See what Pensacola-area legislators are proposing ahead of the 2019 legislative session

Florida's legislative session begins on Tuesday and big issues up for debate include Hurricane Michael recovery, updating environmental regulations after algae blooms and red tide clogged Florida waterways and medical marijuana, among other topics.

But each individual legislator has their own ideas on what's important.

Here's a look at what Pensacola-area legislators are focused on through the bills they have filed as primary sponsors ahead of the 2019 Legislative Session.

Rep. Mike Hill

Hill, a Republican from Pensacola, returns to the Florida House representing District 1 after leaving his District 2 seat in 2016 to run for the state Senate, losing the Republican nomination to Doug Broxson. District 1 is completely in Escambia County.

HB 97 – Soldiers' and Heroes' Monuments and Memorials Protection Act

HB 97 is aimed at protecting war monuments and memorials, including Civil War monuments dedicated to the Confederacy. When Hill filed the bill in December, it drew headlines across the state, and it's not the only bill he has sponsored that's gotten attention before the session.

HB 175 – Repealing gun regulations

This bill would repeal all of the gun control measures passed as part of the school safety act in the wake of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre. The measures that would be repealed would include the three-day waiting period on rifle and shotgun sales, the ban of bump stocks and risk-protection orders that allow guns to be seized from people who have been declared dangerous.

HB 235 – Fetal heartbeat abortion ban

This bill would ban doctors from performing abortions if a fetal heartbeat was detected. Similar laws passed in other states have led to legal challenges in courts.

HB 855 – Sex Education instructional material

HB 855 amends Florida's law on sex education and would require a principal to notify parents of students in classes that will include sex education at least 10 days before the material is taught, and the parents would have to provide written approval to allow the student to participate in the portions of the class that include sex education. The bill also makes changes broadening the definition of "obscene" material and making it easier for parents to object to "instructional material" being used in schools.

HB 1125 – Flavored Tobacco ban

HB 1125 bans the sale of flavored tobacco in retail shops unless people under 18 are not allowed in the building. The definition of flavored tobacco includes liquid nicotine products used in e-cigarettes.

Appropriations and other bills

Hill has only filed one appropriations bill and it is on behalf of Pensacola State College for $4.1 million for repaving PSC's roads and parking lots.

Hill has filed two other bills. HB 739 allows rural businesses to apply for state grants, and HB 1059 adds a notification requirement during civil lawsuits about who is entitled to be paid fees.

Rep. Alex Andrade

Newly elected Andrade is a Republican from Pensacola and is in his first year representing District 2, which is made up of the southern part of Escambia County, including the city of Pensacola and a western portion of Santa Rosa County including the city of Gulf Breeze.

HM 243 – Message of the federal budget deficit and national debt

Known as a House Memorial, HM 243 is a non-binding bill that, if passed, would send a message to Congress and President Donald Trump urging Congress to "take immediate action to address" the federal budget deficit and national debt.

HB 845 – Public records exemption for protective orders

This bill adds a public records exemption for petitions for an injunction against domestic violence, including cyberstalking, until the person the injunction is against has been personally served with a copy of the injunction.

HB 1067 – Pensacola and Escambia County's Economic Development Commission

Andrade is sponsoring this local bill that changes the requirements to be appointed to the Pensacola-Escambia Development Commission from being registered to vote in Escambia County to being required to owning a business in Escambia County.

HB 905 – Department of Transportation Secretary

This bill allows the governor to directly appoint the Department of Transportation secretary. Under current law, the governor must choose from three people nominated by the Florida Transportation Commission.

Appropriations and other bills

Andrade has filed 28 appropriation bills totaling $77.7 million, most of that for projects or programs in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, but one bill is a $15 million appropriation for Gulf County emergency beach restoration.

Andrade has filed seven other bills on issues from public contracts like HB 101 and HB 167, which change payment processes and accounting rules for public contracts, to bills like HB 7007 and HB 7049 that keep current public records exemption surrounding toll transactions set to expire this year.

Rep. Jayer Williamson

Williamson, a Republican from Pace, is in his third year as a member of the House and sits on the Appropriations Committee and is chairman of the Government Operations and Technology Subcommittee.

Williams represents District 3, which includes parts of Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties.

Williamson's position on those committees means he's filed 43 appropriations bills so far totaling $122 million. Many of the appropriations bills he's sponsoring provide money in response to Hurricane Michael.

HB 879 Genetic Information used for insurance

Williamson is sponsoring a bill that prohibits life insurers and long-term care insurers from canceling, limiting or denying coverage based on someone's genetic information or otherwise using genetic information for insurance purposes.

HB 13 Collective Bargaining

This bill prohibits public employees from being paid for organization activities for a labor union.

HB 127 Permit fees

This bill requires counties and city governments to post all of their permit fees and inspection reports on their websites.

Williamson is also sponsoring two additional bills, HB 475, which updates requirements for boat titles, and, HB 773, which updates regulations for franchised car dealers.

Sen. Doug Broxson

Broxson, a Republican from Gulf Breeze, is in his third year in the Florida Senate and represents Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as well as a part of Okaloosa County.

Broxson is chairman of the Banking and Insurance committee and has filed bills in that field.

SB 122 – Attorney fees under insurance policies

This bill would prevent allowing people to extend the right to attorney fees to contractors in assignment of benefits cases. Assignment of benefits allows homeowners to designate an contractor to be paid their homeowner's insurance benefits. In recent years, the practice has become the focus of controversy.

Broxson's bill would make contractors have to pay their own attorney fees when suing an insurance company to be repaid. The bill stalled when it was brought up for a hearing in Broxson's committee Feb. 11 but is scheduled for another hearing on Monday.

SB 620 – Military service member's rent

This bill would limit how much landlords could charge military members for security deposits or advance rent to more than two months' rent. The bill also limits what can be built near military stations if it interferes with the mission of that base.

Other bills

Broxson has filed four other bills that make changes to different business regulations such as underground facility damage prevents regulations, definition of a professional geologist, and the level of Florida's participation in the Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Compact.

Jim Little can be reached at jwlittle@pnj.com and 850-208-9827.