April starts off the second half of the 60-day 2021 Legislative Session. This session has been extremely active. Thousands of bills have been filed and while every bill is important, only a few hundred will become law. During these 30 days, a state budget must be voted on in addition to the many bills that will affect all Floridians. As we head to the conclusion of session, this is a time when legislators are scrambling to get bills moved through committees in hopes that they be voted on the floor. During the committee process, amendments are made sometimes to make a bad bill better or to strengthen a good bill. Debate on the floor is always vital in order to argue the merits of pieces of legislation that greatly impact our constituents.
I encourage you to please visit www.myfloridahouse.gov to see which bills have been filed and which are moving. You can also track them and see which committee is voting on them next. Please feel free to email my office at HDIST096@myfloridahouse.gov to voice your concerns on any of these bills.
Let us not forget that Earth Day is Thursday, April 22. The legacy of this day reminds us of the many laws that have been passed to protect our climate and environment.
In Florida we are especially impacted by environmental issues such as rising sea levels, flooding, water issues, and more frequent and intense storms. The Florida Legislature is working on tackling several of these issues through laws that would mitigate the impacts of sea level rise while investing in Everglades restoration and allowing cities to reduce the use of plastics within their city limits. In our own homes we can make a difference by reducing our water and electricity usage, making use of reusable containers and bottles, composting, and recycling effectively lowering contamination.
I personally want to wish a Happy Easter and Passover to all who celebrate. As we continue to cope with the effects of COVID-19 please visit http://floridahealthcovid19.gov/ for updated information or contact my office for help.
I want to thank all of you who have reached out to me with concerns, comments, questions, and support.
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