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Colleen Burton celebrates success on senior living, affordable housing, stablecoin this Session

Sen. Colleen Burton’s bills addressing senior living, the affordable housing crisis and stablecoin regulations passed the Legislature and are awaiting Gov. Ron DeSantis’ signature.

One successful bill (SB 1404) creates a new assisted living facility specialty license for memory care services for people who have been diagnosed with memory loss, such as dementia. The bill orders the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) to create rules by June 1, 2027, to establish minimum standards for memory care services licenses, according to Senate staff analysis of the bill.

“So often when securing assisted living facility arrangements for our loved ones, it is difficult to determine what level of memory care is available for our seniors, with no uniformity in what constitutes memory care,” said Burton, a Lakeland Republican, in a statement spotlighting her legislative accomplishments.

“I am proud this legislation secured bipartisan and unanimous support in both the House and Senate and look forward for this legislation to become law to ensure those facilities offering memory care services are licensed and, indeed, offer exemplary care across our state.” 

Florida Chamber Foundation identifies growth priorities in push for Florida to become top-10 global economy

The Florida Chamber of Commerce Foundation on Tuesday identified housing affordability, workforce development, infrastructure capacity and rural investment as major growth areas for Florida’s economy as it released a midpoint assessment of its long-range plan to make the state one of the world’s 10 largest economies by 2030.

In its Florida 2030 Blueprint Halftime Report, the Florida Chamber Foundation said the state has made measurable gains since the initiative was launched in 2018, despite global and national disruptions during that period. The report said Florida has already achieved two of the blueprint’s 39 goals ahead of schedule, is on track to meet eight more and is making progress toward 14 others.

“The Florida 2030 Blueprint was never about short-term wins; it was about building a long-term economic game plan,” Mark Wilson, president and chief executive of the Florida Chamber of Commerce and Foundation, said in a statement. “The Florida Chamber Foundation’s analysis shows Florida competing and winning, but it also tells us exactly where we must double down to ensure every Floridian has the opportunity to benefit from our growing economy.”

The report said Florida is now the fourth-largest economy in the United States and ranks 15th globally, up from 18th when the blueprint was introduced. It also said the state has already met its 2030 targets for business startups and overall brand reputation as a place to live, work and compete.

Ashley Moody stands with Senators pushing to implement talking filibuster to pass nationwide election rules

U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody appeared alongside Republican Senators arguing an election overhaul must be passed, even if it requires implementing a talking filibuster.

The Plant City Republican focused on the need to restrict voting only to American citizens, something the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE) America Act would enforce by requiring proof of citizenship to vote. She said a majority of voters, regardless of party, support those principles.

“They expect those of us that are up here acting as their avatars to create their policies and to ensure that happens,” Moody said. “There is something wrong when that vote can’t get passed.”

To that end, Moody appeared at a press conference with Republican sponsors of the legislation who back a push requiring those looking to filibuster the bill to actually maintain a speech on the Senate floor. Currently, Senators can simply filibuster by declaring it, which then necessitates 60 Senators voting to end debate.

Stuck in neutral: Rideshare insurance rollback dies without House hearing

Legislation to reduce insurance requirements for Uber and Lyft drivers during a key phase of trips died before reaching its planned destination after gaining limited traction in the Senate and none in the House.

The proposal sought to scale back liability coverage during the “in-between” period when a driver has accepted a ride but has not yet picked up the passenger.

A Senate version of the measure (SB 632), sponsored by St. Petersburg Republican Sen. Nick DiCeglie, received just one hearing last month and advanced 6-3. But it failed to travel further as its House companion (HB 585) by Miami Lakes Rep. Tom Fabricio never got picked up.

Current law requires at least $1 million in coverage for death, bodily injury and property damage throughout the ride process. DiCeglie and Fabricio’s legislation would have lowered that requirement during the pre-pickup window to $50,000 per person and $100,000 per incident for bodily injury, plus $25,000 for property damage — aligning it with coverage levels required when drivers are logged into an app but not actively on a trip.