Rep. Linda Chaney

Maddy summaryHB 205 prohibits dog owners from restraining their dogs outside during a natural disaster and then abandoning them. This bill directly affects individuals who own dogs in areas subject to natural disasters. Its key provision makes it illegal to leave a dog tied up outdoors during such events and subsequently abandon the animal.

Sampling of Beach Waters and Public Bathing Spaces; Revises provisions related to bacteriological sampling of beach waters & public bathing places, including rule adoption & enforcement; issuance of health advisories; closure of beach waters & public bathing places; & notification & signage requirements.

Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board, Pinellas County; Revises board membership; revises commencement & expiration of terms; removes provisions relating to registration; removes obsolete funding & certification provisions; removes provisions requiring code compliance bond & proof of certain liability insurance as conditions for certification.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific stretch of State Road A1A in twelve Florida counties as the "Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway." To mark this change, the state Department of Transportation is required to install appropriate signage along the road by August 30, 2024. The legislation applies only to the named highway and does not alter any existing traffic rules or funding allocations.

Specialty License Plates; Exempts collegiate license plates from certain discontinuation & presale voucher requirements for specialty license plates; requires DHSMV to reauthorize previously discontinued collegiate license plates; renames & revises words appearing on certain plates; directs DHSMV to develop specified plates; provides for distribution & use of fees collected from sale of plates.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new section in Florida law that officially defines the term "antisemitism" using the working definition adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance in 2016. The legislation provides specific contemporary examples of antisemitism, such as denying the Holocaust, holding Jewish people collectively responsible for actions by Israel, or applying double standards to the State of Israel compared to other nations. It explicitly states that criticizing Israel in a manner similar to how other countries are criticized does not count as antisemitism under this definition. The law aims to help monitor and report hate crimes while ensuring it does not infringe on First Amendment rights or conflict with existing antidiscrimination laws.

Release of Balloons; Revises prohibition on release of certain balloons to delete specified timeframe & number of balloons; deletes exemption from such prohibition for certain biodegradable or photodegradable balloons; provides that person who violates prohibition commits noncriminal infraction of littering; revises penalty for such violation; deletes provision authorizing petitions to enjoin release of balloons.

Pub. Rec./Animal Foster or Adoption; Provides exemption from public records requirements for records containing information pertaining to persons with legal custody of animal from animal shelter or animal control agency operated by humane society or local government; provides for future legislative review & repeal of exemption.

Veterans; Revises provisions related to veterans including veterans' history program, Florida Is For Veterans, Inc., Veterans Employment & Training Services Program, grants, workforce training & recruitment, exemption from fees, advisory council on brain & spinal cord injuries, & required instruction on Veterans' Day & Memorial Day. APPROPRIATION: $91,207

Veterans' Long-term Care Facilities Admissions; Revises eligibility for residency in Veterans' Domiciliary Home of Florida to include specified individuals; adds such individuals to priority of admittance schedule; revises admission eligibility for veterans' nursing homes to include specified persons; revises priority of admittance to include such persons.