The Florida House Judiciary Committee are scheduled to take up the FINAL HEARING for both HB1223 and HB 17 tomorrow, Wednesday February 21, starting at 8:00 am. Just one week after the 6th anniversary of the MSD shooting, Florida lawmakers are trying to roll back two life-saving laws that were passed (with strong bipartisan support!) in response to the massacre. If the bills pass out of committee tomorrow, they will go on to the full House for a vote as soon as next week.

Please call the members of the Judiciary Committee TODAY and urge them to vote no on these reckless and dangerous bills.

Teachers who began service in Florida on or after July 2011 are not eligible for an annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) on their pensions. Those who retired before July 2011 are. Teacher salaries are low in Florida as are pensions. This year there are two bills in the Florida Legislature, HB 151 and SB 242, that will help fix this problem. Contact your Legislators to support these bills.

Alachua County Branch of the NAACP has issued a Call to Action to Save Our Schools. There is a mass meeting on February 12, 2024, at 6:30 PM at the Dayspring Missionary Baptist Church. NAACP President Foxx requests ALL members respond to this call to action to save our schools. Please share with your friends and family. This is a community concern and we need ALL HANDS ON DECK.

The LWV of Alachua County has been following the issue of changes to the administration of GRU for nearly a year. It has been our position that the process used by legislators to enact a new law was a breach of democratic processes and the state inserting governor-appointed Authority members as administrators of our municipal utility are a breach of home rule.

Currently, the Authority is discussing reducing and possibly eliminating the already reduced transfer of funds to the city. This would have a detrimental effect on basic city services and the quality of life of Gainesville residents. We have two immediate action items for you.