Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman

Political Activity at Public Institutions of Higher Education; Requires public institutions of higher education to inform students & employees of Campus Free Expression Act through specified means; requires BOG & SBE to adopt regulations & rules, respectively, describing limitations of state universities & FCS institutions relating to certain political campaign activities; requires boards of trustees of such universities & institutions to publish on their official websites & provide to employees certain information relating to permissible & prohibited political activities, state law, & disciplinary actions.

Maddy summaryHB 669 prohibits local governments and special districts in Florida from applying for permits to establish or maintain public mooring fields outside their territorial boundaries or within incorporated city areas (like downtowns). It specifically blocks new permit applications in these zones, with exceptions only for mooring fields already approved by all affected local governments or with final permits from the state department. The bill does not affect existing mooring fields but restricts new ones in certain locations to prevent overlapping jurisdictional claims. This policy change directly impacts counties, cities, and special districts seeking to expand public boat mooring facilities.

Court Fees; Increases service charges clerk of circuit court charges for certain services rendered by clerk's office; increases certain filing fees & service charges that may be charged by clerk in probate matters; increases certain filing fees & service charges in trial & appellate proceedings; increases certain filing fees & service charges for civil actions, suits, or proceedings in county court; revises distribution formula for additional filing fees; increases service charge clerk is entitled to for disbursement of surplus proceeds for certain judicial sales procedures; increases filing fee for additional timeshare interests joining consolidated timeshare foreclosure action; increases fee clerk of circuit court may charge for auditing of return of ward's estate; requires Office of Economic & Demographic Research to prepare certain report; requires such report to be submitted to Legislature.

Violations of Injunctions for Protection Against Domestic Violence; Provides that person commits felony of third degree if such person commits violation of injunction or foreign protection order against victim after having been convicted of any assault, battery, or violation of injunction or foreign protection order against same victim; requires minimum term of imprisonment for such offense.

Community Associations; Provides requirements for terminating dissolved HOA governing documents; provides requirements relating to easements of dissolved HOA; provides retroactive applicability; requires condominium & homeowners' associations to include specified statement in their governing documents or to hold meeting by date certain to vote to amend governing documents to include such statement; revises provisions relating to official records, electronic ballots, turnover inspection reports, & roofs; provides disclosure requirements for conflicts of interest; removes presuit mediation requirements; requires that specified arbitrators conduct arbitration proceedings; authorizes HOA's to be terminated; provides requirements for termination of HOA; provides duties & responsibilities of HOA board, & termination trustee; provides for distribution of HOA assets & paying lawful debts after termination; authorizes circuit court to create & administer community association court program; provides duties of chief judge; provides jurisdiction of community association court program; authorizes community association court program to take certain actions; requires each judicial circuit to submit to Legislature specified report annually by specified date; provides duties of OSCA; provides for funding & additional judges.

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.

School Teacher Training and Mentoring Program; Establishes School Teacher Training & Mentoring Program within DOE; provides DOE, teacher mentor, & mentee requirements; & authorizes award of stipends.

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".

Residential Swimming Pool Requirements; Requires swimming pools located on residential real property that is transferred or sold on or after specified date to meet certain pool safety & pool barrier requirements; requires home inspectors to report violations of law to local enforcement agency.

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.