Sen. Aaron Bean highlights 2018 FL Legislative Session

Office of Senator Aaron Bean

March 23, 2018

FL Sen. Bean speaks during a recent committee hearing.

Florida State Senator Aaron Bean (R) has issued a report citing highlights of the recently completed 2018 Florida Legislative Session. Bean said, “The 2018 Legislative Session has officially come to a close.  Although there were many important debates and positive outcomes this session, there is still great sorrow because of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School tragedy.  When the shooting happened, the Legislature made it a priority to keep our children safe, and do all we could to prevent this from ever happening again.

“It is always a great honor to serve you.  Please let me or my team know if we can ever be of assistance.  I look forward to seeing you back home in Northeast Florida.  Let's go get 'em!”

Bean reported the Florida Legislature successfully passed an $88.7 billion balanced budget this year with $168.6 million in broad-based tax relief for all Floridians and a specific focus on those impacted by the recent hurricanes. He wrote, “It is important to allow individuals and businesses to keep more of their own hard-earned money, but we also maintained our commitment to improving the affordability and efficiency of Florida's higher education system, which was just named #1 in the country by U.S. News & World Report in their recent rankings.”

The newly passed budget also features:

• $3.3 Billion in State Reserves
• A 7-Day Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday (June 1 to June 7)
• A 3-Day Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday (August 3 to August 5)
• Permanent Lowering of Commercial Lease Sales Tax
• Unprecedented Per-Student Funding for K-12 Education
• $50 Million in Funding to Repair Florida's Beaches
• Historic Investments in Student Financial Aid (Bright Futures Scholarship Program)
• Over $100 Million in Funding for the Florida Forever Program
• Pay Raises for State Law Enforcement, Firefighters and Probation/Detention Officers
• Historic Funding of $50 Million to Nurture Florida's Springs
• Record Funding of $25 Million to Protect the St. Johns River and Keystone Heights

Some of the Northeast Florida projects that received state funding include:

• City of Jacksonville Talleyrand Connector - $12.5 million
• City of Neptune Beach Stormwater Culvert Improvements - $375,000
• Port of Fernandina Improvements - $2 million
• Northwest Jacksonville YMCA Teen Programming - $250,000
• Nassau County Council on Aging Nutrition Support Program - $400,000
• University of North Florida Operational Enhancement Funding - $4.1 million
• ElderSource Home Delivered Meals - $400,000
• St. Vincent's Saving Lives Project - $624,105
• Jacksonville School for Autism S.T.E.P. Program - $250,000
• City of Fernandina Beach Downtown Shoreline Stabilization - $450,000
• City of Jacksonville Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) - $250,000
• Northeast Florida 21st Century Workforce Development - $975,000
• City of Jacksonville Mayport Working Waterfront Revitalization - $360,000
• Safe Harbor Boys Home Dock Replacement - $250,000

To contact Senator Bean, email bean.aaron.web@flsenate.gov.