Rick Scott in FL legislative records
On Abortion:
Signed 24 hour waiting period for abortion
Summary by The Florida Times-Union (6/10/15): Gov. Scott signed a measure that will require a 24-hour waiting period before women can have abortions. "This bill gives women an opportunity to reflect on a major decision that will have
lifelong effects, not just physically but mentally as well," said the Senate sponsor. The bill adds to an already-existing law that requires physicians performing abortions to provide information to women to obtain their consent. The information must be
provided in person to the women at least 24 hours before the procedures are performed. The bill includes exceptions for victims of rape, incest, domestic violence or human trafficking-but those victims can waive the 24-hour wait only if they can produce
police reports, restraining orders, or other documentation.Legislative Outcome: Passed House 77-41-2 on Apr/22/15; passed Senate 26-13-1 on Apr/24/15; signed by Gov. Rick Scott on Jun/10/15.
Source: Florida Times-Union on legislative voting record HB633
Jun 10, 2015
On Civil Rights:
Signed "Pastor Protection Act" on gay marriage
Summary by Florida Politics (3/2/16): The Florida House voted to approve a bill that allows members of the clergy to refuse to perform gay marriages. "This bill is about discriminating in the name of religion, sadly," said Rep. David
Richardson, the only openly gay member of the Florida House. "It is an insult to the gay community." The proposal protects clergy, churches and religious organizations and their employees from civil action for refusing to perform gay marriages. "We
respect the Supreme Court, but we also respect our citizens’ rights to exercise (their First Amendment rights)," said one sponsor. Many ministers from older, mainline religious organizations opposed the bill; while smaller evangelical groups came out in
support of it.Legislative Outcome: Passed House 82-37-1 on Mar/2/16; passed Senate 23-15-2 on Mar/3/16; signed by Governor Rick Scott on Mar/10/16.
Source: FloridaPolitics.com on legislative voting record HB43
Mar 10, 2016
On Education:
Allow students to deliver inspirational messages
SB98: Authorizing a district school board to adopt a policy that allows an inspirational message to be delivered by students at a student assembly.Analysis by ACLU Florida: This is the school prayer, which was termed "inspirational
message" bill when Senate legal staff expressed doubts it could pass constitutional muster. The measure authorizes school districts to adopt a policy to allow students of all ages to deliver inspirational messages at compulsory and non-compulsory
school events and prohibits school personnel from being involved in overseeing the message contents, sectarian or otherwise.
Legislative Outcome:
Passed House 88-27-4 on Mar/1/12; Passed Senate 31-8-1 on Feb/1/12; Signed by Governor Rick Scott on Mar/23/12
Source: Analysis of Florida legislative voting record SB98
Mar 23, 2012
On Drugs:
Random drug testing of state employees
Excerpts from Florida Legislative archives:Amendment to the State Constitution to prohibit compelling any person or employer to provide for health care coverage.- To preserve the freedom of all residents of the state to provide for
their own health care:
- A law may not compel any person or employer to purchase, obtain, or otherwise provide for health care coverage.
- A person or an employer may pay directly for lawful health care services and may not be required to pay penalties
for paying directly for lawful health care services.
- A health care provider may accept direct payment for lawful health care services and may not be required to pay penalties for accepting direct payment from a person or an employer for lawful health
care services.
- The private market for health care coverage of any lawful health care service may not be abolished by law or rule.
Status:Bill passed House, 80-37-2; passed Senate, 29-10-1. (Mike Haridopolos voted YEA).
Source: Florida legislative voting records: HB 1205
Mar 19, 2012
On Drugs:
Require random, mandatory drug testing of state employees
HB 1205: Requires drug testing to be conducted within each state agency's appropriation; authorizes agencies within state government to require employees to submit to periodic random drug testing.Analysis by ACLU Florida:
The legislature took it upon itself to expand the Drug-Free Workplace Program to mandate random, suspicionless drug testing for state employees on a rotating basis. Each state agency can choose whether to participate in the program as it will have to
find the funds to do so, i.e. pay for the drug tests, in its current allotted budget. If an employee fails the drug test, he/she must attend a rehab program or face disciplinary action or discharge.
