Abortion, elections, Ladapo, secrecy: How they voted

Party-line votes on emotionally-charged issues are nothing new in Tallahassee, but the 2022 legislative session featured an unusually high number of them. What should matter most to you, the voter, is how your individual lawmakers voted and whether they are representing your interests. The Sun Sentinel has compiled roll call votes on nine of the most controversial issues to spotlight how all legislators in the Broward and Palm Beach delegations voted.

Eight are bills that were priorities of the Republican majority, and the ninth was the Senate vote to confirm Dr. Joseph Ladapo as surgeon general.

ABORTION (HB 5)

Abortion would be illegal in Florida after 15 weeks with no exceptions for rape, incest or human trafficking. Passed House, 78-39 and Senate, 23-15.

House

YES: David Borrero, R-Sweetwater; Mike Caruso, R-Delray Beach; Tom Fabricio, R-Miramar; Chip LaMarca, R-Lighthouse Point.

NO: Robin Bartleman, D-Weston; Daryl Campbell, D-Fort Lauderdale; Joe Casello, D-Boynton Beach; Dan Daley, D-Coral Springs; Joe Geller, D-Aventura; Mike Gottlieb, D-Davie; Christine Hunschofsky, D-Parkland; Evan Jenne, D-Dania Beach; Felicia Robinson, D-Miami Gardens; Kelly Skidmore, D-Boca Raton; Emily Slosberg-King, D-Boca Raton; Patricia Williams, D-Pompano Beach; Marie Woodson, D-Hollywood.

Not voting: Anika Omphroy, D-Lauderdale Lakes.

Senate YES: NO:

None

Lori Berman, D-Boynton Beach; Lauren Book, D-Plantation; Gary Farmer, D-Lighthouse Point; Shevrin Jones, D-West Park; Tina Polsky, D-Boca Raton; Bobby Powell, D-West Palm Beach.

ALIMONY (SB 1796)

Permanent alimony would end in Florida divorce cases and the change would apply retroactively and a 50-50 presumption of time-sharing of children is codified in law. Passed House, 74-42 and Senate, 21-16.

House

YES: Borrero; Caruso; Casello; Fabricio; Gottlieb; LaMarca.

NO: Bartleman; Campbell; Daley; Geller; Hunschofsky; Jenne; Omphroy; Robinson; Skidmore; Slosberg-King; Williams; Woodson.

Senate

YES: None.

NO: Berman; Book; Farmer; Polsky; Powell.

Not voting: Jones.

Roll call vote: https://flsenate.

gov/Session/Bill/2022/ 1796/

Vote/ Senate Vote_s01796e 1047. PDF

BUSINESS LAWSUITS (SB 620)

Allows businesses to sue a local government for decisions that cost them at least 15 percent of their profits. The bill’s final version significantly narrowed the original proposal, including limits on the kinds of decisions that could trigger lawsuits and requirements for businesses that could take advantage of it, but could still have a chilling effect on local communities’ decision-making. Passed House 69-45 and Senate, 22-14.

House

YES: Borrero; Caruso; Fabricio; LaMarca; Omphroy.

NO: Bartleman; Campbell; Casello; Daley; Geller; Gottlieb; Hunschofsky; Jenne; Robinson; Skidmore; Slosberg-King; Williams; Woodson.

Roll call vote: https://www.

flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2022/

620/Vote/HouseVote_

s00620e1832.PDF

Senate

YES: None.

NO: Berman; Book; Farmer; Jones; Polsky; Powell.

Roll call vote: https://www.

flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2022/

620/Vote/SenateVote_

s00620c1007.PDF

‘DON’T SAY GAY’ (HB 1557)

Bans classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity in grades K-3 and prohibits such discussion if not “age appropriate or developmentally appropriate,” regardless of grade. Opponents and media called it the “Don’t say gay” bill. Passed House,

69-47 and Senate, 22-17.

House

YES: Borrero; Caruso; Fabricio.

NO: Bartleman; Campbell; Casello; Daley; Geller; Gottlieb; Hunschofsky; Jenne; LaMarca; Omphroy; Robinson; Skidmore; Slosberg-King; Williams; Woodson.

Roll call vote: https://flsenate.

gov/Session/Bill/2022/ 1557/

Vote/ House Vote_h01557e 1564. PDF

Senate

YES: None.

NO: Berman; Book; Farmer; Jones; Polsky; Powell.

