[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6259613,"mediaKeyId","3140588-ba3b06d9b17459a146ab011a55f75afe","parentId",3140588,"title","Senate approves package of measures on health, manufacturing, public safety, utilities and corrections; key votes","audioSeconds",10294,"startMs",3485000,"endMs",13779000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3140588-ba3b06d9b17459a146ab011a55f75afe&start=3485&end=13779","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3140588-ba3b06d9b17459a146ab011a55f75afe/thumbnail_3485000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6259613/Florida/Senate-approves-package-of-measures-on-health-manufacturing-public-safety-utilities-and-corrections-key-votes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6259613-3141ba89bbd475811b3131ec39829401/orig.mp4?Expires=1770489830&Signature=XHEREBDVtHMwVvkPuDoD2IHBZ78fombq4ulffNadAn9HAxFPpaWOE9phNPFDs8ndauvVuHrVgI48tp4pIsgCrH4AbSjrTt8Z6JBMJx7Oz3AyZkXD2Lc7q~6~4TWNoLXoXndtmEFUZm3ljEwlJ1DdjddW7mjr3Mmto9M2uCdJ2AjP1-zJh~Ex8pjDZety7gKwq5HE-LBp79XWe71fDd1nFCsaqu7gt3fUyZOTkZ3nofMqO1xHXqq7NUtiI0re8fv46FwcwYMWFGe6s8SsMT4GePlG4Y0gtipVmNZM4ZKnNpGujfRVbTRssk0sM8AgT~qaK7xtTMPZK6ngNWe64Xo3pA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Florida State Legislature","date","2025-04-28T00:00:00Z","article","TALLAHASSEE — Monday’s Senate session yielded a string of enacted bills spanning health care, workforce development, public safety and corrections. Floor debate varied from brief sponsor explanations to extended exchanges on constitutional exposure and victim protections.

Votes at a glance

- SB 572 / CS for HB 593 (Pam Rock Act) — dangerous dogs: Passed 36–0. (See separate article.)
- SB 1080 (local government land regulation; impact fees and comp‑plan rules): Passed (final tally not specified on the floor transcript). Sponsor: Senator McLean. The bill modernizes agricultural enclave language, defines “extraordinary circumstances” for impact fees and streamlines parts of the comprehensive plan approval process; sponsors removed ag‑enclave language by amendment during consideration.
- CS for SB 1388 / CS for HB (voter/boating/driver sanctions omnibus): Passed 35–0. Sponsor: Senator Trumbull (amendment combined multiple boating and driver‑sanction provisions).
- SB 890 / CS for HB 1421 (Emily Adkins Family Protection Act — VTE/blood clots): Passed 36–0. Sponsor: Senator Yarbrough. Creates a statewide venous thromboembolism (VTE) registry, requires reporting and adds training and informational materials for long‑term care.
- CS for HB 113 (fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer): Passed 36–0. Sponsor: Senator Collins. The floor substitute removed a proposed vehicle‑impoundment provision before passage.
- CS for HB 383 (purchase and possession of firearms by law‑enforcement, correctional and service members): Passed 33–3. Sponsor: Senator Collins. The bill expands off‑duty concealed carry authority for certain correctional officers subject to employing‑agency rules; the House substitute was accepted on the floor.
- CS for HB 897 (timeshare plan management, substitute for SB 496): Passed 36–0. Sponsor: Senator McLean. Clarifies governance and meeting frequency for timeshare boards.
- SB 540 / CS for HB 447 (Disability history and awareness instruction, Evan Hartsell Act): Passed 35–0. Sponsor: Senator Collins. Requires DOE to develop grade‑banded curricula and materials (see separate article).
- SB 600 (statewide Office of Manufacturing and promotional campaign) and SB 602 (associated fee rulemaking): Passed 35–0 (SB 600) and 35–0 (SB 602). Sponsor: Senator Trudeau. Establishes a chief manufacturing officer in the Department of Commerce, a grants program and a promotional campaign; SB 602 clarifies fee use and restrictions on expenditures.
- CS for HB 531 (public education background‑screening education page, substitute for SB 614): Passed 36–0. Sponsor: Senator Polsky. Requires a publicly available educational webpage about the care‑provider background‑screening clearinghouse and links on agency sites.
- CS for HB 1137 (utility service restrictions / energy source preemption, substitute for SB 1002): Passed 36–0. Sponsor: Senator Trudeau. Preempts local governments from restricting energy sources and aligns local rules with state policy.
- SB 1060 (Medicaid oversight joint committee): Passed 35–0. Sponsor: Senator Brisport? (sponsor listed in transcript as senator of the tenth district). Creates a legislative oversight committee to monitor Medicaid operations and contracting.
- CS for HB 1095 (criminal‑offender substance‑abuse pilot program in Hillsborough County, substitute for SB 1140): Passed 37–0. Sponsors: Senator Gruters (Senate), House companion substituted. Establishes a time‑limited pilot for eligible felony or first‑degree misdemeanor offenders to participate in a supervised substance‑abuse treatment program.
- SB 1804 (capital human‑trafficking of vulnerable persons for sexual exploitation): Passed 27–11. Sponsor: Senator Martin. The bill elevates certain trafficking conduct to a capital offense under narrowly defined circumstances and adds appellate authority for the attorney general; the measure generated extended debate on constitutionality, victim protection and penalties.

