Fourth Week of the Florida Legislative Session 

The Regular Session of the Florida Legislature is scheduled to run for sixty days, from Tuesday, March 4 - Friday, May 2, 2025. Florida Catholic Advocacy Network subscribers will receive end-of-week summaries for the 9-week session. All summaries are also available on the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops (FCCB) website. 

Bill Adding Aggravating Factor for Death Penalty Advances in House 

HB 653, sponsored by Representative Jeff Holcomb (R-Spring Hill), would add a new aggravating factor to the list by which capital offenders may be considered eligible to be sentenced to death. The new aggravator is that the victim was a head of state, or bystander in an attempt to kill a head of state. On Wednesday, Joe Harmon, FCCB's policy coordinator, testified in opposition to the bill before the House Judiciary Committee. Harmon acknowledged the gravity of the crime of assassinating a political leader. "Nevertheless, we oppose the death penalty as a remedy for this crime," said Harmon. "The ends do not justify the means. It is not a good solution for the state to take a human life." The bill passed the committee (20-2) and has been placed on the House calendar.

The Senate companion, SB 776, sponsored by Senator Blaise Ingoglia (R-Spring Hill), is now in the Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice. 

House Advances Bill Allowing Legal Action for the Wrongful Death of an Unborn Child

HB 1517, sponsored by Representative Sam Greco (R-Palm Coast), would allow parents of an unborn child to recover damages for mental pain and suffering due to the wrongful death of the child. The bill prohibits wrongful death actions against the mother of the unborn children or medical providers offering lawful care. The bill was approved by the Civil Justice and Claims Subcommittee on March 20 by a 13-3 vote. 

SB 1284, sponsored by Senator Erin Grall (R-Fort Pierce), will be heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, April 1. 

Similar legislation was supported by the FCCB during the 2024 session, but did not reach final passage. 

Legislation to Compensate Wrongfully Incarcerated Persons Nears Final Passage

A measure that would remove barriers preventing wrongfully incarcerated individuals from receiving compensation is close to final passage. Among the bill's provisions, it would: expand the filing window for compensation petitions from 90 days to two years following a conviction dismissal or acquittal; remove exclusions for exonerees who were previously convicted of certain felonies; and ensure wrongfully incarcerated persons receive monetary compensation, tuition waivers, and payment for fines and legal expenses, with a cap of $2 million.

SB 130, sponsored by Senator Jennifer Bradley (R-Fleming Island), was unanimously passed by the full Senate on Thursday. HB 59, sponsored by Representative Traci Koster (R-Safety Harbor), passed the House Judiciary Committee unanimously on Wednesday and now moves to the House floor. FCCB staff indicated support for the bill during the House committee stop. 

Bill Seeks to Expand Access to Affordable Housing

HB 943, sponsored by Representative Vicky Lopez (R-Miami-Dade), aims to increase affordable housing across the state by requiring that county and municipal governments approve multi-family and mixed-use developments in residential, commercial, industrial, and mixed zones, so long as these developments set aside at least 40% of their housing units for affordable housing for at least 30 years. The bill also contains provisions that would make it easier for ministries of the Church to develop such housing. The Senate companion bill, SB 1730, sponsored by Senator Alexis Calatayud (R-Miami-Dade), is more limited in scope and does not at present contain the ministry provisions. HB 943 was voted up in its first committee (14-1), Housing, Agriculture & Tourism Subcommittee, where FCCB staff indicated support for the bill. SB 1730 will be heard in its first committee, Community Affairs, on Monday, March 31.

Catholic dioceses in Florida are already engaged in using available land to offer housing to low-income Floridians. Read about examples from the Diocese of Orlando here.

Catholic Days at the Capitol Photos Available; Save the Date in 2026

Save the Date! 
Next year's Catholic Days at the Capitol will be held February 10-11, 2026, in Tallahassee.  

2025 Catholic Days and Red Mass Photos
Thank you to Derek Diamond, Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee, for photographing this year's events. Photo albums are available on our website: