CLAY COUNTY – One of the most productive legislative sessions in Florida history resulted in nearly 150 new laws – most of which took effect on Friday, July 1.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the $116.5 billion budget on June 15, which included nearly $54.3 million for Clay County projects. The budget included record spending, which was offset by unexpectedly higher state tax revenues and federal stimulus money. It also included $2.7 billion in tax relief for families dealing with high inflation.

Some of the new laws included:

• The creation of a series of sales tax holidays for back-to-school clothes and supplies.

• The “Stop WOKE Act” that restricts how race-related concepts are taught in schools and training classes.

• Replacing the Florida Standards Assessments testing with three exams each year.

• Created a 12-year term limit on school board members.

• Prohibiting sexual orientation and gender identity studies from kindergarten-through-third grade. It also requires instruction to be age appropriate in older grades.

• Requires state universities and colleges to re-evaluate accreditation and tenures of professors at the end of each accreditation cycle.

• Requires financial literacy be taught in high school.

• Prevents abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

• Expands the authority of physicians to prescribe controlled substances through telemedicine.

• Offers $5,000 bonuses for law enforcement offers and other first responders.

• Dissolved Walt Disney Company’s Reedy Creek Improvement District and five other districts in the state as the result of Disney’s opposition to laws about gender identity and sexual orientation.

• Prohibits municipalities from making payments related to ransomware attacks.

• Expands the ability of minors to have their criminal records expunged if they complete a diversion program, as long as they weren’t involved in a forcible felony that includes the manufacturing, purchase, transport, possession or use of firearms.

• Requires landlords to complete background checks of all employees.

• Requires special training for school librarians and media specialists who select library material to ensure they are “age appropriate.”