Floor pattern and next steps

Senators generally moved House companions onto the Special‑Order calendar and accepted technical and late amendments on the floor. Multiple sponsors told the chamber they had negotiated with stakeholders or other chambers before seeking substitution. Most measures recorded unanimous or near‑unanimous support; the trafficking bill was the clearest example of significant dissent, passing 27–11 after extended debate.

Why readers should care

Together these bills affect multiple policy areas: hospital reporting and long‑term care (VTE registry), workforce and economic development (manufacturing office and grants), public‑safety sentencing and statutory preemption (fleeing/eluding; energy restrictions), and criminal‑justice policy (Medicaid oversight panel; corrections pilot; capital‑trafficking statute). Officials in affected agencies — schools, hospitals, commerce, corrections and local governments — will need to track implementation and any related rulemaking.

Ending

Passed House companions will be returned to the House if further action is required. Several bills adopted on the Senate floor direct executive agencies (DOE, Department of Commerce, Department of Health, Department of Corrections) to implement or to publish materials; reporters and stakeholders should monitor those agencies’ rulemaking and guidance.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate in Session 4/28/2025 ","oneSentenceSummary","In a single floor day the Senate approved multiple bills covering health screening for blood clots, manufacturing promotion and fees, public‑safety statutes, utility preemption and a high‑profile capital human‑trafficking measure; most bills passed with wide margins; the trafficking measure passed 27–11.","taxTitle","Senate, Legislative, Florida","taxId",25412,"location","Florida","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6259619,"Senate approves Evan Hartsell Act to add disability history and awareness instruction to K–12",1260,4147000,5407000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3140588-ba3b06d9b17459a146ab011a55f75afe&start=4147&end=5407","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3140588-ba3b06d9b17459a146ab011a55f75afe/thumbnail_4147000.jpg","/articles/6259619/Florida/Senate-approves-Evan-Hartsell-Act-to-add-disability-history-and-awareness-instruction-to-K12","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6259619-872e15858183fface34a40be630fd6d5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770489830&Signature=akMh8pltr2uEbuFwEOk7Noo0SLOCc2U1k9kfWmftae11giVM7FcnpIqEWNFX6a~-63eF~gHtsyNactyrj4t5~K6OwjmkcWQtM1GVVFzILWPBCKAxScJWuhYTznKFBNRl20WBsf8IhP0bjU2w8At07LyBgDevaLA4FdblLMlBAmELo0e7w4eOFDYIHnwYUIJAXQi~y3r2UiaZvCM6T7ckUX4rdyYfQEjY4SOKOOnXtBRDwIMtlHd2MkDRy2NWS8zfqPdXMNx-zfBYFhDIwZOo~3ZiGqiroQgC5tGNcIE0yb3mLccHPlrZSEWwymoq~rySGi1pvDTF9zW7ayGVb78A~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Senate passed legislation Monday that directs the Department of Education to develop and make available disability history and awareness curricula for K–12 students, a measure carried in the Senate as SB 540 and substituted for House Bill 447.

The legislation, described repeatedly on the floor as the Evan Hartsell Act, requires the state education agency to create grade‑banded content (K–3, 4–6, 7–9, 10–12) intended to promote understanding of physical and intellectual disabilities and to give teachers tools to present disability history and awareness in age‑appropriate ways. The bill passed by a recorded vote of “35 yays, 0 nays,” the secretary reported.

Sponsor’s framing and exchange with colleagues

Senator Collins, sponsor of the measure, described the bill as focused on ‘‘making sure that we understand people for who they are’’ and urged colleagues to view the legislation as a step to reduce bias and raise awareness in schools. “This bill ensures that we meet people for who they are, how they are, where they are,” Senator Collins said.

Several senators asked detailed questions about scope and training. Senator Davidson, a former special‑education teacher, pressed for clarity on what the bill requires and how it differs from other education measures; she and Senator Collins discussed terminology used in advocacy circles, including the preference among many advocacy organizations for the term “people with disabilities.” Senator Osgood asked whether the measure goes far enough in embedding training for adults; Collins said the Department of Education will work with stakeholders and that the statute is intended as a first step.

Cosponsorship and procedure

Senator Collins requested and the Senate recorded cosponsorships while the bill remained a Senate measure; the clerk reported 35 cosponsors on the floor. The Senate substituted the House companion on third reading and approved the bill without recorded opposition. Senate staff noted the Senate and House versions were identical at the time of substitution.

What the bill requires

- The Florida Department of Education must develop and publish curricula and materials tailored to the specified grade bands to teach disability history and awareness.
- The law encourages age‑appropriate content showcasing achievements, history and practical ways to recognize and respond respectfully to people with disabilities.
- The bill does not create a statewide new teacher‑training mandate but sponsors said the department will provide materials and guidance districts may use.

