alliance and Waterkeepers Florida. Come have some fun, learn a little, and enjoy the beauty of our unique ecosystem, the real treasure of the Treasure Coast. Make memories that will last a lifetime. Whether you purchase this for your own family or go in with friends to pool money together, this will be an unforgettable experience for anyone.

Kayak or Paddleboard Adventure Tour of the St. Lucie Inlet State Park Join Melissa Burke from the company Paddle With Me on a private 2 1/2 hour kayak or paddleboard adventure tour of the St. Lucie Inlet State Park. Up to 4 people included. Kayaks, vests, paddles, paddleboards are all supplied for you. Valid until May 2026. Don't miss this opportunity to enjoy kayaking or paddleboarding with friends or family on the beautiful water of the St. Lucie Inlet. Melissa will lead you through mangrove tunnels and other magical areas in the most biodiverse estuary in the country as you commune with nature and appreciate the true beauty of Florida. Click on the pictures below to see the incredible scenery you will enjoy if you win this item! Go in with family and friends and make a strong bid! Or buy it yourself and surprise family and friends with this gift!!

An evening to remember: Unity Party, May 10th Petition Project Reproductive Rights and Right to Clean Water: If these amendents are on the ballot in 2024, they will help ensure a good turnout for Democrats. Besides, they are good for women's health and for the environment: a win-win! It's VERY IMPORTANT that all Democrats pitch in to obtain needed signatures for these petitions during 2023. Our deadline for getting signed petitions into the hands of those who verify them is the end of December. Let's get to work!! See details below: For Abortion Petition info For Clean Water petition info HOA Project Having Democrats enrolled in Vote by Mail also significantly increases our odds of having a good turnout on Nov 5, 2024. Volunteers within many of the HOAs throughout Martin County will visit neighbors to give out provide handouts on Vote by Mail, have conversations with neighbors, and offer petitions. See details below: Vote by Mail info Click Here Read More Docktails 2023 Be a part of Martin Dems' premier fundraiser! Click here for more informaiton or to purchase sponsorship or tickets Vote by Mail Chair Nikki Fried Dems Do Lunch Clubs & Caucuses Volunteers Needed for Abortion Petition Drive Click here for more info Please get involved NOW so we meet our goal! Be sure to click through the slideshow below so you don't miss any announcements. Let's Get This Done!! All Hands On Deck!! Our deadline is the end of December. See links for details....and volunteer TODAY!! Choose from among these three ways to help us get over the line: Click here . We need your support, Martin Democrats. Check it out and let's make this happen!! See FloridiansProtectingFreedom.com to download and print English, Spanish, and Creole versions of the petition and learn about statewide initiative. Campaign Update from Floridians Protecting Freedom: Cick here.

Volunteer with Martin County Dems First and Last Name Street, City, Zip Email Phone How did you hear about us? Friends Social Media Other Tell us about yourself... Address I agree to the terms & conditions Apply Now > Thanks for applying! We’ll get back to you soon.

This is a listing of the bills considered by the Florida House and Senate during the Florida legislative session of 2022. BIlls Being Considered in the 2022 Florida Legislative Session Session Ends March 11 Overview: How to view the bills Call to Action: What to do with this information General Bills (non-environmental) Environmental Bills General Bills These are non-environmental bills. Topics include Abortion, Equality, Healthcare, Education, Guns, Criminal Justice, etc. Remember: Click on Sponsor for contact info. Click on Bill TItle for official bill info, including its status and committee it is on. Click here for writing LTE. Local legislator info can be found here. If both HB and SB are essentially the same, this page only gives link to SB. Within the SB info, you will see link to HB if you want to view it. ***One of the anti-abortion bills for this session*** HB 5 ( Grall and Persons -Mulicka ) and SB 146 ( Stargel ) – Fetal and Infant Mortality Reduction Among other things, these bills prohibit a physician from performing an abortion if gestational age of fetus is more than 15 weeks. See also HB 167. OPPOSED by Equality Florida HB 7 ( Avila ) and SB 148 ( Diaz and Rodrigues ) – Individual Freedom Sometimes referred to as the “Stop WOKE Actl” …. Similar to SB 148, HB 57, SB 242, which in part prohibit schools from discussing systemic racism or sexism, unconscious bias, and race or sex stereotyping. OPPOSED by Equality Florida HB 35 ( Roach ) and SB 244 ( Gruters ) – Partisan Elections for Members of District School Boards Proposes amendments to the State Constitution to require members of district school board to be elected in partisan