Rep. Ryan Chamberlin

Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances; Prohibits, beginning on specified date, certain use & sale, purchase, or distribution of aqueous film-forming foam; requires, beginning on specified date, certain entities to submit aqueous film-forming foam inventories & disposal plans to DEP; prohibits, beginning on specified date, possession & use of aqueous film-forming foam; authorizes DEP to administer certain grants or cost share programs; provides penalties & injunctive relief; requires certain public entities disposing of domestic wastewater biosolids and treated effluent to quarterly conduct specified samplings & submit results to DEP; limits purpose such samplings until specified standards are established by EPA & adopted by DEP.

Maddy summaryHB 429 revises Florida's legal definition of "criminal gang member" in section 874.03 of state statutes. The bill defines a criminal gang member as someone who either admits membership (in person or online) or meets two or more of 12 specific criteria, such as wearing gang-related clothing, using gang hand signs, having gang tattoos, associating with known members, using gang-related language on social media, or being identified by a reliable informant. It explicitly includes social media activity, communications, and recordings promoting gang activity as evidence of membership. The law would take effect on October 1, 2026, and applies to individuals potentially identified under these revised standards.

Legal Tender; Ratifying specified rules relating to legal tender for the sole and exclusive purpose of satisfying any condition on effectiveness of provisions and repealing provisions relating to legal tender, etc.

Domestic Violence and Protective Injunctions; Reclassifying penalties for committing a domestic violence offense if a person has a prior conviction for domestic violence; providing that sentencing and incentive gain-time eligibility determinations are made without regard to a penalty enhancement; establishing an electronic monitoring pilot program in a specified county; requiring the sheriff, in consultation with certain persons, to design and implement the pilot program; providing requirements for the pilot program; requiring the Department of Corrections to complete an evaluation and provide specified reports to the Legislature; requiring the Department of Law Enforcement to enter injunctions against dating violence and sexual violence into a statewide verification system, etc.

Faith-based Content in Batterers' Intervention Programs; Specifies that batterers' intervention programs may include faith-based activities, but may not require participation in such activities.

Elections; Revising definitions; revising the information the uniform statewide voter registration application is designed to elicit from an applicant to include a certain acknowledgment; requiring that the online voter registration system transmit specified information to the supervisor of elections under specified circumstances; requiring that the applicant's legal status as a United States citizen be recorded in the statewide voter registration system; requiring that if the records of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles indicate that an applicant is not a United States citizen or has not provided acceptable evidence of citizenship, the online voter registration system must notify the supervisor of the applicant's legal status and transmit the application to the supervisor; requiring that the online voter registration system populate an applicant's information and direct the applicant to perform specified actions under specified conditions; requiring supervisors to verify a voter's legal status as a United States citizen using specified sources and initiate a certain notice if applicable; requiring that the voter's legal status as United States citizen and the type of document accepted as evidence of United States citizenship be recorded in the statewide voter registration system, etc.

Commercial Service Airports; Preempts naming of major commercial service airports to state; provides names for major commercial service airports; provides that renaming specified airport is subject to approval of FAA & execution of certain agreement; provides that such airport names continue to be valid under certain circumstances; requires DOT to annually review provisions naming major commercial service airports for certain purpose; requires DOT to provide certain notice to Legislature; provides requirements for such notice; requires that certain government records created on or after certain date use such airport names; specifies that airport names are branding designations; provides that political subdivision is in compliance with certain provisions under specified circumstances.

Maddy summaryHB 6029 repeals Florida Statute § 790.401, which previously required firearm surrender under risk protection orders, and amends related statutes (including § 394.4615, § 394.463, and § 456.059). It clarifies that mental health professionals may disclose specific threats to law enforcement to initiate risk protection orders and mandates that firearms seized during involuntary examinations must be returned within 24 hours of a person’s release from custody. The bill directly affects law enforcement officers, mental health providers, and individuals subject to involuntary examinations. Key changes include streamlined disclosure protocols for threats and shortened timelines for firearm returns.

Senate Confirmation of Gubernatorial Appointments and Legislative Approval of Extended States of Emergency; Proposes amendment to State Constitution to require that Senate confirm appointments & removals made by Governor & to require that Legislature authorize extension of state of emergency declared by Governor.

Maddy summaryHB 789 removes all references to county and school district ad valorem tax levies from over 20 sections of Florida Statutes, including repealing specific provisions like "district school tax" (s. 1011.71) and "school capital outlay surcharge" (s. 1011.715). It amends statutes related to tax powers, bond issuance, and school district funding by deleting outdated language about these levies. The bill does not change current tax rates, collection methods, or financial obligations - only updates legal references to eliminate obsolete terminology. This is a procedural revision to modernize the tax code, not a policy change affecting taxpayers or local governments.