In a recent interview on “(we don’t) Color On the Dog,” State Rep. Alex Andrade discussed the recent legislative session, highlighting key bills, budget priorities, and his role as the Healthcare Appropriations Committee chair.
Here’s a breakdown of the conversation:
Charter School Legislation Success
One of Rep. Andrade’s notable achievements was the passage of charter school legislation that originated from discussions with me. The bill allows parents to vote to convert a public school to a charter school and gives municipalities a larger role in the process. After two sessions of effort, this legislation was incorporated into a larger education package and is now awaiting Governor DeSantis’s signature.
- Background: Inweekly brought up the initiative to address concerns about fairness for city schools in counties where school board voting blocks might be predominantly outside the municipality, such as in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. The legislation gives parents and cities more control over their schools, citing Gulf Breeze as an example of a small town where schools are integral to the community.
Medical Marijuana Reform
Andrade also discussed his medical marijuana bill, which passed the House floor. While the original bill included provisions for limited home growing (two plants for cardholders), the final version that passed focused on allowing veterans to obtain medical marijuana cards for free and extending the renewal requirement from annual to biennial.
- The representative expressed disappointment that some provisions were stripped from the bill, including allowing medical marijuana as an alternative for patients already prescribed opioids and permitting telehealth consultations for card approvals, stating that he sought to “inject some sanity into the program.”
Cash Bond Reform Efforts
Perhaps the most personally significant legislation for Andrade that didn’t pass was his cash bond reform bill, which he has worked on for several years. The bill addresses a key fairness issue: when someone posts bail for another person who then fulfills all court obligations, the person who posted bail should get their money back.
- Currently, court clerks can use these funds to pay any outstanding debts of the defendant, even those unrelated to the current case. Andrade specifically mentioned how this affects charitable organizations like the Bail Project, which helps people maintain stability during pending cases by posting modest bonds and providing support services.
Andrade plans to make a “full court press” on this legislation in his final session next year. He cited opposition from the bail bonds lobby and unfortunate associations with controversial bail practices during riots that complicated the bill’s passage.
Budget Negotiations and Extended Session
The legislature extended its session until June 6th rather than holding a special session to finalize the budget.
- Why this matters: Andrade explained that this strategic move may be designed to give the governor less time to review and potentially veto budget items, as the governor would have only 14 days to sign the budget if passed during the session.
As Healthcare Appropriations chair, Andrade discovered a significant issue with the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) misallocating $160 million that was intended to pay a Medicaid fine to the federal government. Andrade expressed reluctance to fully cover AHCA’s mistake with taxpayer money, suggesting the agency should “make ends meet” on its own.
Medicaid Oversight and Government Accountability
One of Andrade’s priorities as committee chair has been improving oversight of Medicaid managed care, which he believes has lost focus on health outcomes in favor of profit maximization for private companies.
- While he supports the involvement of private companies that can potentially run programs more efficiently than the government, he emphasized the need for proper oversight to ensure these companies prioritize health outcomes over profits.
Coequal Branch: Andrade highlighted a concerning dynamic between state agencies and legislators, where executive agencies treat legislators as “part-time hobbyists” rather than as a coequal branch of government. He praised House Speaker Danny Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton for asserting the legislature’s authority and demanding more transparency and accountability from state agencies.
Historic Tax Cuts and Legislative Achievements
Despite challenges with the executive branch, Andrade emphasized the legislature’s significant accomplishments, including what will be the first permanent sales tax reduction by any state in the nation. The legislature plans to eliminate the business rent tax permanently and reduce overall spending.
“If you save half a percent in your sales tax…at the end of the year, you will have saved and your family will have saved hundreds of dollars every year because we are living more and more within our means,” Andrade noted. He characterized these achievements as “big generational deals” that will have lasting positive impacts for Floridians, even if they don’t generate major headlines.
