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Which North Central Florida Lawmakers' 2018 Bills Are Now Law?

The north central Florida legislative delegation for the 2018 session. From left, state representatives Chuck Clemons, Ralph Massullo, Stan McClain, Bobby Payne, Elizabeth Porter, Charlie Stone, and Clovis Watson. Below, from left, state senators Dennis Baxley, Rob Bradley, and Keith Perry.
The north central Florida legislative delegation for the 2018 session. From left, state representatives Chuck Clemons, Ralph Massullo, Stan McClain, Bobby Payne, Elizabeth Porter, Charlie Stone, and Clovis Watson. Below, from left, state senators Dennis Baxley, Rob Bradley, and Keith Perry.

Just after the midpoint of the 2018 legislative session, the direction and fate of many proposed bills changed.

On Feb. 14, when a gunman took the lives of 17 people at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, funding and legislative priorities shifted to help prevent future school shootings.

Still, the legislature and governor made into law more than a dozen bills from local lawmakers, as well as funding local projects totaling $34.7 million. Most laws and appropriations take effect on July 1, the beginning of the 2018-2019 fiscal year.

Below is a list of each lawmaker's 2018 successes. For a full rundown of the bills that didn't make it this year, visit our legislative tracker.

Local legislators who sponsored bills that became law in 2018

Rep. Chuck Clemons

[expand title=" Public Records and Public Meetings/Firesafety Systems ( House Bill 411 ) "]
What it does: Provides exemption from public records requirements for firesafety system plans held by agency, exemption from public records & public meetings requirements for information relating to firesafety systems for certain properties & meetings relating to such systems & information, & exemption from public meetings requirements for portions of meetings that would reveal such plans held by agency; provides for retroactive application, for future legislative review & repeal, & statement of public necessity.
Who's the sponsor? Rep. Chuck Clemons
What happened? Signed into law.
Click here to see the full bill. [/expand]

Rep. Stan McClain

[expand title=" Governance of Banks and Trust Companies ( CS/House Bill 455 ) "]
What it does: Revises requirements relating to financial institution experience of certain proposed directors & officers of proposed banks or trust companies; revises residency requirement of certain directors & financial institution experience of certain officers for banks or trust companies; revises instances during which bank may not own certain stock, obligations, & other securities.
Who's the sponsor? Rep. Stan McClain
What happened? Signed into law.
Click here to see the full bill. [/expand]

[expand title=" Threats to Kill or Do Great Bodily Injury ( CS/CS/House Bill 165 ) "]
What it does: Prohibits person from making threat to kill or do great bodily injury in writing or other record & transmitting that threat in any manner that would allow another person to view the threat; removes requirements that threat be sent to specific recipient to be prohibited.
Who's the sponsor? Rep. Stan McClain
What happened? Signed into law.
Click here to see the full bill. [/expand]
[expand title=" Direct-support Organization of the Florida Commission on Community Service ( Senate Bill 1500 ) "]
What it does: Removing the scheduled repeal of provisions governing the commission's direct-support organization, etc.
Who's the sponsor? Sen. Dennis Baxley
What happened? Signed into law.
Click here to see the full bill. [/expand]

Rep. Bobby Payne

[expand title=" Linear Facilities ( House Bill 405 ) "]
What it does: Revises definition of "development" to exclude certain utility work on rights-of-way or corridors & creation or termination of distribution & transmission corridors; requires DEP to consider certain variance standard for certification of power plants & transmission corridors; specifies PSC authority to locate transmission lines underground.
Who's the sponsor? Rep. Bobby Payne
What happened? Signed into law.
Click here to see the full bill. [/expand]

[expand title=" Autocycles ( House Bill 215 ) "]
What it does: Defines "autocycle" & revises definition of "motorcycle"; requires safety belt usage by autocycle operator/passenger; authorizes autocycle operation without motorcycle endorsement; provides applicability.
Who's the sponsor? Rep. Bobby Payne
What happened? Signed into law.
Click here to see the full bill. [/expand]

Rep. Elizabeth Porter

[expand title=" Missing Persons With Special Needs ( House Bill 591 ) "]
What it does: Expands pilot projects for missing persons with special needs to all centers for autism & related disabilities at institutions in state university system.
Who's the sponsor? Rep. Elizabeth Porter
What happened? Signed into law.
Click here to see the full bill. [/expand]