election. HB 75 ( Sabatini ) – Limiting COVID-19 Restrictions Prevents state and local governments from issuing mask mandates, vaccine passports, requiring proof of vaccination status before entering business. Voids any mandates currently in place. HB 103 ( Sabatini ) – Carrying of Firearms without Licenses Removes requirement that a license to carry concealed firearm is required in order to carry such firearm; limits areas in which concealed carrying of firearm is prohibited; revises criminal penalties, etc. SUPPORTED by Florida Equality HB 111 ( Geller )) and SB 308 ( Berman ) – Offenses Evidencing Prejudice (aka Hate Crimes Law Expansion) Amends existing hate crimes law so that crimes of prejudice based on gender or gender identity are also considered hate crimes. HB 117 ( Fetterhoff an d Omphroy ) and SB 774 ( Gruters ) – Communicable and Infectious Diseases Adds COVID-19 and infectious diseases to the list of conditions that, if suffered by an emergency rescue or public safety worker, are presumed to have been contracted while at work for purposes of workers' compensation. Unlike similar presumptions in current law for hepatitis, meningococcal meningitis and tuberculosis, the bills do not require the public safety worker or emergency rescue worker to receive immunization against COVID-19 in order to receive the presumptive eligibility provisions afforded by workers' compensation coverage. HB 167 ( Barnaby ) – Abortion This is a “Texas-style Six-Week Abortion Ban.” Requires physician to conduct test for, and inform woman seeking abortion of presence of detectable fetal heartbeat; prohibits physician from performing or inducing abortion if fetal heartbeat is detected or if physician fails to conduct test to detect fetal heartbeat; provides exceptions; authorizes private civil cause of action for certain violations; provides for civil remedies & damages. See also HB 5 and SB 146. SUPPORTED by Florida Equality HB 6015 ( Rayner ) and SB 168 ( Polsky ) – Marriage Between Persons of the Same Sex This bill would delete outdated, patently unconstitutional provisions that ban recognizing same-sex marriage and still defines marriage as only between a man and a woman. HB 171 ( Hart and Valdes ) – Criminal Rehabilitation Specifies that to rehabilitate offender to transition back to community successfully is one of the primary purposes of sentencing; reduces minimum sentence that must be served by defendant from 85 percent of sentence to 65 percent; revises provisions concerning gain time to provide for outstanding deed gain-time, good behavior time, & rehabilitation credits; revises limits on awards. SUPPORTED by Equality Florida HB 199 ( Smith ) and SB 214 ( Farmer ) – Assault Weapons and Large-capacity Magazines Prohibits sale, transfer, or possession of assault weapon or large-capacity magazine; requires certificates of possession for assault weapons or large-capacity magazines lawfully possessed before specified date; limits sales or transfers of assault weapons or large-capacity magazines documented by such certificates; provides enhanced penalties for offenses committed with assault weapon or large-capacity magazine. HB 205 ( Smith ) and SB 374 ( Book ) – Gay and Transgender Panic Legal Defenses Prohibition Act Prohibits using “panic defense” when committing crimes against an LGBTQ person. OPPOSED by Equality Florida HB 211 ( Sabatini ) – Youth Gender and Sexual Identity Sometimes referred to as the "Transgender Youth Medical Care Ban." It would criminalize doctors for providing care to transgender youth. SB 524 ( Hutson ) - Elections This is a bill with wide-ranging changes to Florida's voting laws. Among the changes: Remove limitations on fines that 3rd party voter registration organization can encounter for violations. Require voter driver license or Social Security # on ballots. Bans rank-choiced voting in local elections. Require elections officials in each county to update voter rolls every year, instead of current every odd year. Gives power to the Governor to appoint a special FDLE agent in each of the agency's seven regions to investigate alleged violations of election laws. Creates the Office of Elections Crimes and Security with the Florida Dept of State. HB 549 ( Omphroy ) – Legalization of Recreational Marijuana Would authorize recreational use of marijuana under certain conditions. See bill for details. SB 580 ( Torres ) - Rent Control Measures This is meant to give some rental control authority to local government. Specifically, it deletes previous statue requirements for the termination, expiration, extension, and renewal of local governmental rent control measures. Other Rent Control bills that have been filed: HB 6017 , HB 6113 , SB 1900 OPPOSED by Equality Florida HB 747 ( Snyder and Altman ) and SB 1820 ( Baxley ) – Protections of Medical Conscience Some have called it the “Healthcare Discrimination BIll" or “No Medical Service to Gays” bill. It allows healthcare providers and insurers to deny