House panel passes bills on county commissioner term limits, AI political ads, veteran support
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The House Committee on State Affairs passed several bills on Wednesday relating to county commissioner term limits, AI advertising in politics, veterans support and more.
HB 57 – County Commissioner Term Limits
Pensacola Republican Rep. Michelle Salzman’s legislation limits county commissioners to serving no more than eight consecutive years in their local governing body.
The original bill listed 12 year term limits, but the legislation was amended in the committee to match the Senate version. The amendment also clarified that counties who currently have 12 year term limits would be required to hold a referendum and let voters decide if their community should decrease the term limit lengths like the rest of the state.
“Members, term limits discourage the creation of political classes that prioritize re-election over effective governance,” Salzman said. “Officials may focus more on serving the public rather than securing their own political future.”
Rep. Michelle Rayner, D-St. Petersburg, asked why the state should get involved in the term limits issue when certain counties already regulate their commissioner terms.
“I truly believe that we have all been elected by our local communities to come here and represent their voice, and we know that their voice is that they want term limits,” Salzman said.
Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, sponsored the Senate companion version of bill.
HM 669 – Enforcement of Federal Immigration Laws
The memorial by Rep. Tyler Sirois, R-Merritt Island, urges the federal government to stop the flow of illegal immigration at the southern border and fix the United State’s legal immigration system.
Rayner questioned how the national government was not doing everything in their capacity to enforce border security.
“Well I think you see it in the increasing rates of border crossings. That’s an example you can look to,” Sirois responded. “Increasing rates of human trafficking and drugs being trafficked into the United States.”
Rep. Robin Bartleman, D-Weston, said that because of a certain sentence in the legislation where the bill “attacks” President Joe Biden’s administration, she would not be able to support the memorial.
The specific line she referred to argued that the policies of the Biden administration at the southern border “threaten the very foundation of the American way of life.”
Rep. Jeff Holcomb, R-Spring Hill, expressed his support for Sirois’ bill, highlighting the need to combat illegal immigration in the country.
Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, sponsored the Senate version of the legislation.
HB 919 – Artificial Intelligence use in Political Advertising
Rep. Alex Rizo, R-Hialeah, sponsored the legislation that requires political advertisements provide a disclaimer if they use artificial intelligence in their advertising. Those who ignore the requirement could face civil penalties.
Bartleman questioned who would be held responsible if a political action committee or organization not affiliated with a candidate produced AI-generated content and did not provide a disclaimer.
Rizo reassured the committee that candidates would not face legal obstacles if an AI advertisement produced by an unaffiliated group did not attach a disclaimer.
An amendment was added to the bill that specifically defined the wording requirements for the disclaimer, as well as the audio and visual guidelines for the various forms of advertising mediums.
Sen. Nick DiCeglie, R-St. Petersburg, filed the Senate version of the legislation.
HB 1329 – Veterans
The veterans support bill, championed by Reps. Mike Redondo, R-Miami, and Danny Alvarez, R-Riverview, expands occupational outreach and education resources to help service members reentering civilian life.
Redondo also explained that the bill waves certain state filing fees, as well as hunting and fishing license fees for honorably discharged members of the military with service disabilities.
An amendment was added that seeks to preserve the cultural significance of the stories and experiences of veterans as well.
Redondo and Alvarez’s legislation has to be approved in one more House committee before it can be considered for the chamber floor. Sen. Jay Collins, R-Tampa, sponsored the Senate companion bill.
