Legislative Report – 2020 Election DATE: October 21, 2020
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FRACCA LEGISLATION REPORT Clayton Osteen & Joshua Funderburke, FRACCA Legislative Council 150 S. Monroe Street, Suite 405, Tallahassee, Florida 32301 Tel: 850.296.7999 │ Fax: 813.902.7612 MEMORANDUM TO: Florida Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors Association (FRACCA) FROM: Clayton Osteen & Joshua Funderburke, FRACCA Legislative Council RE: Legislative Report – 2020 Election DATE: October 21, 2020 With less than two weeks until election day, early voting has opened and over 700,000 people have already sent in their ballot. This legislative report will cover the 2020 election, upcoming organizational session, the Governor’s recent legislative proposal, and potential issues arising in the 2021 Session. IMPORTANT DATES November 1, 2020: Early Voting Deadline November 3, 2020: General Election Day November 17, 2020: Organizational Session March 2, 2021: Regular Session Convenes April 30, 2021: Regular Session Ends FLORIDA CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS In addition to candidates for office, voters will also be voting on six constitutional amendments. The Florida Constitution requires each amendment to receive 60% majority for adoption. Currently, Amendments 1, 5, and 6 are comfortably polling above 60% majority, and Amendment 2 sits right at the threshold of 60%. Listed here is a brief description of each amendment: Amendment 1 – Citizenship Required to Vote in Florida Elections Official Ballot Summary: This amendment provides that only United States Citizens who are at least eighteen years of age, a permanent resident of Florida, and registered to vote, as provided by law, shall be qualified to vote in a Florida election. Sponsor: Florida Citizen Voters Amendment 2 – Raising Florida’s Minimum Wage Official Ballot Summary: Raises minimum wage to $10.00 per hour effective September 30th, 2021. Each September 30th thereafter, minimum wage shall increase by $1.00 per hour until Page 1 of 13 150 S. Monroe Street, Suite 405, Tallahassee, Florida 32301 Tel: 850.296.7999 │ Fax: 813.902.7612 the minimum wage reaches $15.00 per hour on September 30th, 2026. From that point forward, future minimum wage increases shall revert to being adjusted annually for inflation starting September 30th, 2027. Sponsor: Florida For a Fair Wage Amendment 3 – All Voters Vote in a Primary Election for State Legislature, Governor and Cabinet Official Ballot Summary: Allows all registered voters to vote in primaries for state legislature, governor, and cabinet regardless of political party affiliation. All candidates for an office, including party nominated candidates, appear on the same primary ballot. Two highest vote getters advance to general election. If only two candidates qualify, no primary is held, and winner is determined in general election. Candidate’s party affiliation may appear on ballot as provided by law. Effective January 1, 2024. Sponsor: All Voters Vote, Inc. Amendment 4 – Voter Approval of Constitutional Amendments Official Ballot Summary: Requires all proposed amendments or revisions to the state constitution to be approved by the voters in two elections, instead of one, in order to take effect. The proposal applies the current thresholds for passage to each of the two elections. Sponsor: Keep Our Constitution Clean PC Amendment 5 – Limitations on Homestead Assessments Official Ballot Summary: Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution, effective date January 1, 2021, to increase, from 2 years to 3 years, the period of time during which accrued Save-Our-Homes benefits may be transferred from a prior homestead to a new homestead. Sponsor: The Florida Legislature/House (HJR 369) Amendment 6 – Ad Valorem Tax Discount for Spouses of Certain Deceased Veterans Who Had Permanent, Combat-Related Disabilities Official Ballot Summary: Provides that the homestead property tax discount for certain veterans with permanent combat-related disabilities carries over to such veteran’s surviving spouse who holds legal or beneficial title to, and who permanently resides on, the homestead property, until he or she remarries or sells or otherwise disposes of the property. The discount may be transferred to a new homestead property of the surviving spouse under certain conditions. The amendment takes effect January 1, 2021. Sponsor: The Florida Legislature/House (HJR 877) Page 2 of 13 150 S. Monroe Street, Suite 405, Tallahassee, Florida 32301 Tel: 850.296.7999 │ Fax: 813.902.7612 2020 ELECTION UPDATE With election day looming, campaigns are full steam ahead attempting last-minute efforts to reach their voters despite COVID-related precautions. Please see the below for a breakdown of the candidates for state Legislature: Florida Senate District Counties Candidates District Affiliation Escambia, Santa Rosa, Doug Broxson (R)* SD 1 Strong Republican and part of Okaloosa Karen Butler (D) Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Hamilton, Marva