Senator Baxley

Dear Friends,

We are over half way through the 2024 Legislative Session and have plenty of more ground to cover. Over the course of the 2024 Legislative Session, the Republican Caucus is committed to being focused on delivering real results for Florida’s families and ensuring that Florida continues to lead the nation with a world-class education system and thriving economy.

The Senate Committee on Fiscal Policy passed the Live Healthy Legislative Package with unanimous support. This robust policy proposal addresses key shortages in Florida’s health care workforce and stimulates innovation in health care. This Legislative Package combines targeted policy enhancements and critical investments to increase Florida’s health care workforce and efficiency across the health care sector. Continue reading

Dear Friends,

The 2024 Legislative Session has officially commenced as we held opening day on January 9th, 2024. Leading up to this momentous day, our Committees have been working diligently throughout December to ensure that we hit the ground running.

The Senate Committee on Health Policy passed the Live Healthy Legislative Package. Aimed at addressing healthcare workforce shortages and advancing innovation in healthcare, this legislation is critical to ensure that every Floridian has access to vital healthcare services. Access to healthcare is critically important at every phase of life, and due to Florida’s shortage of healthcare professionals, insurance does not guarantee access. Live Healthy provides robust policy enhancements and strategic investments to generate growth amongst our workforce and stimulate innovation across all sectors of healthcare, expanding access to services and enhancing the quality of care. Continue reading

Dear Friends,

As we near the start of a new year, we are also less than one month away from the start of the 2024 Legislative Session. Due to pressing matters, the Florida Legislature decided to start early, holding a special session during the second week of November. We passed four bills, as well as a Senate Resolution expressing our support for Israel and its right to defend itself.

The first bill that we passed during the 2023C Special Session is House Bill 1C: Disaster Relief, by Senator Cory Simon. As demonstrated after Hurricanes Ian and Nicole, the Florida Senate is committed to helping Floridians rebuild from devastating storms in every manner possible. In response to Hurricane Idalia, the Florida Senate passed HB 1C, providing necessary funding and tax relief to the communities who need it most. The Florida Senate is meeting the challenge to support our rural and agricultural communities that have been devastated by Hurricane Idalia. This bill provides critical support to communities impacted by Hurricane Idalia, directs an additional $170 million to the My Safe Florida Home Program, and extends local government loan programs. Continue reading

Dear friends,

The previous two columns we have been reporting to you on the 2023 Legislative Session and today we are bringing you the third installment in this series. This month we will continue by highlighting some other passed legislation that will be of interest to you.

Last month’s release of the blockbuster film “Sound of Freedom” has captivated American audiences and, rightfully so, brought much attention and awareness to the devastation of human trafficking. Florida continues to lead on this front to the best of our ability (our federal government must step up and secure our borders!) and a number of bills were passed to help us combat this issue. One such bill was SB 7064 by Senator Ileana Garcia. This bill requires that law enforcement officers successfully complete 4 hours of training in identifying and investigating human trafficking as part of their basic recruit training or additional training. The Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission will develop the training in consultation with the Department of Legal Affairs and the Statewide Council on Human Trafficking. Further, SB 7064 also establishes the state’s unified Statewide Data Repository for Anonymous Human Trafficking Data at the University of South Florida Trafficking in Persons – Risk to Resilience Lab. The human trafficking data, which must be submitted by law enforcement agencies and other entities, will be used to aid in combatting human trafficking, prosecuting those engaged in human trafficking, and assisting victims of human trafficking. Continue reading

Friends,

Legislative discussion in Tallahassee continues, and I have been encouraged by a lot of what our leadership has accomplished so far. Vigilance from you, the voter, is still very important at this stage as we are beginning to see which bills are running out of time, and those (which we may or may not like) that are still pressing forward through the committee process.

