Christian Employers Alliance

Kelly Skidmore

This bill provides that if a person travels into a county they don't reside in, with intent to commit grand theft or any forcible felony, the offense classification is increased one level. Previously, this only applied to burglary. This does not apply to certain individuals, such as first-time offenders. Protecting property rights and ensuring public safety are essential components of government.

Strengthening Law and Order by Increasing Penalties for Certain Cross-County Crimes.

This bill largely prevents a local government from forcing a contractor to pay the "prevailing wage" rates. This is accomplished by expanding the definition of public works projects to also include projects using local funds. The prevailing wage is an above-market rate typically linked to labor unions. Prevailing wage mandates needlessly drive-up taxpayer costs by imposing significant additional costs onto government contractors.

Protecting Taxpayers by Prohibiting Prevailing Wage Requirements in Local Public Works Contracts.

The Valdés amendment to a bill prohibiting various local employment regulations. This amendment adds language allowing localities to require private employers, that hire employees to work outside, to post a sign with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) information on heat illness and heat stress, "in a language understood by all of the employees."

Growing the Regulatory State by Allowing Local Governments to Impose a Heat Illness and Heat Stress Poster Mandate on all Outdoor Employers.

This bill restores the age at which an adult age 18 and older may purchase or receive a firearm after the age requirement was increased to 21 in 2018.

Strengthening Individual Liberties by Restoring the Age to Purchase a Firearm Back to 18 After Being Raised to 21 in 2018.

This resolution amends the state Constitution by doubling the tangible personal property ad valorem tax exemption from $25,000 to $50,000.

Providing Tax Relief by Amending the State Constitution to Double the Tangible Personal Property Tax Exemption to $50,000.

This bill prohibits local governments across the state from imposing any ordinance which allows individuals "to regularly engage in public camping or sleeping on any public property." Under the bill, counties are permitted to designate areas on public property for this purpose for up to 1 year, if approved by the Department of Children and Families, but must provide restrooms, prohibit illegal drug and alcohol use, and meet other requirements. Homeless encampments on sidewalks and streets present many health and safety concerns, including increased crime rates, open drug use, and sanitary concerns.

Strengthening Public Safety by Prohibiting Localities from Allowing Homeless Encampments on Public Sidewalks and Streets.

This bill requires a two-thirds vote of a locality's governing body in order to increase the millage rate when calculating property taxes. The bill also leaves in place the existing protections against tax increases, including requiring voter approval for a rate more than 110% of the previous year's maximum rate.

Protecting Homeowners and Businesses from Spiking Property Taxes by Requiring a Two-Thirds Vote to Increase the Local Property Tax Millage Rate.

This bill establishes the "Health Care Innovation Council" to hold public meetings on healthcare innovation and develop ways to improve healthcare such as "best practice recommendations." The bill then appropriates $50 million annually through FY 2033-2034 for loans to select healthcare facilities, including certain hospitals and nursing homes, to implement such "innovative solutions." Not only does this measure further grow the size of government and central planning, but also worsens corporate welfare and cronyism by providing taxpayer-subsidized loans.

Worsening Government Central Planning by Establishing a Crony Health Care Innovation Council to Enrich Certain Healthcare Providers.

This bill allows credit unions to qualify as qualified public depositories (QPDs), which is currently limited to just banks and certain savings associations. The bill caps public deposits held by an individual credit union to 10% of its assets, and credit unions collectively are limited to 15% of the state's public deposits. This measure expands competition among financial institutions, providing greater returns on investment funds. All public investment actions should be based on producing the maximum return and value for taxpayers.

Increasing Public Investment Returns Through Expanded Competition by Allowing Credit Unions to Hold Public Funds.

This bill restores an annual 3% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for state employees enrolled before July 1, 2011, which will cost over $2 billion dollars in FY 2024-2025. The COLA (which was not contracted for nor promised to employees) was reduced in 2011 due to economic downturn. This measure worsens Florida's unfunded pension liability crisis which is among the highest in the nation.

Worsening Florida's Unfunded Pension Crisis by Restoring a Fiscally Irresponsible Cost-of-Living Adjustment.

This resolution provides encourages all executive agencies of the State of Florida, all law enforcement agencies, and all local governments in this state to suspend contact and outreach activities with the Council on American-Islamic Relations. The resolution references several individuals who have been affiliated with CAIR that have been charged with crimes related to supporting terrorism. Government entities should not associate with entities representing national security risks.

Strengthening National Security by Urging State Agencies to Disassociate from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).

This bill repeals existing law which prohibited the sale of firearms and ammunition, display of firearms and ammunition in a store, and possession of a firearm in public, if a state of emergency is declared due to a riot or disorder.

Strengthening Self-Defense and Public Safety by Repealing the Ban on Selling or Possessing a Firearm in Public During a State of Emergency.

This bill makes a series of changes to the parole system, generally reducing penalties on offenders who violate the terms of their probation. For example, the bill reduces judicial discretion by now placing a limit on the amount of time a court may hold an offender in jail for certain parole violations. Additionally, offenders can no longer be held accountable for previous parole violations that were addressed through the "alternative sanctioning program" in the event the offender's parole is revoked due to additional offenses.

Increasing Crime and Weakening Public Safety Through a Criminal Justice "Reform" Which Reduces Accountability within the Parole System.

This bill requires the Department of Environmental Protection to create a state-wide "waste reduction and recycling plan." The plan must include several components, such as established recycling goals based on "sustainable materials management and waste diversion" and recommendations to "develop and promote markets for recycling materials."

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