a patient any sort of care on the basis of religious, moral, or ethical beliefs. Also allows for employment discrimination in healthcare for the same reasons. Many feel this bill would codify discrimination against LGBTQ, non-Christians, etc. SUPPORTED by Equality Florida HB 883 ( Slosbert-King ) – Reclassification of Crimes Evidencing Prejudice Provides for reclassification of felony & misdemeanor offenses for defacing, damaging, or destroying victim's property based upon perpetrator's prejudice; includes certain entities in the definition of "victim." It basically updates current Florida hate crime laws to allow government, public and private organizations to be classified as victims of misdeeds motivated by race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, age, or disability. HB 1055 ( Rommel ) – Video Cameras in Public School Classrooms Authorizes school districts to adopt policy to place video cameras in public school classrooms; provides requirements for such policy; provides for viewing video recordings; provides DOE, school district, school, & certain employee responsibilities. SUPPORTED by Equality Florida HB 6065 ( Arrington ) and SB 212 ( Farmer ) – Fairness in Women’s Sports Act Repeals the transgender youth sports ban that was voted in by the legislature in 2021. This bill is called the “Let Kids Play Act” and it repeals provisions related to the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act from 2021. HB 943 ( Harding ) and SB 1124 ( Gruters ) -- Preemption of Local Government Wage Mandates Creates the “Minimum Wage Act.” Prohibits local governments from mandating a wage higher than the state minimum -- another attack on home rule. SUPPORTED by Equality Florida HB 1409 ( Eskamani ) – Education in Public Schools Concerning Human Sexuality Calls for the “Florida Healthy Adolescent Act” which includes having public schools provide information regarding human sexuality. This bill requires certain public schools that provide information or offer programs to students relating to human sexuality to provide information or offer programs that meet specified criteria; requires public schools to make certain curriculum available to parents & guardians upon request; authorizes students to be excused from certain portions of program without penalty; provides compliance review process. HB 1547 ( Overdorf ) and SB 1848 ( Gruters ) -- Personal Information Protection Act Also as a reference see Overdorf's HB 1547 by clicking here. Currently the HB has more provisions for donor privacy. Prohibits a public agency from requiring, publicly disclosing, or requesting specified personal information; provides construction and applicability; provides for the right of civil action and award of damages; provides penalties, etc. Currently the HB and SB have differences in scope. Overdorf's House bill would protect corporations, associations, and nonprofit organizations from disclosing information while the Senate bill focuses solely on 501(c)(3) charitable organizations. In practical terms, the House bill, acting as a public records exemption bill, would allow donors to political campaigns to stay anonymous, and many opponents to this bill fear it will lead to hampering legitmate investigations into fraud and corruption. OPPOSED by Equality Florida HB 1557 ( Harding ) and SB 1834 ( Baxley ) – Parental Rights in Education This bill has been called the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. Requires district school boards to adopt procedures that comport with provisions of law for notifying student's parent of specified information; requires procedures to reinforce fundamental right of parents to make decisions regarding upbringing & control of their children; provides requirements for such procedures, school districts, & personnel; requires DOE to review & update specified materials. OPPOSED by Equality Florida SB 1842 ( Baxley ) – Reproductive Health and Disease Education Requires school districts or schools within a district to notify and request the written consent of parents and guardians before the teaching of reproductive health or any sexually transmitted disease; prohibits schools from allowing students to be exposed to such teaching without the written consent of their parents or guardians; prohibits a student whose parent or guardian does not give such written consent from being penalized, etc. SUPPORTED by Equality Florida SB 1870 ( Jones ) – Conversion Therapy Prohibits state-funded conversion therapy and calls for educating the public on the dangers of conversion therapy. HB 6007 ( Sabatini ) – Licenses to Carry Concealed Weapons or Firearms Would remove provision prohibiting concealed carry licensees from openly carrying handgun or carrying concealed weapon or firearm into college or university facility HB 6009 ( Sabatini ) – Vaccinations During Public Health Emergencies Would remove provision that State Health Officer could order vaccination of individuals during public health emergency