Representative Rick Roth on a Most Amazing Legislative Session
This year’s legislative session in Tallahassee should make us all proud. As the Biden Administration and their Progressive minions in Congress go about their business of compromising election integrity, mismanaging the pandemic, socializing the economy, promoting Marxist ideology in the schools and encouraging the muzzling of Conservative expression in Social Media, the state of Florida has said “Stop! Enough!” Many of the bills that were passed and signed into law directly counter the Progressive agenda in DC.
District 85 Representative Rick Roth was in the thick of it this year, and came to the RCPB this week to highlight what a Republican Legislature and great Governor can do when the times demand it. In his written end of session report, he covers the just passed $102B budget, sweetened with federal stimulus funds, and then lists fully 28 bills that he considers key. (Click here for a copy of the report.)
It should be noted that those bills that are counter to the Biden agenda and opposed by the national media (Election reform, anti-riot act, anti-lockdowns, social media, school choice, women’s sports, free speech in the schools) were passed strictly along party lines.
Among the highlights:
- In the area of Covid-19 response, they passed civil liability protection for businesses and other entities (HB-7005), augmented the emergency preparedness fund (HB-1595), and set limits for emergency management response by local governments such as lockdowns and vaccine passports (HB-7047).
- To protect our communities, they passed the “Combating Public Disorder Act” (also known as the anti-riot act HB1), set out best practices for law enforcement (HB-7051), solidified election integrity (SB1), and put serious penalties on social media companies for arbitrary censorship and de-platforming of Floridians (HB-7013).
- For our education systems, we now have expanded school choice (HB-7045), protection of women’s sports (HB-51), a defense of free speech (HB-233), and a “Parent’s Bill of Rights” over how their children are taught and treated in the schools HB-241).
- For the environment, they established a grant program for local communities to deal with sea level rise and other resilience (HB-7019), partially funded by the Documentary Stamp Tax (HB-5401) and strengthens the protection for farmers against nuisance lawsuits (HB-1601).
- For Home Rule, there will be an amendment on the ballot to abolish the Constitutional Revision Commission (HJR-1179), limit local interference in port operations (SB-1194) or the use and sale of fuel types (HB-839 and 919).
- Regarding Insurance, they abolished “no-fault” car insurance (HB-719), and adjusted Citizen’s coverage versus private insurance and their ability to adjust rates (HB-305).
Representative Roth is not a stranger to his constituents – he is a regular at the REC, clubs like this one, city councils in the north county and business and civic groups. He is also frequently out on the street with us at Trump flag-waving and other showings of support. Even given that, he says he is not seen “in the newspapers” much, as he gets more done working behind the scenes with the Speaker and other Legislative leaders. He also is active seeking input for legislation, and spent time with SOE Wendy Link to get her input on the elections bill.
President Kim Davis, Representative Rick Roth and past President Fran Hancock.
Also at the meeting, we welcomed new President Kim Davis and bid farewell to past president Fran Hancock who received flowers and Kudos from club Secretary Bette Anne Starkey. Fran will be moving north soon, and leaves behind a significant legacy of Republican leadership in the state and county of close to 50 years.
Kudos to our new venue the Palm Beach Kennel Club, for hosting a great meeting in an attractive setting with a delicious buffet lunch.
Our next meeting will be Tuesday, July 27th. Save the date!