Quick update on the SB 404, the Parental Consent for Abortion Act that I have written about previously. The bill has just made it through its second committee of referral and only faces one more hurdle before being sent to the Senate floor for a vote. Thank you to all of you who traveled to Tallahassee to advocate and support this good legislation, and for those you back home who supported us through word-of-mouth and more importantly, prayer. I am very optimistic that we will get this passed, and parents’ rights will be restored. Continue reading

Friends,

This column is coming to you from a desk in Tallahassee as we begin preparing for the 2020 Legislative Session. Our summer went by very quickly but our time was well spent traveling the district and speaking with constituents from around our district and state. From Lake Panasoffkee to Sorrento, and Astor to Groveland, District 12 is a large territory but we enjoyed every minute that we spent driving through these back roads to get to each and every one of you. The message that we shared was simple, no hard left turns for our State and let’s stay on this path of prosperity and increasing opportunity for all Floridians to live the American dream. Another part of that message was of the shared success that you and your Senator had in Tallahassee during the 2019 Session. A brief look at some of these recognitions we received for our work was sent to you earlier this summer, but we have had some more since then and we would be remiss to leave them out. So, let’s take a look at our report cards. Continue reading

Dear Friends,

My words today will be shorter than usual, but no less meaningful than in previous months. Firstly, thank you for your continued engagement and devotion to our great nation and the principles on which it was founded. Faith, family, freedom, opportunity and life itself are under attack each day from socialist radicals who want to see individual liberty and responsibility exterminated. We must continue to fight for our God-given rights for the sake of our children and grandchildren. Continue reading

Friends,

Just a few weeks ago, a pro-life, pro-veteran press conference with the Freedom Speaks Coalition and Phyllis Schlafly Constitution Center was held on the 4th floor of the Capitol in Tallahassee. At the center of the discussion were two bills filed by your Senator and Representative Mike Hill of Pensacola. The first bill is one that wrote about last week, the Heartbeat Bill, and the other was a veteran’s monuments and memorials protection bill. You may think that it was a strange choice to highlight these two bills together, considering that they address two very different issues. They do, however, address key foundations of American culture that are extremely important.

At this press conference, I shared my deep concern of the radical globalist push to dismantle anything representing American ideals and culture. For them, what better place to start than with our history and the history of our ancestors. While far from perfect, our ancestors do not deserve to be demonized or have their memorials desecrated because a university student might feel offended. I do not wish to hide their faults, but I do not want us to go down this road because none of us lived in the time of those who came before us. Continue reading

The symbols for change and opportunity are the same symbol in Japanese (or so I’ve been told).

As we are returning for legislative committee weeks, that certainly rings true with new Florida Senate and House leaders. Many new legislators, new governor, new lieutenant governor, new cabinet members, new Secretary of State, new department heads, staff members, and new committee assignments with new looks at familiar issues and some new issues before us. Now is a great time to reach out to elected leaders with your concerns for the approaching 2019 Legislative Session.

It has been very refreshing and informative to be at home with “the people” since election season to hear how these public policies touch the ground and where the rubber meets the road. It has been inspiring to visit with so many people meeting the challenges and confronting realities as they engage to make our state the best place to visit, work, play, build a business, raise a family, gain education, and enjoy retirement. Despite our challenges, North Central Florida is a great place to do life—because of each of you. Thank you for doing your part. Remember, it’s your government!

Onward and upward,

Dennis Baxley

Florida State Senate – District 12.

From the desk of Florida State Senator Baxley

Friends, Washington D.C. may be in turmoil and dysfunction, but hometown America is alive and well! In the State of Florida and Senate District 12, we remain committed to those core values of faith, family, freedom and opportunity. This is your government and I work for you. As promised, I will continue this series of letters to you, highlighting all that we have done together and some of the recognitions we have received along the way.

The Florida Bail Agents Association (FBAA) is an advocacy organization that works with policy makers to advocate continued high standards for all bail agents, works to defeat serious threats to eliminate bail in Florida, and pushes to improve professional standards of bail agents through licensing and educational requirements. In 2017, your Senator was recognized as the Legislator of the Year by the FBAA for our work on SB 680, which passed as HB 361 and was signed into law by Gov. Scott. This bill amends several provisions related to bail and bail bonds agents and received unanimous support in the House and Senate. Continue reading

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