HB 6023 ( Eskamani ) – Abortion Clinic Regulations Addresses issues with last year’s SB 390 on abortion clinics. Removes requirement delaying abortion procedure; removes prohibition on expending funds for benefit of, paying funds to, or initiating or renewing contracts with certain organizations that perform abortions under certain circumstances; removes requirement that AHCA review abortion clinic patient records as component of licensure inspections. HB 6037 ( Snyder ) and SB 360 ( Harrell ) – Traveling Across County Lines to Commit a Burglary Removes requirement that travel across county lines be for specified purpose in order to reclassify burglary offense to the next higher degree. General Bills Environmental Bills Remember: Click on Sponsor for contact info. Click on Bill TItle for official bill info, including its status and committee it is on. Click here for writing LTE. Local legislator info can be found here. If both HB and SB are essentially the same, this page only gives link to SB. Within the SB info, you will see link to HB if you want to view it. Several of these bills deal with Local Control, an area many Republicans in office want to see weakened. They want the state to dictate policy rather than local government. It's a recurring theme in many bills this year. Bills are listed in the same categories used by 1000 Friends of Florida, an organization many in the MCDEC follow. These categories are Community Planning, Resilience, Conservation, Water, and Transportation COMMUNITY PLANNING (Local Rule type bills) SUPPORTED by 1000 Friends of Florida and Friends of the Everglades SJR 152 ( Farmer ) - Supermajority Vote for Legislative Preemption Requires a 2/3 vote of each house to preempt to the state matters of local control. OPPOSED by 1000 Friends of Florida, Friends of the Everglades, Florida League of Women Voters, and Equality Florida SB 280 ( Hutson ) – Local Ordinances Changes the legal standards and processes used by courts to assess the validity of municipal ordinances. Requires local governments to prepare a business impact statement before adopting a local ordinance that includes direct and indirect economic effects. Authorizes the courts to assess and award attorney fees, costs, and damages in certain civil actions filed against local governments. This bill is a direct attack on home rule. See also SB 403 (Giallombardo). OPPOSED by 1000 Friends of Florida HB 325 ( Fischer ) and SB 512 ( Burgess ) – Vacation Rentals Preempts to the state most regulation of vacation rentals. OPPOSED by 1000 Friends of Florida, Friends of the Everglades, and Florida League of Women Voters HB 569 ( McClure ) and SB 620 ( Hutson ) – Local Business Protection Act Allows businesses engaged in a lawful business for at least three years to claim damages if a local ordinance reduces their venue or profits by at least 15%. Like SB 280 and SB 403, this bill undermines home rule by making local governments afraid to govern for fear of lawsuits. SUPPORTED by 1000 Friends of Florida HB 729 ( Aloupis ) and SB 932 ( Rodriguez ) – Everglades Protection Area Requires any comprehensive plan or plan amendment changes that apply to land within the Everglades Protection Area to follow the state coordinated review process and would require the change to be reviewed by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for adverse impacts. DEP would work with the state land planning agency and involved local governments to identify planning strategies to eliminate or mitigate adverse impacts and require the local government to modify proposed plans or plan amendments. The bill would also prohibit the adoption of small scale development amendments for properties located within or near the Everglades Protection Area. HB 1145 ( Mooney ) – Regulation of Single-use Plastic Products Authorizes certain coastal communities to establish pilot programs to regulate single-use plastic products; provides requirements for establishing such pilot programs; requires DEP to submit updated retail bag reports with conclusions & recommendations to Legislature by specified dates. SUPPORTED by 1000 Friends of Florida and Florida League of Women Voters HB 6033 ( Greico ) – Preemption of the Regulation of Vacation Rentals Repeals previous bill that preempted to the state the regulation of vacation rentals. HB 6113 ( Eskamani ) and SB 1900 ( Torres ) – Preemption to the State (Regaining Local Rule) Removes & repeals provisions preempting certain authority to state. Specifically, this measure would repeal 35 state laws that remove local policy making passed by Republican legislators. The 35 statutes repealed in the Local Freedom Act pertain to earned sick time measures, tenant protections and developer subsidies, plastic bag and styrofoam regulations, municipal broadband and 5G, gun violence and public safety, public health, clean energy, rights of nature, fertilizer regulation, and tree-trimming policy, local budgeting authority, seaport regulations, and