2023 Florida Legislative Session Brings Big Wins for ABC Members

During the 2023 Florida legislative session there were four construction related bills/discussion priorities ABC focused on to gain support from state representatives and senators:

• House Bill (HB) 85 / Senate Bill (SB) 360 – Causes of Action

Based on Improvements to Real Property - PASSED

• HB 383 / SB 346 – Public Construction – PASSED

• HB 461 / SB 1060 – Apprenticeship and Pre-Apprenticeship

Direct Funding Grant Program - FAILED

• HB 459 / SB 1654 – Education (Makes updates to the Florida Bright Futures Process) - FAILED

Over 100 ABC members met in Tallahassee for the annual ABC of Florida Legislative Conference, over 20 of which were from the Central Florida Chapter. Since the conference took place during the first week of session, the capitol was buzzing with activity and committee meetings and after a kick-off lunch with guest speaker Melanie Griffin, Secretary of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation; the group headed straight away to meetings with legislators.

Central Florida members collaborated with legislators from all counties such as Senator Jason Brodeur, Senator Dennis Baxley, Representative Sam Killebrew, Representative David Smith, Representative Fred Hawkins, and Representative Joanna Lopez to name a few. ABC leadership also met with

ABC’s session-long presence at the Capitol and direct conversations between members and legislators made the difference by showing the real-life impact that these bills have on the construction industry as well as the communities in which members live and work. It is not only for our members but for the rights of all merit shop construction as well as continuing to gain the workforce needed to support the industry.

— Michele Daugherty, President & CEO, ABC Central Florida

The bills ABC supported have worked their way through the House and Senate with strong support. During this session bills creating a direct funding pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship grant for associations, requiring schools to inform students of workforce opportunities Bright Futures Scholarships can be used towards, and a massive tort reform package, could be passed. At the start of the 2023 session ABC collectively agreed that passing any one of these bills would be a huge accomplishment, and a little over a month in marked the first win.