Florida Legislature hot topics at a glance
Florida Legislature hot topics at a glance
Some controversial bills failed to pass during the legislative session ended Friday, while others are on their way to be signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott.
Abortion: Scott says he plans to sign tougher rules for abortion clinics, including requiring transfer agreements or admitting privileges at nearby hospitals. A similar Texas law is being reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court. The legislation also would block Medicaid from paying for preventive care, cancer screenings and sexually transmitted disease care.
Amendment 1: Lawmakers accounted for more than $800 million set aside by voters to pay for land buys and conservation. The state budget sets aside $57 million for buying land, $205 million for Everglades restoration, $50 million to restore springs and $27 million toward managing state park land.
Fracking: Lawmakers did not pass legislation that would have established permitting to allow for the natural gas drilling process known as "fracking." The bill would have established a temporary ban, but opponents said it was a way to eventually allow the controversial process.
Guns: The state Senate rejected controversial proposals to allow guns on college campuses and to let people carry guns openly. Although the House passed both bills, the Senate's judiciary chairman, Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, R-Miami, did not give either a hearing.
Open enrollment: Students will be allowed to enroll in any school in the state, as long as there's capacity. It's an expansion of school choice laws passed in the final hours of the legislative session.
Tax cuts: The back-to-school sales tax holiday will be just three days this year. Other sales-tax holidays, including Small Business Saturday won't happen this year.
Michael Auslen
This story was originally published March 12, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Florida Legislature hot topics at a glance ."