Guns dominated, but other big bills passed the Legislature this year too

March 11--Environmental groups were elated when lawmakers included $101 million in next year's state budget for the Florida Forever land conservation program.

Meanwhile, many teachers are furious after the Legislature passed a bill that could threaten the ability of teachers to maintain unions.

The gun control debate that erupted after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland drew much of the attention as Florida lawmakers gathered in Tallahassee for their annual legislative session. But the Legislature took action on a range of other issues as well.

Here's an overview of what happened during the 60-day legislative session.

Guns

For the first time since Republicans took control two decades ago, the Legislature passed significant gun control measures that raise the age limit from 18 to 21 to purchase long guns, institute a three-day waiting period on gun purchases and ban "bump stock" devices that allow weapons to simulate fully automatic fire. The same bill included a provision allowing school districts to adopt programs arming trained school personnel, including some teachers.

School safety money

Lawmakers set aside $400 million to increase school safety measures after a shooter killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School last month, including an additional $69 million for mental health programs in school and $98 million to harden schools and upgrade other security measures.

Vouchers and teachers unions

Teachers unions were on the defensive this year, with GOP lawmakers approving a bill that will require the unions to petition for recertification if their membership drops below 50 percent of those eligible to participate. The Legislature also approved two new de facto voucher programs, one paying for students who are bullied to attend private schools and the other paying for private tutoring for struggling readers. Public schools received a funding increase in next year's state budget of $101 per pupil.

Environment

Between 1990 and 2008 the Florida Legislature set aside $275 million annually on average to buy conservation land through Florida Forever. The Legislature dramatically reduced conservation funding during the Great Recession, but this year lawmakers set aside $101 million for Florida Forever, the most funding in a decade. Environmentalists also celebrated the defeat of legislation that would have abolished city and county tree protections, while expressing concerns about a bill heading to Gov. Rick Scott's desk that allows the state to take over wetland permitting from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Taxes

The Legislature continued to cut taxes this year, approving a $168 million package of tax and fee reductions. And lawmakers passed another tax bill that could have big consequences in the future. It will place a constitutional amendment on the ballot in November that -- if approved by voters -- would require a two-thirds vote of both chambers of the Legislature to raise taxes or fees.

Race relations

After a year in which there were debates across Florida and the nation about Confederate memorials and other racially charged issues, the Legislature passed a pair of bills that, combined, are a significant victory for those who believe state leaders have not done enough to recognize the oppression African-Americans endured. One bill creates a slavery memorial on the grounds of the state Capitol. The other replaces the statue of a Confederate general in the U.S. Capitol with a statue of civil rights leader Mary McLeod Bethune.

No texting while driving bill

Back in 2013, after five years of effort, the Florida Legislature approved a bill banning texting while driving. But the legislation only made it a secondary offense, meaning a driver could only be penalized for texting after being pulled over for some other issue. An effort to increase penalties for texting while driving and make it a primary offense seemed to be gaining traction this year. It passed the House but stalled in the Senate after lawmakers raised concerns about privacy and racial profiling.

College scholarships increased

Increasing the Bright Futures scholarships that help Florida students pay for tuition at state universities was the centerpiece of a higher education bill that cleared the Legislature this year. The $122 million boost in scholarship money should ease the student loan debt for future Florida college students. Lawmakers increased higher education funding in other areas too, continuing a multiyear effort to enhance the university system.

Health care tradeoff

Health care funding became a major point of contention this session, resulting in a standoff that forced lawmakers into overtime to pass a budget. The Senate wanted to overhaul how Medicaid money is distributed to hospitals and boost Medicaid payments to nursing homes. House leaders did not. The House eventually agreed to increase nursing home funding by $130 million and the Senate backed off its hospital funding plan, which would have resulted in budget cuts at a number of large safety net hospitals. Lawmakers also passed a bill aimed at ending a longstanding dispute over which hospitals are allowed to operate trauma centers.

Hurricane Irma response

After Hurricane Irma, Gov. Rick Scott mandated that all nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Florida have emergency generators capable of powering air conditioning systems. Scott was reacting to the deaths at a nursing home in Broward County that lost power during Irma. Florida lawmakers ratified the generator rules, which required legislative approval because of the cost. The regulation is expected to cost assisted living facilities $243 million.

Sexual harassment

The Florida Legislature has been caught up in the outcry over sexual harassment that is been sweeping across the country. State Sen. Jack Latvala resigned recently after multiple women accused him of inappropriate behavior, and another senator resigned after an affair with a lobbyist came to light. Despite these incidents, lawmakers failed to reach agreement on legislation strengthening laws aimed at combating sexual harassment. House leaders wanted to go further than their counterparts in the Senate and lawmakers couldn't work out their differences.

Opioids

Florida medical examiners reported 5,725 opioid-related deaths in 2016, a 35 percent increase from the year before. Lawmakers responded to the rising number of deaths by boosting funding for opioid abuse prevention efforts by $53 million and pushing legislation restricting the number of pain pills that can be prescribed for acute pain. The legislation limits prescriptions to a three-day supply, or seven days if a doctor deems it "medically necessary."

Gambling

Voters in eight counties have approved slot machines at pari-mutuel facilities in their communities, but the GOP-controlled Legislature has refused to authorize the gambling expansion. Now it may be out of the Legislature's hands. Lawmakers could not reach a deal on gambling during the legislative session this year and future deals may need voter approval. The November ballot will ask voters if they want to amend the state constitution to require voter approval for expanding gambling.

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