At a Glance: Bills That Passed the Florida Legislature

Legislation that passed during the 2014 regular session of the Florida Legislature, which ended Friday:

ABORTION

— Would ban abortions if a doctor determines the fetus could survive outside the womb.

— Would allow criminal charges for the death or injury of a fetus at any stage of development after crimes committed against the mother. Current law only allows murder or manslaughter charges after the death of a fetus that has developed to the point it can survive outside the womb.

CONSUMERS

— Will reduce motor vehicle registration fees.

— Would give shoppers buying clothes and school supplies a three-day tax holiday in August, a three-day sales tax holiday in September on the purchase of energy efficient appliances and a nine-day sales tax holiday on the sale of hurricane preparation supplies such as batteries and generators.

CRIME

— Creates a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 50 years for people who rape children, elderly or mentally disabled people.

— Revises the Jimmy Ryce Act to potentially make more sexual predators go through a review to determine if they should be committed to a treatment center after finishing their sentences.

— Would increase the penalties for harvesting or possessing spiny lobsters out of season.

— Increase penalties for leaving the scene of an accident in which someone is injured or killed.

— Would eliminate mandatory life sentences for juveniles who commit first-degree murder and create a sentencing review for juveniles who commit first-degree felonies. An exception would be made for juveniles convicted of violent felonies before committing a first-degree murder.

— Would enhance penalties for school employees or volunteers who commit sexual offenses against students.

EDUCATION

— Would allow state university foundation boards to meet in secret if they are discussing research proposals and funding for that research.

— Would ban school districts from being able to collect information on the political or religious affiliation of students and their parents. It would also ban the collection of biometric information including student fingerprints, palm scans or iris scans.

— Would expand a private-school voucher program to make more families eligible.

— Would allow parents a chance to object to textbooks used at public schools.

GOVERNMENT

— Would state that the Department of Children and Families make protecting a child from abuse more important than keeping a family together.

— Would move the start of the legislative session to January of 2016 instead of the traditional March opening.

— Would limit state courts in recognizing rulings and agreements out of foreign courts pertaining to divorce, alimony, child support or child custody.

— Would allow the Department of Transportation to raise the speed limit on Florida highways from 70 to 75 mph.

GUNS

— Allow people to fire warning shots if they are being threatened without being subject to mandatory minimum sentences for gun offenses.

— Would make it illegal for insurance companies to deny policies or charge higher rates solely based on gun ownership.

HEALTH

— Would legalize low-THC marijuana to treat epilepsy and cancer patients.

— Would limit who can be named as defendants in lawsuits against nursing homes.

IMMIGRATION

— Would allow students in the country illegally to pay in-state tuition at the state's public colleges and universities.

— Would allow the state Supreme Court to give law licenses to noncitizens who came to the country as minors and have lived in Florida for at least 10 years.

SPORTS

— Establishes a sales tax rebate program to help pay for the construction or renovation of professional sports stadiums.

TOURISM

— Would establish the Florida Tourism Hall of Fame

— Would regulate the parasailing industry, including a ban on the activity during severe weather.

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