Dear Friends,
It has been yet another great month in the Florida Legislature. I am honored to be able to represent the constituents of District 13 here in Tallahassee. With Session coming to an end, here are a couple of key pieces of legislation that we have had the pleasure of working on.
Firstly, The Florida Senate passed Senate Memorial 598, sponsored by Senator Blaise Ingoglia (R-Spring Hill), with bipartisan support. This memorial urges the federal government to enforce current immigration laws and secure our southern border.
The willful and systemic refusal of the Biden Administration to enforce immigration laws has allowed for a crisis to unfold at our southern border. This crisis impacts every community, not only across the State of Florida, but across the entire country as illegal immigrants overrun our southern border with those associated with drug cartels bringing weapons, fentanyl, and other contraband that devastates families and communities. Further, the influx of illegal immigration has placed a significant financial burden on Florida’s taxpayers.
Not only has the Biden administration been an abject failure in enforcing existing border security measures, but Joe Biden has exacerbated the problem by suspending construction of a border wall, increasing the number of illegal immigrants released onto the streets of our country, limiting the authority of our border patrol agents, and utilizing our unique court process to block states from addressing this historical humanitarian crisis. These intentional and disastrous policy decisions have led to a surge in violent crime, gang activity, human trafficking, an ever increasing threat of terrorism and massive drain on taxpayer dollars and resources. It is well beyond time for the federal government to act and stop the invasion at our southern border.
Secondly, The Senate Appropriations Committee on Education passed Senate Bill 1396, sponsored by Senator Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota), with unanimous support. This legislation establishes a program to provide security funding for Jewish Day Schools.
Senate Bill 1396 builds upon House Bill 7C, passed during the 2023C Special Legislative Session, to enhance security measures at Jewish Day Schools and send a clear message that Florida stands with our Jewish neighbors. House Bill 7C provided $25 million in funding for Jewish Day Schools to enhance hardening and nonhardening security measures.
Senate Bill 1396 empowers the Florida Department of Education and Jewish Day Schools across the State of Florida through recurring funding that can be used for security cameras, shatter-resistant glass, fencing, security personnel, and other hardening or nonhardening security measures.
Since the barbaric attacks on Israel by Hamas on October 7, 2023, America has seen an exponential increase in vile acts of antisemitism across the country, especially in education. Being a student is a time of growth, learning and a fuel for passions and interests and no student should feel unsafe when they enter the classroom, and the Florida Senate is absolutely dedicated to keeping all students safe.
We can’t wait to share more with you as we conclude the 2024 Legislative Session. Thank you for your continued engagement in your government and for investing your energy in helping us continue to protect faith, family, freedom, opportunity, and life.
Onward & Upward,
Senator Dennis Baxley
