Outnumbered Democrats Outline Priorities

Faced with Republican supermajorities in both chambers of the Florida Legislature, House Democrats highlighted a series of priorities Monday — though they acknowledged the bills are unlikely to pass during the annual session that starts Tuesday.

The priority bills involve:

Education (HB 1045) – Revises provisions relating to certain private schools such as requiring private schools to disclose the number of scholarships, return prorated funds to the department for students who disenroll in the private school, and revising the term “minimum base salary” for teachers to be adjusted to the national average for a full-time classroom teacher or 10% higher than the minimum base salary in the salary schedule for the previous year. It also seeks to set up a grant for K-12 public and charter schools for technology upgrades.

Labor (HB 1177) – Seeks to allow all employee organizations that are certified as bargaining agents to deduct dues and assessments from salaries of certain employees; removes the provision requiring certain employee organizations to petition for recertification; and seeks annual training on heat illness and rules to benefit workers.

Housing (HB 1471) – Creates a Department of Housing & Tenant Rights; provides requirements for rental agreements while prohibiting landlords from requiring prospective tenants to pay certain fees or reasons for terminating rental agreement. Authorizes tenants who are defendants in eviction proceedings to file motion with court to have records of such proceedings sealed. Requires landlord to give tenants the opportunity to purchase dwelling unit or premises. Authorizes local governments, special districts and municipalities to develop bank programs and plans to encourage affordable housing. Creates Retail-to-Residence Tax Credit Program & Affordable Housing Construction Loan Program.

Water (HB 1575) – Seeks a study of the prevalence and effects of lead in drinking water in certain public facilities as well as making a plan to improve water quality through projects that address flood hazards, and blue-green algal blooms; puts in place reporting requirements for improvements.

Health care (HB 1507) – Extends Medicaid eligibility for specified low-income adults.

Gun ownership (HB 1019) – The House website summarizes the bill as follows: Requires background checks on persons involved in firearm sales or transfers; requires firearm sales or transfers to be conducted through licensed dealer; revises requirements for safe storage of firearms; revises criminal penalties; requires firearms be sold by dealers with trigger locks or gun cases; revises warnings to be posted in gun dealerships; requires certain materials to be given to gun purchasers; prohibits specified acts involving unfinished firearm frames or receivers; prohibits certain activities involving three-dimensional printer or CNC milling machine; creates Veteran’s Firearm Suicide Reduction Task Force.

Democrats said during a news conference that they are addressing Floridians’ needs, while Republicans and Gov. Ron DeSantis have focused on culture wars. “What I do know is that even though in this hyper-partisan environment it’s unlikely that any of these (Democratic) bills will get a hearing, it’s totally possible that some of these concepts might work their way into legislation,” House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell, D-Tampa, said. Republicans head into the 2025 session with a 28-11 advantage in the Senate and an 86-33 margin in the House. Democrats also said they will oppose DeSantis’ efforts to make it harder to put proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot and proposals to reduce or potentially eliminate property taxes without explaining potential effects. “I’ve not heard from my neighbors saying they want their trash picked-up slower or that they want fewer officers patrolling their streets, or that they want fewer teachers in the classroom,” Driskell said. “So, we have to have real conversations around these policies.”

Ocala Gazette staff contributed to this report