campaign finance reform. RESILIENCE SUPPORTED by 1000 Friends of Florida HB 571 ( Mooney ) and SB 442 ( Rodriguez ) – Powers of Land Authorities Authorizes local land authorities to assist in administering grants for residential flood and sea-level rise mitigation projects, including grants for the elevation of structures above minimum flood elevations; the demolition and reconstruction of structures above minimum flood elevations; and the acquisition of land with structures at risk of flooding. SUPPORTED BY 1000 Friends of Florida SB 1940 ( Brodeur ) - Statewide Flooding and Sea Level Rise Resilience Establishes the Statewide Office of Resiliency within the Executive Office of the Governor; provides for the appointment of a Chief Resilience Officer, etc. CONSERVATION SUPPORTED by 1000 Friends of Florida, Friends of the Everglades, and Florida League of Women Voters HB 81 ( Eskamani ) and SB 366 ( Berman ) – State Renewable Energy Goals Prohibits oil exploration, drilling or production on Florida land or in Florida waters; requires that all electricity in the state be derived from renewable sources by 2040 and carbon emissions be reduced to net zero by 2050; creates an advisory committee to reach these goals. SUPPORTED by 1000 Friends of Florida HB 105 ( Fine ) and SB 224 ( Gruters ) – Regulation of Smoking in Public Places Authorizes counties and municipalities to further restrict smoking within the boundaries of public beaches and public parks under certain circumstances; prohibits smoking within the boundaries of a state park, etc. SUPPORTED by 1000 Friends of Florida and Friends of the Everglades SB 208 ( Farmer ) – Well Stimulation (Fracking) "Stop Fracking Act" - Prohibits FDEP from issuing permits for extreme well stimulation, also known as fracking. OPPOSED by 1000 Friends of Florida and Friends of the Everglades HB 349 ( Sirois and Overdorf ) and SB 198 ( Rodriguez ) – Seagrass Mitigation Banks Authorizes the state Board of Trustees to create “seagrass mitigation banks” on state-owned submerged lands which would be used to offset the unavoidable loss of seagrass from coastal development projects. In essence, if developers seek permits for coastal or marine development projects that would destroy seagrasses, this bill would give them the option of buying credits in a mitigation bank to cover costs of seagrass restoration projects elsewhere. Those opposed to the bill say mitigation banks like this often fail and they believe having such a system would enhance development elsewhere. NO OPINION by 1000 Friends of Florida. SUPPORTED by Florida League of Women Voters HB 449 ( Mooney ) and SB 602 ( Rodriguez ) – Land Acquisition Trust Fund Dedicates $20 million from the Land Acquisition Trust Fund to environmental projects in the Florida Keys. NO OPINION by 1000 Friends of Florida HB 463 ( Melo ) and SB 380 ( Rodriguez ) – Greenhouse Gas Emissions Prohibits state agencies from adopting or enforcing greenhouse gas emissions limits without legislative authorization. HB 711 ( Diamond ) and SB 238 ( Jones ) – Endangered and Threatened Species Directs the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to protect certain endangered or threatened species, regardless of the status of their federal classification; prohibis the commission from considering certain costs when designating a species as endangered or threatened; directs the department, in consultation with the Endangered Plant Advisory Council, to protect certain endangered or threatened species, regardless of the status of their federal classification; prohibits the department from considering certain costs when designating a species as endangered or threatened, etc. HB 741 ( McClure ) and SB 1024 ( Bradley ) -- Renewable Energy Generation (Net Metering) This bill would lower the utility savings for Floridians using rooftop solar panels by limiting net metering incentives. Many view this bill would hurt lower income Floridians by making it more difficult to transition to solar. SUPPORTED by 1000 Friends of Florida HB 761 ( Truenow ) and SB 882 ( Brodeur ) – Inventories of Critical Wetlands Requires each water management district governing board, in cooperation with local governments, to develop a list of critical wetlands for acquisition using funds from the Land Acquisition Trust Fund. HB 1129 ( Avila ) and SB 1416 ( Garcia ) – Mangrove Replanting and Restoration Requires the DEP to adopt rules for mangrove replanting and restoration. SUPPORTED by 1000 Friends of Florida and Florida League of Women Voters HB 6025 ( Eskamani ) SB 316 ( Stewart ) – Preemption of Tree Trimming, Pruning, and Removal Repeals provision in last year’s bill that preempted local government from regulating tree pruning, trimming, and removal on residential property. SUPPORTED by 1000 Friends of Florida HB 6063 ( Greico ) and SB 320 ( Stewart ) – P reemption of Recyclable and Polystrene Materials Removes the state preemption of local home rule on disposable plastic bags, auxiliary