Senate passes scores of bills in late-April session; key measures on schools, public safety, and infrastructure advance

TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Senate on April 24 completed a lengthy floor session that produced dozens of final outcomes on bills covering education, public safety, transportation, courts and public records.

A series of voice and roll-call votes yielded final passage on many measures that had earlier been considered on committee or special-order calendars. Among the bills the Senate recorded final action on were statutes directing school anaphylaxis plans, changes to juvenile and criminal justice procedures, grant programs for DNA testing, and multiple bills affecting transportation, utilities and recovery housing.

Why it matters: The bundle of measures advances policy areas that lawmakers said are priorities this year — public-safety statutes, school health requirements, support for recovery services and infrastructure — and sends the bills to the House or, if the House already passed companion measures, to the governor.

Votes at a glance (bill / short description / vote tally) - Senate bill (substituted) for expedited DNA testing grant program (CS for HB 847 substituted for CS for SB 1072): 37 yays, 0 nays — passed. - House bill substitute for aggravating factors in capital felonies (CS for HB 693 substituted for CS for SB 984): 32 yeas, 5 nays — passed. - State group insurance coverage for standard fertility preservation services (CS for HB 677 substituted for CS for SB 924): 32 yeas, 4 nays — passed. - Indemnification and insurance obligations for commuter rail providers (CS for HB 867 substituted for CS for SB 916): 35 yeas, 2 nays — passed. - Disposition of migrant vessels (CS for SB 830): 36 yays, 0 nays — passed. - Specialty license plates (substitute for CS for SB 24): 37 yays, 0 nays — passed. - Alzheimer's/dementia public-awareness program (CS for SB 398): 37 yays, 0 nays — passed. - Move Council on Social Status of Black Men and Boys to Florida Memorial University (CS for SB 364): 37 yays, 0 nays — passed. - Charter school conversion provisions (CS for SB 140): 30 ayes, 7 nays — passed. - Offender registry clarifications (CS for HB 1351 substituted for CS for SB 1654): 37 ayes, 0 nays — passed. - Assault/battery of utility worker (CS for SB 1386): 37 yays, 0 nays — passed. - Reporting of student mental-health outcomes (CS for HB 969 substituted for CS for SB 1310): 37 yays, 0 nays — passed. - Family foster-home licensure transfer streamlining (CS for HB 989 substituted for CS for SB 1174): 37 yays, 0 nays — passed. - Water access facilities (CS for HB 735 substituted for CS for SB 1162): 37 yays, 0 nays — passed. - Tampering with electronic monitoring device (CS for HB 437 substituted for CS for SB 1054): 37 yays, 0 nays — passed. - Certified recovery residences (CS for CSS for SB 954): 37 yays, 0 nays — passed. - Florida State University Election Law Center (SB 892): 37 yays, 0 nays — passed. - Office of Faith and Community (CS for SB 820): 27 yeas, 9 nays — passed (see separate story below on debate and an unsuccessful amendment). - Fentanyl / related awareness and related measures (several bills, including observance day HB 259): votes ranged; HB 259 passed 36 yeas, 0 nays. - Homicide-linked fentanyl provision (CS for SB 612 as amended): 31 yays, 5 nays — passed. - Protection for court officials (CS for HB 1049 substituted for CS for SB 1820): 36 yays, 0 nays — passed. - Dangerous excessive speeding (CS for HB 351 substituted for CS for SB 1782): 37 yays, 0 nays — passed. - Israeli bonds / unrated bond investment clarification (CS for HB 669 substituted for CS for SB 1674): 36 yays, 0 nays — passed. - Beaches/customary use restoration (CS for SB 1622): 35 yeas, 2 nays — passed. - Energy infrastructure experimental mechanism (CS for CS for SB 1574): 37 yays, 0 nays — passed. - Anaphylaxis policies for public and charter schools (CS for CS for SB 1514): 37 yays, 0 nays — passed. - Children's Medical Services program changes (CS for CS for SB 1419): 37 ayes, 0 nays — passed. - Unmanned aircraft / drone rules narrowed to remove a disabling-by-force clause (CS for CS for HB 1121 substituted for CS for CS for SB 1422): 37 yays, 0 nays — passed. - Social media use by minors (CS for SB 868): 34 yeas, 3 nays — passed.

Failed 2/3 public-records exemption (two-thirds required; voice and roll votes recorded): A contested public-records exemption concerning the identity of officers involved in critical incidents received 23 ayes, 14 nays — short of the two-thirds threshold and therefore did not pass.

What's next: Passed bills will be reconciled with House language where the House and Senate used different text, then move to the governor for signature as the process allows. Several measures passed with further implementation details to be worked out by agencies and local governments.

Reporting note: These vote tallies and bill identifiers are drawn from the April 24 Senate floor transcript and the clerk's announced roll-call totals recorded during the session.