Legislative Outcome:
Passed House 79-37-3 on Mar/2/12; Passed Senate 26-14-0 on Mar/9/12; Signed by Governor Rick Scott on Mar/19/12
Source: ACLU Analysis of Florida legislative voting record HB 1205
Mar 19, 2012
On Education:
$10M for vouchers for private schools for poor kids
Summary from The Florida Current:- A program allowing corporations to receive tax credits for funding vouchers for private schools will receive an extra $10.25 million under a bill passed by the House.
- The Florida Tax Credit
Scholarship program is capped at $175 million for the current fiscal year, and is scheduled to increase to $219 million. HB 859 would increase the cap to $229 million, and do away with random inspections for participating schools.
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The vouchers amount to about $4,000 per student, and only low-income students are eligible. Proponents of the bill note that the vouchers cost less than the per-student funding for public schools, which is $6,224 for the current year.
- Several
Democrats decried the bill, though, as siphoning off money that would otherwise go to public schools.
Status:Bill passed House, 92-24; passed Senate, 32-8; approved by Governor, March 23,2012.
Source: Florida legislative voting records: HB 859
Mar 23, 2012
On Energy & Oil:
Repeal Florida's cap-and-trade program for greenhouse gases
Summary from Florida legislative records:The Florida Climate Protection Act:- Repeals "Section 403.44 Florida Statutes" relating to a cap-and-trade regulatory program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from electric utilities.
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Section 403.44 Florida Statutes includes the following:
- Pursue a market-based emissions abatement program, such as cap and trade, to address greenhouse gas emissions reductions.
- The department may adopt rules for a cap-and-trade regulatory program
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from major emitters.
- "Cap and trade" or "emissions trading" means an administrative approach used to control pollution by providing a limit on total allowable emissions, and providing for the transfer of the
allowances as a means of compliance with emission limits.
Status:Bill passed House, 82-34-3; passed Senate, 31-5-4; approved by Governor, March 8,2012.
Source: Florida legislative voting records: HB 4001
Apr 6, 2012
On Government Reform:
Reduce early voting; stricter third party registration
HB 1355: Expands list of responsibilities of Secretary of State when acting in his or her capacity as chief election officer; requires that third-party voter registration organizations register with Division of Elections and provide division with
certain information.Analysis by Greenberg Traurig LLP: Proponents say the measure generally is meant to crack down on voter fraud. Opponents say it simply makes it harder to vote. HB 1355:
- reduces the time for early voting
from two weeks to 8 days;
- Cuts the "life" of petition drive signatures for citizen petitions to place constitutional amendments on the ballot from four to two years; and
- Requires third-party voter registration groups to submit voter-registration
cards within 48 hours.
Legislative Outcome: Passed House 79-37-0 on Apr/21/11; Passed Senate 25-13-2 on May/5/11; Signed by Governor Rick Scott on May/19/11
Source: Analysis of Florida legislative voting record HB 1355
May 19, 2011
On Gun Control:
Raise the legal age to buy all guns to 21 years old
Q: The NRA is suing the state of Florida to block a new law that the governor just signed there, Rick Scott, that would raise the legal age to buy all guns to 21 years old,
the NRA saying that it violates the constitutional rights of 18-to-21-year-old people. What do you make of that? Do you feel like that this law violates the Second Amendment?
How far should the law go in that regard?Sen. Ron JOHNSON (R-WI): I would not support the law. We send our sons and daughters over to Afghanistan, in Iraq.
They defend our freedoms. If they do that, they ought to be able to buy a hunting rifle.
Source: CNN interviews: Florida legislative voting records
Mar 11, 2018
On Gun Control:
Enacted new gun control after high school shooting
Legislative Summary: SB7026: The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act: To comprehensively address the crisis of gun violence, including gun violence on school campuses. SB7026 temporarily restricts firearm possession by a
person undergoing a mental health crisis and when there is a threat of violence.NRA-ILA opposition: The Florida Senate will take up SB-7026, a bill that punishes gun owners, which includes:
- Makes it a felony for any person under
21 to purchase any firearm either privately or from a dealer.
- Minimum 3-Day Waiting Period on ALL FIREARMS.
- Every year it confiscates 10% of the license fees paid by CW license holders to pay for the care of victims of mass shootings.
- Bans the
sale and transfer of Bump Stocks.
Legislative Outcome:Passed Senate 20-18-0 on Mar/5/18; Passed House 67-50-3 on Mar/7/18; Signed by Governor Rick Scott on Mar/9/18
Source: NRA-ILA on Florida legislative voting record SB7026
Mar 9, 2018
Page last updated: Sep 02, 2025