Sen. Dennis Baxley

[expand title=" Mortgage Brokering ( Senate Bill 314 ) "]
What it does: Providing an exemption from regulation under parts I and II of ch. 494, F.S., for certain securities dealers, investment advisers, and associated persons, etc.
Who's the sponsor? Sen. Dennis Baxley
What happened? Signed into law.
Click here to see the full bill. [/expand]

[expand title=" Employment Services for Persons with Disabilities ( Senate Bill 648 ) "]
What it does: Specifying that participants in certain disabled persons' work experience activities are considered state employees for workers' compensation purposes, etc.
Who's the sponsor? Sen. Dennis Baxley
What happened? Signed into law.
Click here to see the full bill. [/expand]

[expand title=" Subpoenas in Investigations of Sexual Offenses ( Senate Bill 618 ) "]
What it does: Authorizing an investigative or law enforcement officer conducting an investigation into specified matters to subpoena certain persons or entities for the production of records, documents, or other tangible things and testimony; prohibiting the use of a subpoena to compel records, documents, or other tangible objects protected under certain circumstances; authorizing a court to punish a person who does not comply with a subpoena as indirect criminal contempt, etc.
Who's the sponsor? Sen. Dennis Baxley
What happened? Signed into law.
Click here to see the full bill. [/expand]

[expand title=" Home Education ( Senate Bill 732 ) "]
What it does: Specifying that a home education program is not a school district program and is registered with the district school superintendent only for the purpose of complying with the state's attendance requirements; authorizing a school district to provide home education program students with access to certain courses and programs offered by the school district; prohibiting a district school superintendent from requiring certain evidence relating to a child's age from children enrolled in specified schools and programs, etc.
Who's the sponsor? Sen. Dennis Baxley
What happened? Signed into law.
Click here to see the full bill. [/expand]

[expand title=" Public Records/Surplus Lands ( Senate Bill 808 ) "]
What it does: Providing an exemption for valuations, certain records, and sales offers for sales related to surplus lands; authorizing disclosure of such records under certain circumstances; providing a statement of public necessity, etc.
Who's the sponsor? Sen. Dennis Baxley
What happened? Signed into law.
Click here to see the full bill. [/expand]

[expand title=" Water Management District Surplus Lands ( Senate Bill 806 ) "]
What it does: Revising the circumstances when a water management district must publish its intention to sell surplus lands; revising the process for selling certain lower valued surplus lands, etc.
Who's the sponsor? Sen. Dennis Baxley
What happened? Signed into law.
Click here to see the full bill. [/expand]

[expand title=" Ratification of Rules of the St. Johns River Water Management District ( Senate Bill 670 ) "]
What it does: Ratifying a specified rule relating to supplemental regulatory measures for the minimum flows and levels of Silver Springs, designated as an Outstanding Florida Spring under s. 373.802(4), F.S., for the sole and exclusive purpose of satisfying any condition on effectiveness pursuant to specified provisions which requires ratification of any rule meeting any specified thresholds of likely adverse impact or increase in regulatory costs, etc.
Who's the sponsor? Sens. Dennis Baxley and Rob Bradley
What happened? Signed into law.
Click here to see the full bill. [/expand]

Sen. Rob Bradley

[expand title=" Ratification of Rules of the St. Johns River Water Management District ( Senate Bill 670 ) "]
What it does: Ratifying a specified rule relating to supplemental regulatory measures for the minimum flows and levels of Silver Springs, designated as an Outstanding Florida Spring under s. 373.802(4), F.S., for the sole and exclusive purpose of satisfying any condition on effectiveness pursuant to specified provisions which requires ratification of any rule meeting any specified thresholds of likely adverse impact or increase in regulatory costs, etc.
Who's the sponsor? Sens. Dennis Baxley and Rob Bradley
What happened? Signed into law.
Click here to see the full bill. [/expand]

[expand title=" Deferred Presentment Transactions ( Senate Bill 920 ) "]
What it does: Specifying the maximum face amount of checks which may be taken for deferred presentment installment transactions, exclusive of fees; providing an exception to a prohibition against a deferred presentment provider's or its affiliate's presentment of a drawer's check before the end of the deferment period, etc.
Who's the sponsor? Sen. Rob Bradley
What happened? Signed into law.
Click here to see the full bill. [/expand]

