By Peter Schorsch
FloridaPolitics – Sixty Days
February 3, 2022
Senate Republicans took the first step toward banning abortion in Florida after 15 weeks of pregnancy on Thursday, advancing the proposal (SB 146) through its first committee on a party-line vote. Ahead of the committee, Democrats held a news conference alongside doctors who provide abortions blasting the Mississippi-style bill as cruel and harmful to poor and minority women. And during the hearing, Senate Democratic Leader Lauren Book decried the bill as “dangerous,” and Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried pleaded with GOP committee members to buck Gov. Ron DeSantis and block the bill. However, Democrats were powerless to stop the ban’s forward march in the Republican-dominated committee. Here’s your nightly rundown.
New maps. The Florida House voted 77-39 in favor of new boundaries for 120 state House districts.
Statewide rules. The latest Senate attempt (SB 512) to create a statewide vacation rental homes licensing system and preempt local controls cleared its second committee.
Thanks, but no thanks. An early budget proposal from the House doesn’t include money for the Governor’s jobs fund and ignores his call for a gas tax cut.
Toned down. New rules (HB 1421) to bolster school safety were unanimously approved in a House committee absent a controversial provision that would have withheld superintendents’ salaries for noncompliance.
‘No Patient Left Alone.’ A bill (SB 988) aimed at strengthening patient visitation rights in hospitals, nursing homes and other health care facilities across Florida cleared its penultimate Senate committee.
Cyber plates. A bill (SB 1178) to greenlight digital license plates passed its first Senate committee with unanimous support.
‘Legislative malpractice.’ The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee voted 10-1 to pass the no-fault repeal (SB 150), despite one Senator calling it “legislative malpractice.”
‘Preemption to end all preemptions.’ A bill (HB 569) that would allow businesses to sue local governments if an ordinance hurts their bottom line cleared another House committee.
‘Hunger-Free Campus.’ The Senate Agriculture Committee advanced legislation (SB 1916) aimed at ending food insecurity among college students.
Blame game. With rents on the rise, DeSantis is pinning blame on the Biden administration for inflationary policies.
It’s baaaack. A proposed committee bill (HB 7049) introduced this week would mostly roll back the legal notices legislation approved by lawmakers last year.
‘Markel Act.’ The House Civil Justice & Property Rights Subcommittee voted unanimously to advance grandparent visitation legislation (HB 1119) inspired by the murder of FSU professor Dan Markel.
An abortion ban does not stop abortion, it just condemns women to back alley (or do it yourself) abortions which can be fatal or 9 months of damage to their bodies, loss of income, and loss of a future for many.
Nancy, this is not an abortion ban, it simply forces a woman to choose an abortion or to continue on with a pregnancy. Fifteen weeks is plenty of time for a woman to know if she is pregnant or not. Birth control could eliminate the want for an abortion.