Partido Demócrata del Condado de Martin (Condado de Martin Comité Ejecutivo Demócrata) Se reúne el tercer lunes de cada mes a las 7:00 p.m. Reuniones que se llevan a cabo actualmente a través de Zoom. Si usted es un demócrata registrado en el condado de Martin y le gustaría asistir a una reunión como invitado, comuníquese con la presidenta del DEC, Mary Higgins, con anticipación. Número de teléfono: 772-519-3820 Correo electrónico: mountunion1978@aol.com

BIlls Being Considered in the 2023 Florida Legislative Session Session Dates: March 7 - May 5, 2023 Ov erview: How to view the bills Call to Acti on: What to do about the bills List of Bills List of Bills in Detail

2024 Legislative Session Schedule Websites that list bills Noteworthy Bills

The Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America Agenda: Delivering for Florida Companies have committed to invest over $800 million in Florida since President Biden took office. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ For decades, the U.S. exported jobs and imported products, while other countries surpassed us in critical sectors like infrastructure, clean energy, semiconductors, and biotechnology. Thanks to President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda – including historic legislation signed into law by President Biden such as the American Rescue Plan, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, CHIPS and Science Act, and Inflation Reduction Act – that is changing. Since the President took office in 2021, companies have committed over $800 million in private sector investments across Florida. These investments are creating good-paying jobs, including union jobs and jobs that don’t require a four-year degree in industries that will boost U.S. competitiveness, rebuild infrastructure, strengthen supply chains, and help build a clean energy economy. Unleashing Private Investment in Florida: Thanks to the President’s Investing in America agenda, Florida’s economy is now a more attractive place for companies around the world to invest and expand, helping drive U.S. competitiveness and build a clean energy economy. For example, in Florida: Cenntro Automotive is investing $25 million to build its first American electric vehicle manufacturing facility in Jacksonville. Rebuilding Florida’s Infrastructure: Thanks to President Biden’s economic plan, about $8.2 billion in federal funding has already been announced for 213 infrastructure projects across Florida. That includes $6.3 billion in federal investments to fund transportation projects – roads, bridges, and roadway safety – and over $363 million for better access to clean water. For example: The Everglades received $1.1 billion for ecosystem restoration activities, making it the single largest investment in the Everglades' history. The project will reconnect the Northern Everglades with the southern and central habitats. The Orlando International Airport received $119 million for terminal expansion projects to increase capacity and improve accessibility. The Manatee County Port Authority was awarded $11.9 million to expand capacity at the container yard and modernize infrastructure, reducing supply chain bottlenecks along Florida's gulf coast. Florida was awarded $15 million to build a new truck parking facility along I-4 in West Florida with about 120 spaces, electric charging stations, and pedestrian infrastructure to access nearby amenities. By providing reliable truck parking capacity, the project improves safety for tired drivers and makes supply chain movement more efficient. Getting Florida Back to Work and Supporting Florida’s Small Businesses: At the start of 2021, the Florida unemployment rate was 5.9% and many small businesses had closed. Today, Florida's unemployment rate has dropped to 2.6% with 1,000,000 jobs created since the President took office. Meanwhile, the number of new Florida business filings have hit new records, with 1.2 million new business applications filed over 2021 and 2022. Emergency relief from the Biden-Harris Administration during the pandemic helped to keep open 5,715 restaurants and bars and 8,610 child care programs across Florida, and is providing up to $488 million in funding to make new loans and investments in its small businesses through the State Small Business Credit Initiative. ​ Creating Clean-Energy Jobs and Combatting the Climate Crisis: President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is delivering a clean, secure, and healthy future for Florida families by: Expanding electric vehicle opportunities , with millions of people in Florida eligible for discounts on new or used EVs through the Inflation Reduction Act, which will be supported by networks of EV chargers across the state funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Protecting Florida against extreme weather, with historic investments for more resilient homes, businesses, and communities. In the last decade, Florida has experienced 10 major extreme weather events, costing the state up to $227 billion in damages and often disproportionately affecting historically underserved communities. Now, the state has used American Rescue Plan funds for its largest ever investment in resiliency ($700 million) – including over 185 grants for resiliency from floods and storms. Supporting rural communities, by investing in climate-smart agriculture practices to help Florida's 47,500 farmers lead on climate solutions, and helping electric cooperatives that deliver cleaner and cheaper power to 1.2 million Florida homes and businesses. Lowering Costs for Florida Families: Thanks to legislation in President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, Florida residents are saving money on their health care premiums and prescription drugs, high-speed internet, and home energy costs. In fact: Over 4,388,000 Florida residents with Medicare will benefit from the $2,000 yearly cap on out-of-pocket prescription drug costs, a $35 monthly cap per insulin prescription, and free vaccines. 3,225,000 individuals in Florida signed up for health insurance through the ACA Marketplaces during the Open Enrollment Period for 2023 and will benefit from up to thousands of dollars per year in savings from lower health care premiums. The average new homeowner in Florida will save $225 annually -- or 11.7% on their utility bills -- if state and local governments use new grants to adopt the latest building energy codes. Florida residents will be eligible to get 30% off solar panels , battery storage systems, heating and cooling upgrades, and weatherization, which can help them save hundreds of dollars every year on their energy bills. An estimated 1.1 million additional Florida households will install rooftop solar panels as a result of these new tax credits. Over 1.1 million Florida households are able to access affordable high-speed internet through the Affordable Connectivity Program investments made as part of the President’s Investing in America agenda. Extreme MAGA Republicans in Congress have proposed legislation to ship manufacturing jobs overseas, as well as increase health care costs, energy costs, and prescription drug prices for working families. President Biden and Congressional Democrats believe we need to finish the job, and continue to build the economy from the bottom up and middle out, not top down.