[expand title=" Beverage Law ( Senate Bill 1224 ) "]
What it does: Authorizing a malt beverage distributor to give branded glassware to vendors licensed to sell malt beverages for on-premises consumption; requiring that the glassware bear certain branding; prohibiting a vendor from selling the branded glassware or returning it to a distributor for cash, credit, or replacement, etc.
Who's the sponsor? Sen. Rob Bradley
What happened? Signed into law.
Click here to see the full bill. [/expand]

Sen. Keith Perry

[expand title=" University of Florida ( Senate Resolution 1162 ) "]
What it does: Recognizing the University of Florida for its exemplary accomplishments as a leading academic and research institution, as well as for its contributions to the betterment of the state and nation, etc.
Who's the sponsor? Sen. Keith Perry
What happened? Senate adopted.
Click here to see the full bill. [/expand]

[expand title=" Missing Persons with Special Needs ( Senate Bill 1156 ) "]
What it does: Expanding pilot projects for missing persons with special needs to all centers for autism and related disabilities at institutions in the State University System, etc.
Who's the sponsor? Sen. Keith Perry
What happened? Signed into law.
Click here to see the full bill. [/expand]

[expand title=" Public Records/ First Responder Network Authority/Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network ( Senate Bill 988 ) "]
What it does: Providing an exemption from public records requirements for information obtained by persons or agencies from the First Responder Network Authority and information relating to the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network obtained by persons or agencies from entities operating pursuant to a contract with the First Responder Network Authority; providing for future legislative review and repeal of the exemption; providing a statement of public necessity, etc.
Who's the sponsor? Sen. Keith Perry
What happened? Signed into law.
Click here to see the full bill. [/expand]

[expand title=" Public Records/United States Census Bureau ( Senate Bill 1078 ) "]
What it does: Creating an exemption from public records requirements for specified United States Census Bureau address information held by an agency; providing for future legislative review and repeal of the exemption; providing a statement of public necessity, etc.
Who's the sponsor? Sen. Keith Perry
What happened? Signed into law.
Click here to see the full bill. [/expand]

[expand title=" Public Records and Public Meetings/Firesafety System Plans ( Senate Bill 738 ) "]
What it does: Providing an exemption from public records requirements for firesafety system plans held by an agency; providing an exemption from public records and public meetings requirements for information relating to firesafety systems for certain properties and meetings relating to such systems and information; providing for future legislative review and repeal of the exemptions; providing a statement of public necessity, etc.
Who's the sponsor? Sen. Keith Perry
What happened? Signed into law.
Click here to see the full bill. [/expand]

[expand title=" Autocycles ( Senate Bill 504 ) "]
What it does: Defining the term "autocycle" requiring safety belt or, if applicable, child restraint usage by an operator or passenger of an autocycle; including an autocycle in the definition of the term "motorcycle" authorizing a person to operate an autocycle without a motorcycle endorsement, etc.
Who's the sponsor? Sen. Keith Perry
What happened? Signed into law.
Click here to see the full bill. [/expand]

Which legislators' local projects received funding?

 

Rep. Chuck Clemons

[expand title=" University of Florida Lastinger Center ( House Bill 2327 ) "]
What it does: Provides an appropriation of $1,700,000 for the University of Florida Lastinger Center.
Who's the sponsor? Rep. Chuck Clemons
What happened? Signed into law. $1,700,000
Click here to see the full bill. [/expand]

[expand title=" Next Generation Agricultural Education Student ( House Bill 3053 ) "]
What it does: Provides an appropriation of $1,250,000 for the Next Generation Agricultural Education Student.
Who's the sponsor? Rep. Chuck Clemons
What happened? Signed into law. $1,250,000
Click here to see the full bill. [/expand]

[expand title=" Wauchula Green Street Stormwater Conveyance and Improvements ( House Bill 3483 ) "]
What it does: Provides an appropriation of $1,200,200 for the Wauchula Green Street Stormwater Conveyance and Improvements.
Who's the sponsor? Rep. Chuck Clemons
What happened? Signed into law. $1,200,200
Click here to see the full bill. [/expand]

