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The countdown clock has started for Sine Die, the end of the legislative session. As I write the weekly article, the clock is slowly ticking down from 26 days 8 hours and 59 minutes but who’s counting!?!
Before the end of session, there is still quite a bit of work to be accomplished on the calendar. Let’s just look at the numbers. As of April 11, 2023, the House has introduced 291 bills, and the Senate has introduced 278 bills. With 26 days and 8 hours, etc, the General Assembly will continue to introduce new legislation including additional gun legislation and we believe an anti-business workers compensation bill; plus whatever else is in the drafting office. So, 569 bills introduced of which 77 bills have been killed in committee. The governor has signed 74 bills; to date there have been no vetoes. We have 418 bills at some point in the process between the House and the Senate to finalize before the last day of session, May 8, 2023.
The House will begin to meet on Saturdays to clear the calendar; House Republicans continue to debate or filibuster most bills on the calendar. This is slowing down the process and creating tension and frustration in the Chamber. The latest “talk” is that the House leadership will hold republican bills on the calendar until the minority party stops the long debates on every bill. We live by the rumors at the Capitol. We have already had a few working Saturdays this session; so what’s a few more? It is all a means to reaching the last day. Countdown continues.
On Tuesday, April 11, 2023, Senate Local Government committee heard SB23-184 Concerning Protections for Residential Tenants. As introduced, this bill would have been a nightmare for any landlord to manage a rental property. The bill proposed to allow tenants to pay the security deposit over time; the security deposit could be no more than one month’s rent; the landlord would have to accept the first applicant for any open rental. The bill was untenable as introduced. We worked with proponents to bring some sanity to unrealistic expectations for the rental market. During the hearing, the bill was significantly amended to provide safeguards for property owners and renters. No one wants an individual placed in a situation where they cannot meet their obligations over time. The bill was amended to require two month’s security deposit and to require the deposit upfront - not to be paid over time. The requirement to accept the first application was amended out of the bill. We continue to work with proponents of the bill to address the amount of income needed to meet financial thresholds for rent.
A final thought: Sine Die: Something done sine die has no definite date or period to resume. It’s legalese for “indefinitely,” and Latin for “without day.” Interestingly, in the Florida Legislature, during the years when the House Chamber was at the north end of the Old Capitol and the Senate Chamber was in the east wing, the presiding officers could not see each other nor were they in telephonic communication. On those occasions when the chambers adjourned sine die simultaneously, the House and Senate Sergeants would stand in the rotunda where they could be observed by the Senate President and House Speaker. The Sergeants would drop a handkerchief at the moment agreed upon for adjournment, and the gavels would fall in each house to formally signal the end of the session. -Alison Morgan, Director of State Government Relations |