Harris Preston (R) SD 3 Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Leans Democrat Loranne Ausley (D) Madison, Taylor, and Wakulla Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Jennifer Bradley (R) SD 5 Gilchrist, Lafayette, Strong Republican Melina Rayna Barratt (D) Levy, Suwannee, Union, and part of Marion Flagler, St. Johns, and Travis Hutson (R)* SD 7 Strong Republican part of Volusia Heather Hunter(D) Jason Brodeur (R) Seminole and part of SD 9 Patricia Sigman (D) Even Volusia Jestine Iannotti (NPA) Joshua Eli Adams (R) SD 11 Part of Orange Strong Democrat Randolph Bracy (D)* Josh Anderson (R) SD 13 Part of Orange Democrat Linda Stewart (D)* Louis T. Minnis Jr. (R) Osceola and part of SD 15 Victor M. Torres Jr. (D)* Democrat Orange Mike James (NPA) Debbie Mayfield (R)* Indian River and part of SD 17 Scot Fretwell (D) Republican Brevard Phillip Snyder (NPA) Parts of Hillsborough and Darryl Ervin Rouson (D)* SD 19 Strong Democrat Pinellas Christina Paylan (NPA) Parts of Hillsborough, Danny Burgess (R) SD 20 Leans Republican Pasco, and Polk Kathy Lewis (D) Page 3 of 13 150 S. Monroe Street, Suite 405, Tallahassee, Florida 32301 Tel: 850.296.7999 │ Fax: 813.902.7612 Manatee and part of Jim Boyd (R) SD 21 Republican Hillsborough Anthony Eldon (D) Joe Gruters (R)* Sarasota and part of SD 23 Katherine Norman (D) Republican Charlotte Robert Kaplan (NPA) Martin, St. Lucie, and Gayle Harrell (R)* SD 25 Leans Republican part of Palm Beach Corinna Balderramos Robinson (D) Ray Rodrigues (R) SD 27 Part of Lee Strong Republican Rachel Brown (D) Parts of Broward and Brian Norton (R) SD 29 Democrat Palm Beach Tina Polsky (D) Tami Donnally (R) SD 31 Part of Palm Beach Strong Democrat Lori Berman (D)* SD 33 Part of Broward County Perry E. Thurston Jr. (D)* Strong Democrat Parts of Broward and Shevrin "Shev" Jones (D) SD 35 Strong Democrat Miami-Dade Darien Hill (WRI) Ileana Garcia (R) SD 37 Part of Miami-Dade Jose Javier Rodriguez (D)* Leans Democrat Alex Rodriguez (NPA) Ana Maria Rodriguez (R) Monroe and part of SD 39 Javier E. Fernandez (D) Even Miami-Dade Celso D. Alfonso (NPA) Florida House District Counties Candidates District Affiliation Michelle Salzman (R) HD 1 Part of Escambia Strong Republican Franscine C. Mathis (D) Parts of Escambia and Alex Andrade (R)* HD 2 Republican Santa Rosa Dianne Krumel (D) Parts of Okaloosa and Jayer Williamson (R)* HD 3 Strong Republican Santa Rosa Angela L. Hoover (D) Patt Maney (R) HD 4 Part of Okaloosa Strong Republican John Plante (D) Holmes, Jackson, HD 5 Walton, Washington, Brad Drake (R)* Strong Republican and part of Bay Jay Trumbull (R)* HD 6 Part of Bay Strong Republican Alicia Bays (D) Page 4 of 13 150 S. Monroe Street, Suite 405, Tallahassee, Florida 32301 Tel: 850.296.7999 │ Fax: 813.902.7612 Calhoun, Franklin, Gulf, Jefferson, Lafayette, Jason Shoaf (R)* HD 7 Liberty, Madison, Republican Taymour Khan (D) Taylor, Wakulla, and part of Leon Gadsden and part of HD 8 Ramon Alexander (D)* Strong Democrat Leon Jim Kallinger (R) HD 9 Part of Leon Democrat Allison Tant(D) Baker, Columbia, Chuck Brannan (R)* HD 10 Hamilton, Suwannee, Strong Republican Rock Aboujaoude Jr. (D) and part of Alachua Nassau and part of Cord Byrd (R)* HD 11 Strong Republican Duval Joshua Hicks (D) Clay Yarborough (R)* HD 12 Part of Duval Republican Emmanuel Blimie (D) HD 13 Part of Duval Tracie Davis (D)* Strong Democrat HD 14 Part of Duval Angie Nixon (D) Strong Democrat Wyman Duggan (R)* HD 15 Part of Duval Leans Republican Tammyette Thomas (D) Jason Fischer (R)* HD 16 Part of Duval Strong Republican Ben Marcus (D) Cyndi Stevenson (R)* HD 17 Part of St. Johns Strong Republican Dave Rogers (D) Sam Garrison (R) HD 18 Part of Clay Leroy Anthony Edwards (D) Strong Republican Ken Willey (LPF) Bradford, Putnam, Bobby Payne (R)* HD 19 Strong Republican Union, and part of Clay Kimberly Duggar (D) Parts of Alachua and HD 20 Yvonne Hayes Hinson (D) Strong Democrat Marion Dixie, Gilchrist, and part Chuck Clemons (R)* HD 21 Even of Alachua Kayser Enneking (D) Joe Harding (R) HD 22 Levy and part of Marion Strong Republican Barbara Byram (D) Stan McClain (R)* HD 23 Part of Marion Strong Republican Cynthia Dela Rosa (D) Flagler and parts of St. Paul Renner (R)* HD 24 Strong Republican Johns and Volusia Adam Morley (D) Page 5 of 13 150 S. Monroe Street, Suite 405, Tallahassee, Florida 32301 Tel: 850.296.7999 │ Fax: 813.902.7612 Tom Leek (R)* HD 25 Part of Volusia Sarah Zutter (D) Republican Joseph "Joe" Hannoush (LPF) Elizabeth Fetterhoff (R)* HD 26 Part of Volusia Even Patrick Henry (D) Webster Barnaby (R) HD 27 Part of Volusia Leans Republican Dolores Guzman (D) David Smith (R)* HD 28 Part of Seminole Pasha Baker (D) Even Michael A. Riccio (NPA) Scott Plakon (R)* HD 29 Part of Seminole Tracey Kagan (D) Leans Republican Juan Rodriguez (NPA) Part of Orange and Bob Cortes (R) HD 30 Leans Democrat Seminole Joy Goff-Marcil (D)* Parts of Lake and Keith Truenow (R) HD 31 Republican Orange Crissy Stile (D) Anthony Sabatini (R)* HD 32 Part of Lake Republican Stephanie L.