Legislative Session

2023

Reproductive rights and LGBTQ+ rights are inextricably intertwined, both arising from our fundamental right to control our own bodies and decide what our families look like. At Planned Parenthood, we are committed to making our country a place where everyone has control over their bodies and reproductive choices, and where no one faces discrimination or violence because of their gender identity or expression.

While we fight for our rights, lawmakers in Tallahassee are working to restrict them. Check the table below for a list of bills that attack the care we provide, you can click the link on each bill to jump to that section to read more.

2023 Florida Legislative Session Bills
Bill	Status
6-Week Abortion Ban	PASSED, but not in effect yet.
Gender-Affirming Care Severe Restrictions	PASSED, In effect

6-Week Abortion Ban (SB 300)

PASSED, but not in effect yet.

By Senator Erin Grall and Representative Jenna Persons-Mulicka

Overview:

If passed this bill would ban all abortions after 6 weeks with extremely limited exceptions. All abortion bans are extreme, no matter when in pregnancy they start, because they put politicians where they don’t belong -- in charge of other people’s personal health care decisions.

For months, Florida’s ban on abortion after 15 weeks has put lives and health at risk. Instead of addressing that harm, lawmakers are doubling down on their anti-abortion agenda.

Often, people don’t even realize they’re pregnant at six weeks. As a result, this bill means many pregnant people will never have the option to have an abortion. Moreover, because the legislature passed a Florida’s 24-hour mandatory delay law and Florida requires two appointments to access abortion care, even patients who realize they are pregnant before six weeks may be unable to access abortion care before they run out of time.

The Breakdown:

SB 300 bans abortion after 6 weeks of pregnancy.

Exceptions:

If the pregnancy is the result of rape, incest, or human trafficking a patient who provides proof of rape or incest may access abortion up to 15 weeks into pregnancy.
If a fatal fetal abnormality is detected, abortion is accessible until the third trimester.

Other notable provisions of the bill include:

Grants an additional $25 million per year in recurring funds to fund anti-abortion fake clinics from the General Revenue Fund to the Florida Department of Health.
Prohibits state entities from assisting with out of state travel to get an abortion.
Strips language from the statutes that refer to a right to an abortion as a constitutional right under Florida's Constitution.

Extreme Gender Affirming Care Restrictions (SB 254)

By Senator Clay Yarborough and House Health Regulations Subcommittee/ Representative Randy Fine and Representative Ralph Massullo

Overview:

These bills continue a dangerous and ugly legislative trend that has emerged over the past few years — states are placing unnecessary and dangerous restrictions on health care services for trans adults, trans youth, and penalizing parents for trying to do their best for their children.

This bill is out of touch and discriminatory. It is not based on research or evidence-based health care practices.

Transgender, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming people, like everyone else, have a fundamental need for quality health care and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. The unfortunate reality is that, in addition to the economic and geographic barriers many people face when seeking health care, gender-nonconforming people face additional, unique challenges when it comes to getting the care they need.

The Breakdown:

SB 254 bans gender-affirming care for minors and places severe restrictions on GAC for adults:

Physician-only requirement for providing gender affirming care
Requires that the first time a new medication is prescribed, it must be in person (not via telehealth)

Creates criminal and professional penalties for providers who violate the (harmful and unnecessary provisions in the) statute
Expands civil liability for gender affirming healthcare providers

How an Idea Becomes Law in Florida

Legislators or other interested parties have an idea which is brought to the attention of the proper individual, i.e., the legislator.
A bill is drafted and filed by either a Senator or a House member. A bill should always have a “companion” bill. That is, if a bill is filed in the House, a bill of the same or similar nature is also drafted and filed in the Senate.
The bill is then assigned to one or more committees, depending upon the content of the bill (e.g. Education Committee, Appropriations Committee, Finance and Tax Committee, etc.).
Bills approved in a committee are reported out to the next committee(s) of reference.
After passing its committees, the bill goes to the floor of the House and Senate for further action. Further amendments can be made on the floor of the House or Senate.
After a bill passes one house of the Legislature, it must proceed to the other, and the process begins all over. Committee hearings are held, amendments are proposed, the bill must be passed by the committee(s) of reference, and then the bill must be passed on the floor.
- One house can simply adopt the bill that has already passed the other house.
- Or Steps 5 and 6 may be repeated until the bills are passed in both houses in identical form.
Once a bill has passed both houses in an identical form it proceeds to the Governor's office for their consideration.
- The Governor can sign the bill, allow it to become a law without his signature or veto the bill.
- If the Governor chooses to veto a bill, the Legislature can overturn the next time they meet by a two thirds vote of both chambers.
Once the Governor signs the bill, or allows it to become law without their signature, the bill becomes law and is enforceable upon its effective date.
- If a bill doesn’t make it all the way through this process before the end of session, that bill dies and must begin the process anew the next year.