There’s over 200 new Florida laws that go into effect this Saturday July 1st. One new law has been absolutely dominating the headlines, but there’s a lot more happening here in the Sunshine State.
Permitless Carry (HB 543)
Those of us in Florida will no longer need to get a concealed carry permit to have a gun hidden on your person or in your vehicle. I’ve heard a lot of chatter about this on the news so I talked to some people myself. I expect no change in behavior whatsoever.
The people that had the conceal carry permit will continue to carry. People who legally were not allowed to get the permit but did so anyway, will continue. The people who owned guns but didn’t take them with them when they left the house aren’t going to suddenly start just because the law changed. I know I’m not.
In my house, I do own a gun, in the same way that I own insurance. I have it, hope I never have to use it. But things can get scary down here on the southern tip of Florida. We’ve seen prolonged power outages. Fuel shortages. What if a week long internet outage brings civil unrest?
Fortunately in the 20 years I’ve been here I’ve not needed it. I take it to the range every 2-3 years, then take it home, clean it, oil it, then put it away. I’m not going to start carrying it with me just because I can.
Here’s a look at some of the other new Florida laws.
Any opinions on these are my own and do not necessarily represent those of the company.
Abortion
Currently you can get one up to 15 weeks into the pregnancy. The new bill would change that to 6. Currently this is being held up by a lawsuit in the Florida Supreme Court. So it’ll stay at 15 until the court makes a ruling.
The Florida Supreme Court building (Photo by Mark Wallheiser/Getty Images)
Employment eligibility of workers
Companies with more than 25 workers will need to verify that those employees are here in the country legally. There’s been protest marches lately about this one. It’s not like everyone is going to be suddenly deported. Many of the farm workers are here legally on an H-2A Visa.
Workers pick tomatoes at a farm owned and operated by Pacific Tomato Growers in Immokalee, Florida. The workers, who are in the country on an agricultural visa, are mostly from Mexico. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Education
The use of “preferred pronouns” in schools is ending. NBC Miami states “The bill defines “sex” as the classification of a person as either male or female based on the sex characteristics that they are born with.” Also, instruction about gender identity can not be taught before grade 8.
People protesting against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida lawmakers that passed anti-LGBTQ laws walk in the Stonewall Pride parade on June 17, 2023 in Wilton Manors, Florida. The Stonewall Pride event brought nearly 50,000 people together to celebrate the LGBTQ community. The festival uses the name of the Stonewall riots, a series of protests in New York City that sparked the beginning of the modern gay liberation movement in 1969. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Citizens of Certain Countries Can't Buy Property In Florida
This is mainly targeting Chinese citizens from buying agricultural land in Florida. It also included Cuba, Venezuela, North Korea, Russia, Iran and Syria. A class action lawsuit has been filed against this one.
Juan Mandojdo (front) and Alex Jacobo attempt to prop up with stakes the new growth orange trees in the orange groves of V.C. Holllingsworth, III, in Arcadia, Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Bathroom Law
In bathrooms of public colleges and universities, schools, and correctional facilities, you’ll need to use the bathroom that matches your gender defined at birth.
Getty Images
DEI
Colleges will not be allowed to use federal funds for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives. Also, Humanities courses will be required to include historical texts like the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
(Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Illegally passing school buses
Schools can put cameras on the outside of buses to document people who illegally pass a bus. The minimum fine for this is $200.
(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Protecting students personal data
Companies will no longer be able to use students’ data for anything that is not educational. You know all that stuff you have to fill out to go to school? Companies were selling data to advertisers.
(Photo by Matthew Horwood/Getty Images)
Tik Tok
Tik Tok is now banned on devices owned by school districts and devices on internet access provided by districts. Eventually all of Tik Tok will be banned across the country.
Signage is seen during the TikTok Pride Creator Ball at NeueHouse Hollywood on June 17, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images for TikTok)
