Tribune News Service
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs legislation on Monday, May 15, 2023, banning state funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion programs at Florida’s public universities, at New College of Florida in Sarasota. Photo permission from Douglas R. Clifford/Tampa Bay Times/TNS.
Florida passes over 30 bills in the 2023 legislative session affecting education
The 2023 Florida legislative session was a large one, with 285 of the 1,289 bills introduced this legislative session passing and being signed into law by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Over 30 of these bills affected education.
Florida Legislative sessions last for 60 consecutive days and occur every year. The legislature can convene outside of a regular session by a special session, which could potentially be called by the Florida governor and allows the legislature to meet outside of a regular session, or a joint proclamation issued by the senate president and house speaker. An extension of a regular session or special session needs a three-fifths vote from each house in order to extend. This year, the legislative session took place from March 7 to May 5.
As DeSantis campaigns in an effort to become the Republican nominee for next year’s presidential election in November 2024, he had an encompassing agenda of topics, including unions, books, LGBTQ+ issues and guns. In many areas, DeSantis succeeded and will likely use this as he campaigns.
While several of the laws Eagle Eye News investigated are being challenged in court, the laws enacted during the 2023 legislative session will likely have a large impact on the state of Florida for many years to come.




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


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

