This page will provide you up-to-date information about the legislation and issues we're following.

2021 Legislative Interim Meeting Schedule (Committee Weeks)

January 2021

Week of the 11th
Week of the 25th

February 2021

Week of the 1st
Week of the 8th
Week of the 15th

2021 Florida Legislative Session - Important Dates

August 1, 2020 Deadline for filing claim bills (Rule 4.81(2))

January 29, 2021 5:00 p.m., deadline for submitting requests for drafts of general bills and joint resolutions, including requests for companion bills

February 26, 2021 5:00 p.m., deadline for approving final drafts of general bills and joint resolutions, including companion bills

March 2, 2021 Regular Session convenes (Article III, section 3(b), State Constitution) 12:00 noon, deadline for filing bills for introduction (Rule 3.7(1))

April 17, 2021 Motion to reconsider made and considered the same day (Rule 6.4.(4)) All bills are immediately certified (Rule 6.8)

April 20, 2021 50th day – last day for regularly scheduled committee meetings (Rule 2.9(2))

April 30, 2021 60th day – last day of Regular Session (Article III, section 3(d), State Constitution)

FLA 2021 Legislative Platform

Florida Libraries Are Critical to Recovery

ALA summons support for Library Stabilization Fund Act

Tell Your Members of Congress to Support Library Stabilization

Sen. Reed, Rep. Levin introduce bicameral legislation to support libraries

WASHINGTON -- The American Library Association (ALA) praised today’s introduction of the Library Stabilization Fund Act, introduced in both chambers by Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and Representative Andy Levin (D-MI), respectively. The legislation would establish a $2 billion fund, administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, to address financial losses and bolster library services, with priority to the hardest-hit communities (view ALA summary).

ALA President Julius C. Jefferson, Jr., said, “The spread of COVID-19 has caused significant financial losses for America’s libraries, resulting in disruption to core library services, thousands of furloughs and layoffs. The Library Stabilization Fund Act is the comprehensive federal response needed to keep our nation’s libraries safely in operation, and ALA is throwing the full weight of our advocacy network into supporting this bill.”

Read more about the legislation HERE.

Tell Your Members of Congress to Support Library Stabilization

On June 29, 2020, Governor DeSantis signed the state's 2020-2021 fiscal year budget, after vetoing about $1 billion in spending. Based on the Veto List released, a few library related funded programs were vetoed including:

Line 3167- Aid to Local Governments- Grants And Aids- Library Cooperatives- $2 million
Line 3174 A- Fixed Capital Outlay- library construction grants- $1 million
Aid to Local Governments – Grants and Aids – Complete Florida Plus Program, From General Revenue Fund: $29,390,671

FLA responds with Letter to Gov DeSantis regarding Vetoes of Library Funding.pdf

ALA President Julius C. Jefferson, Jr. sends letter to Governor Ron DeSantis_07062020.pdf

As we receive information, we will share that here.

We want to thank you for your hard work in assisting with FLA's Advocacy efforts related to important Library funding programs during Legislative session. We appreciate the hundreds of emails and phone calls to your Representatives and Senators, along with your help in sending prepared messages to the Chairs of the House and Senate appropriations committees. Your messages reached the highest levels of Florida's legislature including the Senate President and House Speaker and we could not do this without you!

Unfortunately, the overwhelming issue we faced in March was the novel Coronavirus and the budgetary impacts on the state's resources were immediately questioned.

As such, FY2020-2021 funding for the state aid to public libraries grant program is slated to be funded at $17.5 million, a lower amount than this year as a result of the $4.5 million that was cut from non-recurring funds. We did however, see a positive response by both chambers to fund Public library construction at $1 million, and fund Multi-type Library Cooperatives at $2 million; all of which will be put to good use providing important programs and services for our communities.

As we all navigate the uncertainty presented by COVID-19 and the unprecedented changes to our daily lives, we will continue to see the legislative process through. The Governor can accept this budget or call everyone back to present a new budget...again, we wait for next steps.

We hope you all continue to stay safe and we will provide updates as they become available.

Recap of Legislation we followed during 2020 Session

Department of State Legislation

State Aid to Public Libraries Grant

Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development

Proposed Budget
Jan 29: Chair proposed approx. $17.3 million in state aid combined with additional library items like construction and MLC funding of approx. $4 million. This total reaches the combined total needed to meet Maintenance of Effort to draw full federal LSTA funding BUT reduces State Aid by $3 million compared to current figures.
Moves to Senate Appropriations Committee
DIED in Appropriations

House TED (Transportation & Economic Development) Appropriations Subcommittee:

Proposed Budget (p. 378)
Jan. 28: Chair proposed additional nonrecurring funding for State-Aid to libraries which would maintain the current year funding level ($21.8M); combined with additional library funding items of approx. $4 million. This total reaches the combined total needed to meet Maintenance of Effort to draw full federal LSTA funding.
Moves to House Appropriations Committee

Public Library Construction Grant

No proposed amount in House budget as of February 26, 2020 - watching for updates
$2 million presented in Senate budget

Multi-type Library Cooperatives

Clean-up Bills

SB 1570 (Perry) Division of Library and Information Services; Removing the date by which the division must submit an annual report regarding the allocation of library funding to the Chief Financial Officer; revising the duties and responsibilities of the division in the administration of the Florida State Archives; revising the duties and responsibilities of the division in the administration of the records and information management program; removing a limitation on the annual grant amount that the administrative unit of a library cooperative may receive from the state for purposes of sharing library resources, etc.

SENATE - On Committee agenda-- Appropriations, 03/03/20, 1:00 pm, 412 Knott Building - Temporarily Postponed

HB 1455 (Rodriguez) Division of Library and Information Services; Revises duties of Division of Library & Information Services, State Archives, records & information management program, & library cooperative grants.

HOUSE - Favorable by Transportation and Tourism Appropriations Subcommittee; YEAS 11 NAYS 0

HOUSE - On Committee agenda-- State Affairs Committee, 02/27/20, 8:00 am, Morris Hall

Smart Horizons Career Online High School

Senate Form 2029 (Stargel) $2M funding request. Smart Horizons Career Online Education (SHCOE), a Florida-based, AdvancED/SACS/NCA/NWAC accredited online school district, partners with public libraries across Florida to offer a career-based, adult high school diploma program designed to prepare adults for transition into the workplace

HB 3885 (Latvala, (CO-SPONSORS) Polsky) $2M funding request. Provides an appropriation for the Online Workforce-Based Adult High School Program.

Local Funding Requests

S1552 HB3103	Wakulla County Library - High Risk Shelter (PDF)	Montford	$12,000,000	Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development
S1620 HB3781	African American History Museum and Library - Palm Beach (PDF)	Powell	$410,000	Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development
1989	Backup Generators - Branch Libraries and Community Centers - Leon (PDF)	Montford	$800,000	Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development
1990	Wind Mitigation Studies - Branch Libraries and Community Centers - Leon (PDF)	Montford	$200,000	Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development
2029	Online Adult High School Program for State of Florida Library System (PDF)	Stargel	$2,000,000	Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development
2547	Construct Clsrm, Lab, & Library Bldg-Blount (PDF)	Perry	$17,689,656	Appropriations
HB2765	City of Safety Harbor Public Library Expansion	Grant	$2,000,000	Appropriations