Rep. Linda Chaney

Maddy summaryHB 249 designates the S.S. American Victory - a 1944 World War II merchant vessel now operating as a maritime museum in Tampa - as Florida's official state flagship, replacing the previous designation. The bill amends Florida Statutes to formally recognize this ship, which served in multiple conflicts and now functions as an educational and tourism site. This is a ceremonial designation with no new funding, regulations, or direct impact on residents or businesses, solely updating the state's symbolic representation. The change takes effect July 1, 2026.

Elections; Revising definitions; revising the information the uniform statewide voter registration application is designed to elicit from an applicant to include a certain acknowledgment; requiring that the online voter registration system transmit specified information to the supervisor of elections under specified circumstances; requiring that the applicant's legal status as a United States citizen be recorded in the statewide voter registration system; requiring that if the records of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles indicate that an applicant is not a United States citizen or has not provided acceptable evidence of citizenship, the online voter registration system must notify the supervisor of the applicant's legal status and transmit the application to the supervisor; requiring that the online voter registration system populate an applicant's information and direct the applicant to perform specified actions under specified conditions; requiring supervisors to verify a voter's legal status as a United States citizen using specified sources and initiate a certain notice if applicable; requiring that the voter's legal status as United States citizen and the type of document accepted as evidence of United States citizenship be recorded in the statewide voter registration system, etc.

Dangerous Crimes; Requires court to remand person who pleads guilty or nolo contendere to, or is found guilty of, dangerous crime to custody immediately; requires such person to remain in custody pending sentencing without possibility of release on bond; revising definition of "dangerous crime."

Commercial Service Airports; Preempts naming of major commercial service airports to state; provides names for major commercial service airports; provides that renaming specified airport is subject to approval of FAA & execution of certain agreement; provides that such airport names continue to be valid under certain circumstances; requires DOT to annually review provisions naming major commercial service airports for certain purpose; requires DOT to provide certain notice to Legislature; provides requirements for such notice; requires that certain government records created on or after certain date use such airport names; specifies that airport names are branding designations; provides that political subdivision is in compliance with certain provisions under specified circumstances.

Forensic Client Services; Revising the definition of "forensic client" to include a defendant committed to involuntary residential services in a secure facility of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities; republishing s. 916.303, F.S., relating to determination of incompetency, etc.

Computer Science Education and Certification; Provides requirements for general education core courses with technology component; requires high school computer science courses to include instruction on artificial intelligence; requires SBE to establish separate computer science subject area coverages for specified grades & to continue comprehensive K–12 coverage; requires DOE to present recommended competencies for certain subject area coverages to state board by specified date; requires department to coordinate examinations for such subject area coverages by specified date.

Endangered or Threatened Marine Animals; Prohibits collection & transportation of endangered or threatened marine animals from state waters; prohibits FWCC from issuing, renewing, or approving certain licenses.

Office of Insurance Regulation; Providing that the Office of Insurance Regulation is responsible for all activities concerning entities under its jurisdiction; authorizing the Department of Financial Services and the office to issue and deliver cease and desist orders for certain activities; authorizing the department and the office to seek an injunction for enforcement of such order; removing a provision authorizing the Financial Services Commission to adopt the Market Conduct Examiners Handbook; requiring the Department of Law Enforcement to accept and process fingerprints taken of certain persons; requiring the Department of Law Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to conduct certain background checks; authorizing the Department of Law Enforcement to exchange certain records with the office; requiring certain non-United States-based insurance holding company systems to file a group capital calculation report, etc.

Pub. Rec./Office of Insurance Regulation; Creates privilege for documents, materials, & other information obtained by Commissioner of Insurance Regulation or National Association of Insurance Commissioners in course of examination or analysis; prohibits commissioner & certain persons from testifying in certain private civil actions; authorizes commissioner to share certain information under certain circumstances; provides for reciprocity; provides exemption from public records requirements for certain proprietary business information provided to OIR by insurer & certain biographical statements, biographical affidavits, & supplementary materials related thereto provided to or obtained by OIR; provides for future legislative review & repeal of privilege & exemptions; provides statements of public necessity.

Discounted Drug Pricing Study; Requires AHCA to conduct or contract for specified study to determine specified information; provides requirements for such study; requires agency to provide results to Governor & Legislature by certain date.