Photo courtesy Florida House: State Rep. Fiona McFarland discusses a social media bill during the Legislative Session.

Sarasota and Bradenton lawmakers on Friday wrapped a Legislative Session with a variety of policy achievements as they head into an election year.

State Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, passed measures providing security for Jewish Day Schools around the state, including Sarasota, as antisemitic vandals and incidents rise in the wake of Hamas attacks in Israel. But he also successfully carried a bill that extends research at Mote Marine Laboratory and funds the program in perpetuity. Overall, he called this a "winning" Session.

Meanwhile, Sen. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton, continued his work on Florida’s insurance marketplace. This Session, that included a bill enhancing flood insurance coverage. He also crafted an expansion of the My Safe Home program providing funding for home hurricane inspections and improvements.

“From stabilizing the property insurance market to bring down costs, cutting taxes so families can save more or expanding access to high quality care, the policies and initiatives we passed this session will have a meaningful impact on the families we serve," Boyd said.

In the House, local lawmakers led several important committees this cycle. Rep. James Buchanan, R-Osprey, led the House Agriculture Conservation and Resiliency Subcommittee. Rep. Will Robinson, R-Bradenton, headed the House Civil Justice Subcommittee. Rep. Fiona McFarland, R-Sarasota, managed the House Transportation and Modals Subcommittee.

Rep. Tommy Gregory, R-Lakewood Ranch, wielded the gavel at the powerful House Judiciary Committee, where he co-introduced two petitions for a U.S. constitutional convention. He also carried a high-profile bill regulating teh hemp industry to regulate products focused on intoxication.

His description of this year's Session was simple. "Live healthy, free from the dangers of social media and THC derivatives,” he said.

Meanwhile, Rep. Michael Grant, R-Port Charlotte, finished him last term in the House holding the title of Majority Leader.

The lawmakers handled a number of bills of statewide and local significance. On the latter front, Robinson sponsored a boundary revision for the North River Ranch Improvement Stewardship District in Manatee County, while also tackling a number of real estate and probate issues. Buchanan carried a similar bill about the Three Rivers Stewardship District in Sarasota County.

McFarland, meanwhile, helped craft one of the most high-profile bills in the Senate, handling the digital privacy aspects of a social media bill prioritized by Speaker Paul Renner. That mans she also was the first lawmaker in the area to have a bill vetoed this section, as Gov. Ron DeSantis raised concerns on parental rights. But then McFarland played the same role in creating a replacement bill that bars children under 13 from addictive social media platforms, and required 14- and 15-year-olds to obtain permission to open the account. 

Photo courtesy Florida House: State Rep. Fiona McFarland discusses a social media bill during the Legislative Session.