[expand title=" ACORN Clinic: Healthcare Safety Net in North Central Florida ( House Bill 2325 ) "]
What it does: Provides an appropriation of $727,500 for the ACORN Clinic: Healthcare Safety Net in North Central Florida.
Who's the sponsor? Rep. Chuck Clemons
What happened? Signed into law. $727,500
Click here to see the full bill. [/expand]

Rep. Ralph Massullo

[expand title=" Citrus County Kings Bay Restoration ( House Bill 2487 ) "]
What it does: Provides an appropriation of $3,000,000 for the Citrus County Kings Bay Restoration.
Who's the sponsor? Rep. Ralph Massullo
What happened? Signed into law. $3,000,000
Click here to see the full bill. [/expand]

[expand title=" Brooksville Fire Department Renovation Project ( House Bill 3973 ) "]
What it does: Provides an appropriation of $323,150 for the Brooksville Fire Department Renovation Project.
Who's the sponsor? Rep. Ralph Massullo
What happened? Signed into law. $323,150
Click here to see the full bill. [/expand]

[expand title=" Hernando County Fire Rescue Station #6 Renovation Project ( House Bill 3975 ) "]
What it does: Provides an appropriation of $1,200,000 for the Hernando County Fire Rescue Station #6 Renovation Project.
Who's the sponsor? Rep. Ralph Massullo
What happened? Signed into law. $1,200,000
Click here to see the full bill. [/expand]

[expand title=" Citrus County Old Homosassa West Septic to Sewer Project ( House Bill 4093 ) "]
What it does: Provides an appropriation of $235,600 for the Citrus County Old Homosassa West Septic to Sewer Project.
Who's the sponsor? Rep. Ralph Massullo
What happened? Signed into law. $235,600
Click here to see the full bill. [/expand]

[expand title=" Three Sisters Springs Infrastructure Improvements ( House Bill 4429 ) "]
What it does: Provides an appropriation of $400,000 for the Three Sisters Springs Infrastructure Improvements.
Who's the sponsor? Rep. Ralph Massullo
What happened? Signed into law. $400,000
Click here to see the full bill. [/expand]

Rep. Stan McClain

[expand title=" State Veterans' Nursing Home Planning - Marion County ( House Bill 2105 ) "]
What it does: Provides an appropriation of $500,000 for the State Veterans' Nursing Home Planning - Marion County.
Who's the sponsor? Rep. Stan McClain
What happened? Signed into law. $500,000
Click here to see the full bill. [/expand]

[expand title=" Marion County Southeastern Livestock Pavilion Phase 3 ( House Bill 2135 ) "]
What it does: Provides an appropriation of $580,320 for the Marion County Southeastern Livestock Pavilion Phase 3
Who's the sponsor? Reps. Stan McClain and Clovis Watson
What happened? Signed into law. $580,320
Click here to see the full bill. [/expand]

Rep. Bobby Payne

[expand title=" The Transition House Inc. Homeless Program, Starke Florida ( House Bill 3283 ) "]
What it does: Provides an appropriation of $300,000 for The Transition House Inc. Homeless Program, Starke Florida.
Who's the sponsor? Rep. Bobby Payne
What happened? Signed into law. $300,000
Click here to see the full bill. [/expand]

[expand title=" Bradford Fairgrounds Building & Barn Replacement ( House Bill 3311 ) "]
What it does: Provides an appropriation of $4 million for the Bradford Fairgrounds Building & Barn Replacement.
Who's the sponsor? Rep. Bobby Payne
What happened? Signed into law. $4,000,000
Click here to see the full bill. [/expand]

[expand title=" Learning for Life ( House Bill 3879 ) "]
What it does: Provides an appropriation of $2,569,813 for the Learning for Life.
Who's the sponsor? Rep. Bobby Payne
What happened? Signed into law. $2,569,813
Click here to see the full bill. [/expand]

[expand title=" AMIkids Credit Recovery Program ( House Bill 4591 ) "]
What it does: Provides an appropriation of $1 million for the AMIkids Credit Recovery Program.
Who's the sponsor? Rep. Bobby Payne
What happened? Signed into law. $1,000,000
Click here to see the full bill. [/expand]