containers, and wrappings. NO OPINION by 1000 Friends of Florida HB 1555 ( McClain ) SB 518 ( Brodeur ) – Private Property Rights to Prune, Trim, and Remove Trees Revises state regulation of local government requirements for tree trimming, pruning, and removal by requiring an assessment by a certified arborist. HB 1377 ( Roth ) and SB 1816 ( Stewart ) – Land Acquisition Trust Fund Specifies that lawmakers would guarantee $100 million a year for the Florida Forever Trust Fund and extend the retirement date of bonds issued by the Land Acquisition Trust Fund (LATF) to fund the Florida Forever Act. The measure would extend the bond life to 2054, adding roughly 14 years to the current retirement date of 2040. SUPPORTED by Friends of the Everglades HB 6085 ( Eskamani ) and SB 1102 ( Farmer ) – Farming Operations Last year’s SB 88 “Right to Farm Bill” protected Big Sugar from lawsuits related to sugar cane burning. These bills revise the definition of “farm operation” and “nuisance” and remove “particle emissions” from the list of protected activities. WATER SUPPORTED by 1000 Friends of Florida HB 201 ( Daley ) and SB 356 ( Jones ) – Sales Tax Holiday for Energy Star and WaterSense Products Provides a sales tax exemption for energy efficient products designated with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Energy Star label, and irrigation and household appliance water conserving products designated with the EPA’s WaterSense label. HB 309 ( Fetterhoff and Giallombardo ) and SB 856 ( Brodeur ) – Private Provider Inspections of Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal Systems Authorizes private provider inspections of onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems under certain conditions; prohibits the Florida DEP from charging certain inspection and permit fees; specifies requirements for private providers and onsite sewage treatment and disposal system owners and authorized contractors; revises the list of providers authorized to perform onsite sewage treatment and disposal system evaluations, etc. SUPPORTED by 1000 Friends of Florida and Friends of the Everglades HB 393 ( Hinson ) and SB (604) Berman – Safe Waterways Act Requires the Florida Department of Health to monitor public bathing locations, notify local governments of bacterial contamination and require local governments to post warning signs. Current law does not require government to inform residents. HB 421 ( Truenow ) and SB 834 ( Brodeur ) – Long-term Cleanup of Harmful Algal Blooms Authorizes the Florida DEP to procure “innovative” technology to physically remove and reduce blue-green algae blooms from impacted waterways. Friends of the Everglades believes that though this was originally recommended by the state’s Blue-Green Algae Task Force, this measure should be augmented to require that all new technologies be evaluated by a panel of experts to ensure no long-term harm is done to the water being cleaned. HB 473 ( Casselo ) and SB 798 ( Taddeo ) – Bottled Water Excise Tax Imposes a 12.5 cent per gallon excise tax on bottled water operators and deposits the proceeds into the wastewater and stormwater revolving loan trust fund. HB 579 ( Melo ) and SB 1128 ( Harrell ) – Aquatic Plant Management Directs the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, in consultation with UF/IFAS & FGCU/Water School, to implement and study nutrient removal technologies and mechanical aquatic plant management techniques within Lake Okeechobee watershed. SUPPORTED by Friends of the Everglades and by 1000 Friends of Florida HB 561 ( Goff-Marcil ) and SB 832 ( Stewart ) – Implementation of the Recommendations of the Blue-Green Algae Task Force Enacts additional measures originally recommended by the Governor’s Blue-Green Algae Task Force. Requires owners of certain onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems to have the systems periodically inspected, beginning on a specified date; requires the Florida DEP to administer the inspection program; requires new or revised basin management action plans to include a list that identifies and prioritizes certain spatially focused projects, etc. SUPPORTED by Friends of the Everglades HB 807 ( Rayner ) and SB 904 ( Farmer ) – Agricultural Practices Revises the definition of “best management practice” and requires, rather than merely authorize, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) to devise and adopt rules to reduce pollution statewide and penalize those who don’t follow them. OPPOSED by 1000 Friends of Florida and by Friends of the Everglades SB 1000 ( Albritton ) – Nutrient Application Rates Adjusts nutrient regulation based on needs of individual farms…..Environmentalists believe this bill waters down state standards. Specifically, it defines the terms "certified professional" and "rate tailoring"; authorizes the use of rate tailoring in specified circumstances; authorizes producers to use written recommendations from certified professionals to tailor their