FROM THE STATEHOUSE
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
T
By State Representative Robin Bartleman
his month I will be traveling to Tallahassee for two more committee weeks in preparation for the legislative session. Last month I received the Policy Pioneer Award from the Florida Policy Institute for advocating on behalf of children’s health equity and wellbeing. The Florida League of Cities also awarded me the Legislative Appreciation Award for supporting local decisions on the Local Administration and Veteran Affairs committee. The Florida School Board Association awarded me Legislator of the Year for fighting against high stakes education and protecting our public schools. Last month I shared with you my bill to support our first responders. This month, I want to update you on our work in District 104 and what I am doing to provide quality, affordable health care for our kids. Democracy Day was a coordinated effort by volunteers and lawmakers in response to Senate Bill 90. Last month, my office canvassed to educate Broward residents on Florida’s new restrictive voting bill. If you vote by mail or use an absentee ballot, make sure that you request your ballot each general election cycle as per the new law.
Visit www.browardvotes.gov to check your voter status, request a Vote-By-Mail ballot, track your ballot, and learn everything you need to make your vote count. The Supervisor of Elections office staff can be reached M-Fri 8:30-5pm at (954) 357-VOTE (8683). I joined my friends and former colleagues on the Broward School Board for the FTX Charity Hackathon Kickoff. FTX Charity Hackathon is open to students ages 13-19 from Broward, Palm Beach, and MiamiDade. The competition challenges students to create a charity or improve an existing one focusing on physical and mental health. Students on the top 5 teams will be awarded $15,000 each and the winning charity project wins one million dollars! To learn more, visit ftxcharityhackathon.com. I filed HB 125 to expand KidCare, Florida’s Children’s Health Insurance Program, so that our working families have access to affordable health care. The minimum wage will incrementally rise to $15 over the next four years, yet this small increase in salary is not enough to help working families cover rising housing, food and childcare costs. It will also unintentionally push working families off of KidCare. No family should have to decide between a raise and their child’s healthcare. This
will strain Florida’s economy and health insurance programs. My bill will expand affordable coverage and create additional tiers that families can buy into. Working families are not looking for handouts, just hand-ups. Happy Thanksgiving! While the coronavirus makes it difficult to celebrate in person with family and friends this Thanksgiving, it also makes it all the more important to express your gratitude to the ones you love. So whether it is around the dinner table or over zoom, share with your loved ones how grateful you are for their presence in your life. I wish you all a safe and blessed holiday. With love,
Robin, Emma, & Sarah.
November 2021 / OurCityMedia.com / 39