[expand title=" AMIkids Family Centric Programming ( House Bill 4593 ) "]
What it does: Provides an appropriation of $3 million for the AMIkids Family Centric Programming.
Who's the sponsor? Rep. Bobby Payne
What happened? Signed into law. $3,000,000
Click here to see the full bill. [/expand]

[expand title=" Communications Equipment Upgrade, Putnam County ( House Bill 3295 ) "]
What it does: Provides an appropriation of $790,232 for the Communications Equipment Upgrade, Putnam County 700 MHZ SYSTEM PHASED MIGRATION.
Who's the sponsor? Rep. Bobby Payne
What happened? Signed into law. $790,232
Click here to see the full bill. [/expand]

[expand title=" Historic Spring Park Public Access Pier on St. Johns River ( House Bill 3267 ) "]
What it does: Provides an appropriation of $600,000 for the Historic Spring Park Public Access Pier on St. Johns River.
Who's the sponsor? Rep. Bobby Payne
What happened? Signed into law. $600,000
Click here to see the full bill. [/expand]

[expand title=" East Palatka Fire Station Water Expansion ( House Bill 3297 ) "]
What it does: Provides an appropriation of $850,000 for the East Palatka Fire Station Water Expansion.
Who's the sponsor? Rep. Bobby Payne
What happened? Signed into law. $850,000
Click here to see the full bill. [/expand]

Rep. Elizabeth Porter

[expand title=" Suwannee County Railroad Crossing Relocation ( House Bill 2231 ) "]
What it does: Provides an appropriation of $1,650,000 for the Suwannee County Railroad Crossing Relocation.
Who's the sponsor? Rep. Elizabeth Porter
What happened? Signed into law. $1,650,000
Click here to see the full bill. [/expand]

[expand title=" Columbia County Fairgrounds Drainage Improvement Project ( House Bill 3339 ) "]
What it does: Provides an appropriation of $100,000 for the Columbia County Fairgrounds Drainage Improvement Project.
Who's the sponsor? Rep. Elizabeth Porter
What happened? Signed into law. $100,000
Click here to see the full bill. [/expand]

[expand title=" Online Adult High School Program for State of Florida Library System - Smart Horizons Career Online High School ( House Bill 3763 ) "]
What it does: Provides an appropriation of $2,500,000 for the Online Adult High School Program for State of Florida Library System - Smart Horizons Career Online High School.
Who's the sponsor? Rep. Elizabeth Porter
What happened? Signed into law. $2,500,000
Click here to see the full bill. [/expand]

Rep. Charlie Stone

[expand title=" DeSoto County Lake Suzy Wastewater Modifications ( House Bill 3471 ) "]
What it does: Provides an appropriation of $450,000 for the DeSoto County Lake Suzy Wastewater Modifications.
Who's the sponsor? Rep. Charlie Stone
What happened? Signed into law. $450,000
Click here to see the full bill. [/expand]

[expand title=" Florida Horse Park Expansion-Phase 3 ( House Bill 3473 ) "]
What it does: Provides an appropriation of $5 million for the Florida Horse Park Expansion-Phase 3.
Who's the sponsor? Rep. Charlie Stone
What happened? Signed into law. $5,000,000
Click here to see the full bill. [/expand]

[expand title=" Hardee County Regional Potable Service Improvements, Phase 2 ( House Bill 2289 ) "]
What it does: Provides an appropriation of $285,000 for the Hardee County Regional Potable Service Improvements, Phase 2
Who's the sponsor? Rep. Charlie Stone
What happened? Signed into law. $285,000
Click here to see the full bill. [/expand]

Rep. Clovis Watson

[expand title=" Marion County Southeastern Livestock Pavilion Phase 3 ( House Bill 2135 ) "]
What it does: Provides an appropriation of $580,320 for the Marion County Southeastern Livestock Pavilion Phase 3
Who's the sponsor? Reps. Stan McClain and Clovis Watson
What happened? Signed into law. $580,320
Click here to see the full bill. [/expand]

Ethan is the Managing Editor in the Innovation News Center, home to WUFT News.He is a Pennsylvania native who found a home reporting Florida's stories. Reach him by emailing emagoc@wuft.org or calling 352-294-1525.