¿Falso o hecho? Echa un vistazo a los rumores. Conozca los hechos sobre política. Verifique el sesgo de los medios. POLITIFACT proporciona verificación de hechos de la política estadounidense. https://www.politifact.com/ POLITIFACT FLORIDA se enfoca en asuntos relacionados con Florida. https://www.politifact.com/florida/ FACTCHECK dice que es una organización no partidista y sin fines de lucro que señala el engaño y las inexactitudes en la política estadounidense. Factcheck.org es un proyecto del Centro de Políticas Públicas de Annenberg en la Universidad de Pensilvania. https://www.factcheck.org/ SNOPES te permite consultar los últimos rumores, imágenes, memes, noticias falsas. Snopes tiene su propia operación de verificación de hechos y realiza sus propias investigaciones para brindarle análisis contextualizados y basados ​​en evidencia. https://www.snopes.com/ Comprobación de sesgo / hechos de los medios proporciona un recurso integral sobre el sesgo de los medios. Identifica si los medios están sesgados hacia la izquierda, el centro o la derecha. Más de 2600 fuentes de medios enumeradas. Utilice la función de búsqueda para consultar fuentes específicas. https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/ Sourcewatch rastrea corporaciones y su giro de relaciones públicas. Ésta es una publicación del Center for Media and Democracy. https://www.sourcewatch.org Verify

Call to Action on 2022 Bills ​What should you do? TAKE ACTION. .....We should all be aware of what legislation is pending and provide input: Contact your local representatives and let them know whether you support or disapprove of pending bills and urge them to vote accordingly Contact the bill's sponsor and let them know you support or disapprove of their bill and why. Contact members of the committee where the bill lies and urge them to approve or not approve the bill Write a Letter to the Editor letting the public know about some of the good or troubling bills. The bottom line: The more legislators hear from the public, the better. It's the way democracy works. ​ Before listing them all, there are 2 bills sponsored by 2 of our local representatives that deserve special attention. Many may find them troubling and will want to contact Snyder and/or Overton regarding these bills: ​ A bill sponsored by Representative Snyder: HB 747 ( Snyder and Altman ) and SB 1820 ( Baxley ) – Protections of Medical Conscience Some have called it the “Health Care Refusal Bill” or “No Service to Gays” bill. It allows healthcare providers and insurers to deny a patient any sort of care on the basis of religious, moral, or ethical beliefs. Also allows for employment discrimination in healthcare for the same reasons. Many feel this bill would codify discrimination against LGBTQ, non-Christians, etc. ​ A bill sponsored by Representative Overdorf: SB 198 ( Rodriguez ) and HB 349 ( Sirios and Overdorf ) – Seagrass Mitigation Banks Authorizes the state Board of Trustees to create “seagrass mitigation banks” on state-owned submerged lands which would be used to offset the unavoidable loss of seagrass from coastal development projects. In essence, if developers seek permits for coastal or marine development projects that would destroy seagrasses, this bill would give them the option of buying credits in a mitigation bank to cover costs of seagrass restoration projects elsewhere. Those opposed to the bill say mitigation banks like this often fail and they believe having such a system would enhance development elsewhere . In other words, it gives a pass to developers so they continue to use land for their own purposes with very little consequences. This bill does not address the real issues facing manatees and the loss of seagrass. It's a ruse.​ ​

