Rep. Alex Rizo

Relief/Maury Hernandez/Department of Corrections ; Provides appropriation to compensate Maury Hernandez for injuries & damages sustained as consequence of DOC failures to enforce probation laws, regulations, & policies; provides legislative intent that certain liens be waived; provides limitation on payment of compensation & attorney fees. CLAIM WITH APPROPRIATION: $5,000,000

Maddy summaryHB 409 requires all Florida K-12 public school districts to observe Veterans' Day as an official school holiday, directly affecting school calendars and operations. The bill amends Florida Statutes to mandate that school boards designate Veterans' Day - listed in Section 110.117(1)(f) - as a holiday, replacing current discretionary observance. This policy change ensures consistent recognition of Veterans' Day across all public schools, with implementation required by July 1, 2026. The law does not alter the holiday's date or create new requirements beyond standard school holiday designation.

Student Elopement ; Requires public schools to create School Staff Assistance for Emergencies (SAFE) Team & school elopement plan; provides requirements for SAFE Teams, elopement plans, & schools.

Required Instruction in Cursive Writing; Requires students in specified grades to receive instruction in cursive writing; provides requirements for such instruction; requires students to demonstrate proficiency in cursive writing by end of specified grade; defines "proficiency in cursive writing".

Dependent Children; Requires DCF & each community-based care lead agency to coordinate with certain organizations & meet quarterly for specified purpose; authorizes such meeting to be in person or via teleconference or other electronic means; requires such meetings to have formal agenda; requires department & each community-based care lead agency to make certain information available on their respective websites; requires, beginning in specified year, department & each community-based care lead agency to publish on their respective websites biannual report containing specified information.

Designation of the State Birds; Designates American flamingo as official state bird and the Florida scrub-jay as the official state songbird; provides that such designation supersedes designation of mockingbird as official Florida state bird.

Public Records; Provides exemption from public records requirements for personal identifying & location information of current county administrators, deputy county administrators, assistant county administrators, city managers, deputy city managers, & assistant city managers, including names & personal identifying & location information of their spouses & children; provides for future legislative review & repeal; provides for retroactive application; provides statement of public necessity.

Pub. Rec./Agency Employees; Provides exemption from public records requirements for certain identifying & location information of current or former agency employees & spouses & children of such employees; provides for retroactive application; specifies that exemption does not limit certain existing exemptions; provides for future legislative review & repeal of exemption; provides statement of public necessity.

Leave for Living Organ Donation; Defines "living organ donor"; requires state agencies to grant administrative leave, not to exceed specified number of days, to allow employee to serve as living organ donor; specifies that such leave is in addition to other leave authorized by law; defines "employer" and "living organ donor"; requires certain employers to grant unpaid leave of absence to allow employee to serve as living organ donor; specifies length of such leave of absence; authorizes employers to grant paid or unpaid leave for period longer than required period of time; provides effective date.

Antisemitism Task Force; Creates Antisemitism Task Force within Office of Civil Rights of DLA for specified purpose; requires department to provide administrative & staff support to task force; provides for appointment & terms of members; provides for per diem & travel expenses; provides membership & duties of task force; requires report to Governor & Legislature by specified date; provides for future review & repeal of task force.