HomeMy WebLinkAboutHandouts_Regular_9/8/2022 (3)2022 Legislative Session Wrap-up
2022 Budget Highlights
In the 2022 Session the Florida House and
Senate passed a historic balanced budget
with transformational investments for
Floridians. The $112.1 billion dollar budget
includes record budgeted reserves of $8.9
billion which builds on last year's vision to
prepare Florida for tomorrow with $170
billion to improve our cybersecurity
infrastructure, $297 million for state park
improvements and $2.3 billion for Everglades
restoration and protection of Florida's water
resources. With Floridian families in mind
$363 million was allocated for affordable
housing and K-12 students received the
highest ever per pupil funding at $8,142.85
per student. The budget outlined minimum
salary requirements for law enforcement
officers, correctional officers, juvenile
probation officers, and state firefighters with
an additional $250 million allocated ($800
million total) for teacher raises.
AGRICU
NATURALI
6.
HIGHER EDUCATION
8.2%
HEALTH CARE
43.6%
ADMINISTERED FUNDS/ STATE ADMINISTRATION &
STATEWIDE ISSUES TECHNOLOGY
2.5% 2.3 0
INFRASTRUCTURE &
TOURISM
14.7%
Local budget highlights resulting from specific appropriations budget requests include:
• $5 million for the Indian River State College Indiantown Workforce Charter School
• $750,000 for Place of Hope which serves children and families in Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast.
• Martin County Cypress Creek Floodplain Restoration Project received $750,000 and Jupiter Pennock Industrial
Park Stormwater Improvements received $75,000 as part of the Loxahatchee Indian River Preservation efforts.
• In Northern Palm Beach the Max Planck Institute for Neuroscience received $750,000, Loggerhead Marine
received $500,000 for two programs focused on education programs for underserved youth, and a program
for injured and sick turtles, and Busch Wildlife Sanctuary Environmental Education Center received $500,000.
2022 legislative Achievements
Immigration Enforcement (HB 1355)
HB 1355 sponsored by Representative Snyder provides
law enforcement agencies with additional tools to
protect the safety of Florida residents by discouraging
common carriers and contracted carriers (charter
transportation providers) from transporting unauthorized
aliens into the state, strengthening Florida's partnership
with the federal government in enforcing federal
immigration law, and increasing government
transparency regarding the immigration status of inmates
in county jails.
Law Enforcement (HB 3)
In Florida we don't defund the police and HB 3 is the
latest bill from the Florida House that honors the sacrifice
and duty of Florida's law enforcement to its citizens and
communities. It designates May 1 of each year as "Law
Enforcement Appreciation Day," and provides significant
incentives to prospective members of Florida's law
enforcement personnel. It also creates a scholarship to
cover tuition and other expenses for basic recruit training
programs.
Traveling Across County Lines to Commit a Burglary
HB 6037
In partnership with Senator Harrell HB 6037 seeks to
crack down on groups of traveling burglars who are
intentionally leaving their county of residence and
targeting other counties where they are unknown in an
attempt to thwart law enforcement. This bill allows for a
burglary offense to be reclassified one degree higher and
that the offender cannot be released on bail until he or
she appears for a first hearing and the court determines
the bond.
Cybersecurity (HB 7055)
With cyber-attacks and ransomware attacks on the rise
improving cybersecurity is vital to ensuring the
availability, confidentiality, and integrity of state and
local government data, IT resources, and critical
infrastructure. HB 7055 improves incident prevention by
requiring cybersecurity training and the adoption of
cybersecurity standards by local governments to report
ransomware and higher -level severity cybersecurity
incidents. This bill also combats cybercrime by prohibiting
state agencies and local governments from complying
with ransom demands and creates a new crime with
enhanced penalties for ransomware attacks against
government entities.
Educator Certification Pathways for Veterans (5B
896
SB 896 creates an additional pathway to educator
certification for military service members. With
growing teacher shortages this bill allows honorably
discharged military members with a minimum of 48
months service and 60 college credits to obtain their
temporary teaching license, and additional time to
complete all coursework to be eligible for permanent
certification. This bill doesn't lower the standard
required to be a teacher but does remove the barrier
to entry for our service men and women who may
have forgone a traditional college education to serve
their country.
Parental Rights in Education (HB 1557)
HB 1557 preserves parents' rights to be engaged in
the education of their children. It protects Florida's
youngest children from being instructed on topics
that are not age or developmentally -appropriate
before they are ready. It gives parents the power to
be the first to instruct their young children if and
when they feel it is appropriate for their child.
Taxation (HB 7071)
The House and Senate agreed on the most robust tax
package in the history of Florida with $1 billion dollars
in savings for Floridians. The tax package expands the
annual Back to School and Disaster Preparedness
Holidays from 10 days to a full two weeks and adds
new qualifying items, retains the Freedom Week sales
tax holiday introduced last year, and adds a new
seven-day sales "Tool Time" tax holiday through
Labor Day for tools for skilled workers, and much
needed relief at the gas station in October with a
month long gas tax holiday.
The tax package also adds new sales tax holidays for:
• baby and toddler clothes and children's diapers for
one year
• children's books for three months to encourage
summer reading
• ENERGY STAR refrigerators, washers, dryers and
water heaters for one year
• impact -resistant windows, doors and garage doors
for two years
Connect with Rep. Snyder via: 91