recommended nutrient application rates under certain circumstances; requires revisions to recommended application rates by certain state universities and Florida College System institutions to authorize rate tailoring, etc. 1000 Friends says this bill would allow producers to pick and choose different nutrient application rates and would weaken site-specific fertilizer application rates. HB 1339 ( Diamond ) and SB 1744 ( Brandes ) – Phosphogypsum Stacks Requires DEP to submit annual report to Governor, Legislature, & certain entities; notify Governor, Legislature, and certain entities of imminent hazards within specified timeframe; and create, maintain, & update database on its website. HB 1475 ( McClure ) and SB 1418 ( Albritton ) – Soil and Groundwater Contamination Requires the Florida DEP to adopt rules for statewide cleanup target levels for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in soil and groundwater; prohibits such rules from taking effect until ratified by the Legislature; requires the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability to conduct a specified analysis of certain assessment and cleanup programs and submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature by a specified date, etc. TRANSPORTATION OPPOSED by 1000 Friends of Florida HB 157 ( Andrade ) and SB 398 ( Hooper ) – Transportation Projects Caps funding for public transportation projects in the state transportation trust fund at 25 percent. This share would exclude state matches for federal transportation funds. Environmental Bills

Pinder's Nursery Extravaganza Our friends at Pinder's Nursery are offering a package of three items for our auction: a large beautiful potted plant full of natives and other plants for a pop of color a gift certificate a certificate entitling you to a seat at one of their popular and informative classes, your choice. Such classes might include How to Create a Whimsical Garden with Florida Native Plants and How to Start a Thriving Beginner's Vegetable Garden. There are many other classes as well.

Click on the first picture to enlarge, and then click on the arrow on the right to see more pictures. A total of 19 pictures from the No Kings rally are here, plus a video below. Enjoy the moment! Get inspired! Trump Sandwich Democracy Dies When Silent Love America, Fight Fascism Trump Sandwich 1/19

2026 Legislative Session Schedule Websites that list bills

Watch out! They're back! Legislators are back in Tallahassee and proposing their bills for the 2023 session which began March 7 and continues through May 5. Here is a list of some of the most concerning bills. Click on Bills 2023 to see the details, including links to email and phone numbers for legislators as well as Letter to the Editor info. HB999 - "Death to Public Discourse Bill" - allows politicians like Desantis to sue the media, bloggers, social media posters, etc. HB1 - School vouchers for everyone. Will hurt public schools and the education of our children. HB411 - Candidates for school board don't have to live in the district they are running for....only if they win do they have to move HB999 - Politicians will have power to hire university personnel and dictate curriculum... WILL END ACADEMIC FREEDOM AND UNIVERSITY INDEPENDENCE. Will defund diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. HB256 - Union busting bill that will ban automatic union paycheck deductions of Florida's public employees. Exceptions include law enforcement, firefighters, correctional officers and probation offers. Teachers union and nurses union will be hit hard. SB1248 - "The Ultimate Cancel Act" - Will cancel political parties that previously advocated for slavery. This is meant to "cancel" the Democratic Party. HJR405 - No more nonpartisan elections HJR31 - School board elections will be partisan HB543 - Permitless Carry -- Can carry concealed weapon even if no permit SB300 /HB7 -- SIX WEEK ABORTION BAN HB305 - Gives discrimination protection to those who refuse vaccinations....Prevents the state and employers from requiring vaccinations. SB170 - Allows businesses to sue local governments over "arbitrary or unreasonable" ordinances HB359 - If you bring a legal challenge over a change in a comp plan and you lose, then you have to pay the winner's attorney fees and costs. SB254 - Bans trans treatment to youth HB1223 - Don't Say Gay is expanded up through 8th grade HB1403 - Doctors can refuse to treat certain people (gays, Muslims, Jews, etc) due to their person belief system ("conscience-based objection). SB1438 - No drag shows can be seen by children SB1674 - Must use bathroom that lines up with the gender assigned at birth HB11319 - No more "Woke" mentality and programs in the military....Rather, return to "warrior ethos of the past." HB439 - Will allow for urban sprawl HB 1197 / SB1249 - Strips municipal and county governments from regulating their own water quality AND MANY MORE!

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