Why it matters

Supporters emphasized the bill’s broader goal: reducing stigma and improving classroom inclusion by teaching students to recognize and respect people with disabilities. During floor debate lawmakers from both parties praised the Hartzell family and advocates who helped shape the bill. For many supporters the measure was a symbolic but concrete step to broaden curricula and reflect diverse experiences in Florida classrooms.

Next steps

The bill will be enrolled and sent to the governor after completion of any remaining House actions. Implementation will be led by the Florida Department of Education, which must develop the materials referenced in the statute.","After extended debate and bipartisan cosponsorship the Senate approved SB 540 (substituted by HB 447), directing the Department of Education to develop grade‑banded curricula and awareness materials about disabilities; vote recorded 35–0.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6259624,"Senate passes ‘Pam Rock Act,’ raises penalties for dangerous dogs",330,2103000,2433000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3140588-ba3b06d9b17459a146ab011a55f75afe&start=2103&end=2433","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3140588-ba3b06d9b17459a146ab011a55f75afe/thumbnail_2103000.jpg","/articles/6259624/Florida/Senate-passes-Pam-Rock-Act-raises-penalties-for-dangerous-dogs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6259624-feb8eff961bfdda66300bccb2a638c2b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770489830&Signature=GnYVPHzcGKBMKmOYGMrnXk5BBSVI98gFExw70Y0ZYIKklGSByOAGoz13eK1cx7~R8QagD4KI2kLuNDGgVCIHe3Ll-OlgA543LJe9B7o4RcYSF3CRC3BZn1M2WJ9Mh2kEGz9NPNbM6d6JOirfcc4sB8-jkd6wVXA0Kza-lGUqvTsBvCFcsPFqDrZli6DLnIuMHuTh4RHsHRNnx69Z1DajvEUKFfYOHEXyR1EUCdqAtpLeFtDaCuYi7ds0a-17HY9RYuyhh85-ZRGoaaEDYicNSgQmMFLSbj9RtZa6EJrxUG32EKGJ~3RfnuwDEaSS3ihxcbPKiKtmFOxrtqc0RvyiAg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Senate voted unanimously Monday to pass legislation known in the chamber as the Pam Rock Act, a measure that raises penalties and tightens definitions for owners of dogs that attack people.

The bill, carried in the Senate by Senator Collins, was substituted for the House companion (CS for HB 593) and adopted after sponsor explanation and brief debate. The motion to adopt the amendment and the final passage were approved without roll-call opposition; the secretary recorded “36 yays, 0 nays.”

Sponsor explanation and victims’ families

Senator Collins, the bill sponsor, told the Senate the measure is intended to “raise the bar in terms of punishment” for owners whose animals cause severe injury and to provide a clearer framework for enforcement. She noted the bill adjusts the statutory definitions of “owner” — aligning language so it includes a parent or guardian in some cases — and imports the state’s existing definition of “proper enclosure.”

“Sometimes we pass things and we ask ourselves, will it make a difference, and will it change the lives of people? This bill will save lives,” Senator Collins said on the floor.

Senator Wright, who spoke before the roll call, framed the bill as a response to fatal and severe attacks on people going about everyday activities. “What it does simply is raise the bar in terms of punishment,” Wright said, adding the bill uses “a specific bite index to grade these bites in a realistic and methodical manner.”

Families affected by attacks attended the Senate session. Senator Collins asked that members recognize the Rock family, identified in the gallery, and the family of an 8‑year‑old boy from DeLand who was repeatedly referenced during floor remarks.

What the bill does

Committee-substitute language adopted on the floor changes the statutory definition of “owner,” aligns the definition of proper enclosure to existing state language and makes technical conforming edits intended to ease enforcement and investigation. The provision authorizing euthanasia of an animal remains tethered to an investigation that finds a sufficiently severe injury under the statute’s bite‑index approach.

Procedure and vote

Senator Collins moved substitution for the House companion and the amendment barcode described on the floor was adopted. After a short close by the sponsor, the Senate proceeded to a recorded vote. The secretary reported the vote as “36 yays, 0 nays.” The Senate clerk then marked the bill as passed and returned to the calendar for third‑reading business.

Why it matters

The measure changes criminal and administrative language that local animal control and law enforcement will use when investigating dog attacks; it also affects owners’ potential civil and administrative exposure. The presence of victims’ family members during the debate highlighted the bill’s intent to respond to high‑profile attacks and provide clearer statutory language for prosecutors and animal control officers.

Ending

The passed substitute will return to the House for any further action required to reconcile differences before final enrollment and the governor’s consideration.","The Florida Senate on Monday approved legislation known as the Pam Rock Act that tightens penalties for owners of dogs that seriously injure or kill people, substitutes the House companion, and changes definitions including owner and proper enclosure; vote recorded 36–0.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate approves package of measures on health, manufacturing, public safety, utilities and corrections; key votes

Senate approves Evan Hartsell Act to add disability history and awareness instruction to K–12

Senate passes ‘Pam Rock Act,’ raises penalties for dangerous dogs