Jason Delgado
Republican Rep. Alex Andrade completed the 2021 Legislative Session on Friday with four bills awaiting the Governor’s signature and millions in funding for special projects.
The bills address a variety issues and include a sweeping transportation package (HB 57). If signed into law, it would mark the Republican lawmaker’s second successful transportation package during his three years in the Legislature.
Andrade, who represents House District 2, also passed a bill (HB 433) that would allow local governments and the Department of Emergency Management to use drones after a disaster to assess damage.
The Panhandle district (Escambia and Santa Rosa County) is still recovering after a series of devastating hurricanes including Hurricane Sally.
“Rep. Andrade is committed to never allowing a delay in FEMA individual assistance for Floridians again,” Andrade’s office said in a press release.
Notably, Andrade worked with U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio to ensure foreign countries couldn’t compromise the drone technology.
Other Andrade-backed bills awaiting the Governor’s signature include a proposal to close “election law loopholes” and a bill that would create a “Fast Levy” program to “streamline” the state’s child support system.
“I want to thank Senator Broxson, Representative Williamson and our entire Northwest Florida Delegation for working with me as a team on securing huge wins for our region,” Andrade said in a news release.
Not least, Andrade secured funding for 14 special projects. Among them, a new Florida Department of Law Enforcement evidence processing site in Pensacola.
The lawmaker’s office described the site as a “historic project” that will lead to new ad valorem taxes.
Andrade also brought home $1 million for the Pensacola Institute for Human & Machine Cognition and $500,000 for Andrews Institute Research Regenerative Medicine.
He additionally secured $50,000 for the 200th Anniversary Celebration of Raising the American Flag in Pensacola Celebration.
The 60-day Session ended Friday.
Lawmakers filed more than 3,000 bills. Only 259 passed both Chambers.