Call to Action on 2024 Bills ​What should you do? TAKE ACTION......DON'T JUST SIT AND FUME . We should all be aware of what legislation is pending and provide input: Contact your local representatives and let them know whether you support or disapprove of pending bills and urge them to vote accordingly Contact the bill's sponsor and let them know you support or disapprove of their bill and why. Contact members of the committee where the bill lies and urge them to approve or not approve the bill Write a Letter to the Editor letting the public know about some of the good or troubling bills. Let your family and friends know about bills that are especially troublesome and encourage them to contact legislators and write letters to the editor. Spread the word on social media about the harmful bills being considered (or conversely, loudly support bills that you feel address issues appropriately). The bottom line: The more legislators hear from the public, the better. It's the way democracy works. ​ ​ ​ ​

After months of promises, County Staff will finally go before the BOCC this Tuesday, Dec 6, to give a presentation on affordable housing. They will be offering options and seeking direction from the commissionsers on how to include affordable housing within Martin County. ​ ​The BOCC meeting starts at 9:00 at county headquarters at 2401 Monterey Rd. Discussion on affordable housing is likely to start @ 9:30. ​ ​Go here for more information: https://martin.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=5946119&GUID=9FE5C497-6A83-48EA-98B4-66197ABF5D95

See websites below that list the bills being considered in the 2024 legislative session. Since there are thousands of bills, keeping track of them can be a daunting task. Use the filters to help narrow your search. Some sites let you subscribe so you receive notification about certain bills. The sites at the bottom of the list focus on certain topics, such as education or the environment and local government control. ​ Florida Senate Bills Florida House of Representative Bills LegiScan (a legislative tracking service) WUSF (NPR station. Lists news items related to 2024 legislative session) Florida Senate Democrats 2024 Newsletter Week 1 & 2 Anna Eskamani (sends out weekly email about what's happening in legislature during session) ​ Florida Education Association 1000 Friends of Florida VoteWater ​

Stand%20Up%20Speak%20Out_edited public ed The Environment Stand%20Up%20Speak%20Out_edited 1/22 ¡Ponerse de pie! ¡Hablar claro! ¡Ser escuchado! ¿Quiere defender sus creencias? ¿Influir en sus legisladores? ¿Influir en la opinión pública? ¿Ayudar a que los demócratas sean elegidos para el cargo? Haga clic en los temas a continuación para obtener información valiosa para que esté mejor informado y pueda marcar la diferencia de manera más efectiva a través de su defensa política.

Overview of 2022 Bills ​ Did you know that more than 3500 bills have been filed for the 2022 Florida legislative session? With those kind of numbers, it's overwheming to keep track of it all. This section of your website is meant to help you with that. We have selectively divided up the bills into two categories of noteworthy bills: General Bills and Environmental Bills. Under each category, we have i ncluded the top 30 or so bills that are the most noteworthy (Yes....this is subjective....Email your webmaster at MCDemWeb@gmail.com to give your input on bills that should be listed if you don't see them here.) ​ General Bills include such topics as Abortion, Equality, Healthcare, Education, Gun Control, Criminal Justice, etc. Environmental Bills obviously relate to the environment. Some of these deal with Home Rule issues. ​ Each bill shows the bill sponsor: If the name is in red font, then they're Republican . If blue , then the sponsor is a Democrat . The bill sponsors are linked to their official website where you can find contact information for calling or writing them. Clicking on the official's name should take you to their page. Bill titles are linked to the official Florida government site, where you can get more details about the bill and see where the bill sits. (Note: Some bills never go anywhere, some sit in committees and stay there, and some bills move from committees out to the floor for voting.....Before you contact legislators or write LTEs, be sure to check the bill's status.) Some organizations such as Equality Florida and Friends of the Everglades and 1000 Friends of Florida have issued their approval or disapproval of bills and these have been noted above the bills and are offered as a guide for your own research and decision making.