Rep. Yvette Benarroch

Maddy summaryHB 125 designates October 14 of each year as "Charlie Kirk Day of Remembrance" in Florida. The bill creates a statutory designation requiring the Governor to issue an annual proclamation for this date, honoring Charlie Kirk's work with Turning Point USA and his advocacy for free speech and civic engagement. This is a purely commemorative measure with no funding, regulatory changes, or direct impact on citizens or institutions. It does not alter existing laws or create new obligations. The designation takes effect July 1, 2026.

Adverse Personnel Actions and Ethics Complaints; Prohibits agencies & independent contractors from taking specified actions against employees for disclosing certain information to Commission on Ethics; requires that information disclosed include specified violations or alleged violations; requires disclosure of specified information to commission; provides that specified provisions protect employees who submit written complaints to commission or provide information to investigator during investigation of complaint or referral; authorizes certain employees to file complaints in accordance with specified provisions; authorizes such employees to pursue specified administrative remedy or civil action within specified timeframe; authorizes local public employees to file complaint with appropriate local governmental authority; specifies requirements for administrative procedures created by local governmental authorities; authorizes such employees to bring civil actions in court of competent jurisdiction under specified conditions; provides that it is affirmative defense to certain actions that adverse personnel action was predicated on grounds other than exercising of certain protected rights; requires commission to deliver complaints & any amendment thereto to agency conducting certain investigation, upon agency's written request; provides that such delivery does not affect specified exemptions in regard to complaint & amendments; requires that such delivery be within reasonable timeframe; requires that commission redact certain information under specified conditions; requires commission to deliver complaints & any amendment thereto to certain persons upon notarized written request.

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.

Parental Rights; Requires parental consent for minor's treatment for certain diseases; revises informed consent requirements; requires consent from parent or guardian for certain services provided by mobile response team; revises responsibility for cost of substance abuse services, confidentiality requirements, & requirements for voluntary admission for substance abuse impairment services; requires school district to provide parents with specified information before district administers certain questionnaires or forms to students; requires school district to give parent opportunity to opt his or her student out of such questionnaire or form; revises exceptions for certain parental rights; creates parental right to review, inspect, & consent to survey or questionnaire provided to parent's minor child; creates parental right to know certain information about survey or questionnaire at time of consent; creates parental right to consent in writing to use of biofeedback device on parent's minor child; defines "biofeedback device"; requires that results from use of such device be provided to parent; requires that such results be held as confidential medical record; revises exceptions for specified requirements of parental consent.

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".

Minimum Age for Firearm Purchase or Transfer; Reduces minimum age at which person may purchase firearm & age of purchasers to which specified licensees are prohibited from selling or transferring firearm; removes exception.

Civil Liability for the Wrongful Death of an Unborn Child; Revises definition of term "survivors" to include parents of unborn child; provides definition for term "unborn child"; prohibits right of action against mother for wrongful death of unborn child or against health care provider for lawful medical care provided in certain circumstances; authorizes parents of unborn child to recover certain damages; prohibits recovery of certain damages if decedent is unborn child.

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.

Heated Tobacco Products; Revises definitions of “cigarette” & “tobacco products” to exclude certain types of products containing tobacco & defines "heated tobacco product."

Manufacturing; Revises duties of Department of Commerce; establishes Chief Manufacturing Officer among senior leadership of department for specified purpose; provides that Chief Manufacturing Officer is appointed by and serves at pleasure of Secretary of Commerce; provides duties of Chief Manufacturing Officer; requires all state and local governmental entities to assist Chief Manufacturing Officer within certain constraints; creates Florida Manufacturers' Workforce Development Grant Program within department; provides that grant program is under direction of Chief Manufacturing Officer in consultation with National Institute of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership organization in this state; provides purpose for grant program; requires department, in coordination with National Institute of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership organization in this state, to review submitted applications and to select specified projects; provides that department has sole discretion in final grant awards; requires department, in coordination with National Institute of Standards & Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership organization in this state, to establish and publish ranking metrics for reviewing and awarding grants; provides guidelines for such metrics; requires that priority be given to projects that meet certain criteria.