Roll call vote: https://flsenate.

gov/Session/Bill/2022/ 1557/

Vote/ Senate Vote_h01557e 1003. PDF

ELECTIONS (SB 524)

Creates an Office of Election Crimes and Security; raises fines for late voter forms; replaces term “drop box” with “secure ballot intake station;” bans private funds for voter outreach, including free legal assistance for election supervisors. Passed House, 76-41 and Senate, 24-14.

House

YES: Borrero; Caruso; Fabricio; LaMarca.

NO: Bartleman; Campbell; Casello; Daley; Geller; Gottlieb; Hunschofsky; Jenne; Omphroy; Robinson; Skidmore; Slosberg-King; Williams; Woodson.

Senate:

YES: None.

NO: Berman; Book; Farmer; Polsky; Powell.

Not voting: Jones.

DR. JOSEPH LADAPO (SENATE CONFIRMATION)

Senators voted 24-15 to confirm Dr. Joseph Ladapo as Surgeon General after hearings at which he faced criticism for his response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including his opposition to face masks and vaccines. House members do not vote on confirmations of the governor’s appointees.

YES: None.

NO: Berman; Book; Farmer; Jones; Polsky; Powell.

ROOFTOP SOLAR (HB 741)

This bill, which many say could gut Florida’s thriving solar-power industry, raises the amount power companies can charge customers who have installed rooftop solar panels, and reduces the amount utilities must credit those customers for excess power that is transferred back into the power grid. However, existing owners of solar arrays would not be affected for 20 years.

House

YES: Borrero; Caruso; Fabricio; LaMarca.

NO: Bartleman; Campbell; Casello; Daley; Geller; Gottlieb; Hunschofsky; Jenne; Omphroy; Robinson; Skidmore; Slosberg-King; Williams; Woodson.

Roll call vote: https:// www.flsenate.gov/Session/

Bill/2022/ 741/Vote/HouseVote_

h00741e1655.PDF

Senate:

YES: Powell.

NO: Berman; Book; Farmer; Jones;Polsky.

Roll call vote: https:// www.flsenate.gov/Session/

Bill/2022/ 741/Vote/SenateVote_

h00741e1004.PDF

‘STOP W.O.K.E. ACT’ (HB 7)

This legislation, a priority for Gov. Ron DeSantis, puts sharp but poorly defined limits on companies that “subject” their employees to diversity training that emphasizes problems related to systemic racism or sexism. It also limits the scope of diversity education in public schools.

House

YES: Borrero; Caruso; Fabricio; LaMarca.

NO: Bartleman; Campbell; Casello; Daley; Geller; Gottlieb; Hunschofsky; Jenne; Omphroy; Robinson; Skidmore; Slosberg-King; Williams; Woodson.

Roll call vote: https://www.

flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2022/ 7/

Vote/HouseVote_h00007e1563. PDF

Senate: YES: NO:

None. Berman; Book; Farmer;

Jones; Polsky; Powell.

Roll call vote: https://www.

flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2022/ 7/

Vote/SenateVote_h00007e2003. PDF

UNIVERSITY SECRECY (SB 520)

Creates a new public-records exemption that cloaks all identifying information (including race and gender) of candidates for president at Florida public universities and colleges — which are among the state’s highest-paid jobs and often regarded as political plums. The names of candidates would be hidden until the final group of candidates is named, or 21 days before the final pick is announced.

House

YES: Borrero; Caruso; Fabricio; LaMarca.

NO: Bartleman; Campbell; Casello; Daley; Geller; Gottlieb; Hunschofsky; Jenne; Omphroy; Robinson; Skidmore; Slosberg-King; Williams; Woodson.

Roll call vote: https://www.

flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2022/

520/Vote/HouseVote_

s00520e1705.PDF

Senate:

YES: Jones.

NO: Berman; Book; Farmer; Polsky; Powell.

Roll call vote: https://www.

flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2022/

520/Vote/SenateVote_

s00520c1002.PDF

Note: Votes listed are on final passage. The House had 118 members with one or two seats vacant during the session. The Senate had 39 members with one seat vacant. Every senator from Broward and Palm Beach counties is a Democrat. The districts of Miami-Dade Reps. David Borrero, Tom Fabricio and Felicia Robinson each include separate portions of southwest Broward.

The Sun Sentinel Editorial Board consists of Opinion Editor Steve Bousquet, Deputy Opinion Editor Dan Sweeney and Editor-in-Chief Julie Anderson. Editorials are the opinion of the Board and written by one of its members or a designee. To contact us, email at letters@sun-sentinel.com.