The 2022 Florida Legislative Session wrapped up on Monday, March 14. For the past sixty days, Florida lawmakers prioritized bills that attack bodily autonomy, free speech and racial justice, voting rights, LGBTQ children and families, and immigrants’ rights, instead of advancing policies that would actually help Floridians, like bills on jobs, healthcare, and housing.
Read our end-of-session statement.
We’re working on our legislative report right now, which will include details about everything that happened during the session, but below is a brief overview of what Florida lawmakers prioritized in our state.
Attacks on reproductive freedom
Florida legislators passed HB 5, a bill that bans abortions after 15 weeks despite the fact that the majority of Floridians support access to abortion care and believe that pregnant people should be able to determine for themselves whether and when to have a child. This piece of legislation is a direct attack on the bodily autonomy and right to privacy and healthcare for Floridians.
Attacks on free speech and racial justice
Florida legislators passed HB 7, a bill that censors protected speech in workplaces and classrooms by banning discussions regarding systemic racism and gender and race discrimination because they make some people feel uncomfortable. This bill will harm communities of color and will white-wash the history that is taught in schools and prohibit uncomfortable but important conversations about privilege and oppression in public schools, private businesses, and our state colleges and universities.
Attacks on voting rights
Florida legislators passed SB 524, an anti-voter bill that would create an unnecessary elections police force that will likely lead to increased voter intimidation tactics. Additionally, the bill makes it a felony for individuals to merely possess more than 2 ballots other than their own. Voters not versed in the intricacies of Florida statutes could end up spending up to five years in jail and losing their voting rights just for helping elderly neighbors and loved ones deliver their ballot. We should be passing bills increasing access to the polls, not making it harder to vote.
Attacks on LGBTQ+ youth and families
HB 1557, another government censorship bill, specifically targets LGBTQ+ youth and families. It would ban classroom discussions on sexual orientation and gender identity, preventing kids from being able to talk about themselves or their LGBTQ+ family members, friends, neighbors, and icons in schools from kindergarten to third grade or any grade level in a manner that is not deemed “age-appropriate.” This bill will directly harm vulnerable LGBTQ+ youth, who already experience higher rates of depression and suicide, by further isolating and ostracizing them. Additionally, the legislature is seeking to further erase the existence of the LGBTQ+ community in our schools through its passage of a book banning bill, HB 1467, which would make it easier for any district resident or any parent to force schools to remove books and materials that they think are objectionable, even if the majority of other parents and educators find the materials to be appropriate.
Attacks on immigrants’ rights
Florida legislators passed SB 1808, an anti-immigrant bill that harms immigrant children and families and will increase racial profiling of individuals traveling to Florida. This bill will ban private businesses and organizations that contract with the state from providing transportation to a large swath of Florida’s foreign born population and visitors, including asylum seekers and children, and prevent them from reuniting with their families in Florida. This cruel bill will harm immigrant communities and negatively impact tourism and Florida’s economy. Additionally, the legislature allocated over $12 million towards efforts to remove immigrants from Florida and separate families, instead of using these taxpayer funds to assist everyday Floridians.