HIGHLIGHTS -

The third week of Florida’s 2022 Regular Legislative Session concluded on Friday. This week, the legislature continued diligent work to pass meaningful pieces of legislation and made strides in the redistricting process. Twenty-seven bills have passed the full membership of the Senate as of this week and await House consideration to cross the finish line to the Governor’s desk. Two of the bills passed this week are measures to protect local businesses by allowing them to collect damages from their municipality for any damaging ordinances (SB 620), and requiring local governments to provide estimations of how new regulations could impact local businesses (SB 280). Other noteworthy legislation approved by the Senate this week includes bills that update telehealth protocols regarding controlled substances (SB 312), that classify religious institutions as essential in a state of emergency (SB 254), and that establish the strawberry shortcake as Florida’s official state dessert (SB 1006).