Starting this month nearly 200 new laws are now active in Florida. That might sound like a lot, but it’s actually just about a sixth of the bills filed with a July effective date this year. Political experts say a looming election year put a damper on both the number and content of bills passed last legislative session, but that isn’t stopping some of the people directly affected by the new rules from celebrating.
Flipping through a list of the new laws that have just become effective this month, Lindsey King isn't finding many she thinks will impact her. She questions whether lawmakers should have done more this session.
"I mean it makes sense, but we should really focus on making a difference," King says.
The new laws include a measure to increase penalties for folks who catch spiny lobster out of season as well as a plan to rename a state commission.
There are new rules that could touch King's daily life – for example a statute that blocks solicitors from sending texts to people who are on Florida's do not call list. It’s an idea King says she likes, but it’s unlikely she’ll notice. King is listed on the state’s do not call list, but she was already not getting soliciting texts from advertisers even without the law.
But despite King’s lack of enthusiasm others are feeling pretty good about some of this month’s new laws.
Patricia Stevenson is a member of the Florida State Poet Association. Her group has been working for years toward a law to create a mechanism for nominating and selecting an official poet laureate. Last year an effort to create the new system failed, but this year it’s a new state law. Stevenson wrote a short poem to commemorate moment.
The earth turns
Summer is nigh
And a poets voice is heard once again
The poet laureate’s job is to promote poetry, especially among youth. It’s something Stevenson says is important.
“Poetry can bring balance to our very hectic, modern existence. Whether you write it or just read it can have a very positive effect on us. It’s a very good positive means of self-expression for your emotions, your opinions and even the absurdity of life,” Stevenson says.
Of the nearly 200 new laws coming into effect this month, the measure most likely to affect the most people is a new rule requiring drivers to move over a lane not just for stopped police and emergency responder vehicles, but newly for utility and sanitation vehicles.
