Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaJuly 1, 2017

Saturday is not only the first day of the state’s budget year, it’s also when a host of new laws go into effect. Here’s a capsule look at five of the more notable statutes taking effect July 1: — Religious expression in schools. This new law clarifies that public school students can’t be punished for […]

Staff ReportsMay 31, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott signed five bills into law Wednesday, including legislation providing birth certificates in cases of miscarriage and punishing the desecration of graves. Scott did not explain his reasons in his transmission letter to the secretary of state. HB 101, the Grieving Families Act, would give parents the option of receiving a state-issued certificate […]

Brendan FarringtonApril 27, 2017

Florida could become the first state to issue what’s essentially a birth certificate for women who’ve had miscarriages under a bill the Legislature sent to Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday. The Grieving Families Act would give parents the option of receiving a state-issued certificate if a pregnancy is lost between nine weeks and 20 weeks […]

Associated PressApril 6, 2017

Florida could begin issuing what’s essentially a fetal death certificate to women who’ve had miscarriages. The House voted 115-1 Wednesday for what’s called the “Grieving Families Act.” At a parent’s request, the state would issue “certificates of nonviable birth” to women whose pregnancies end after nine weeks and before 20 weeks of gestation. Pregnancies that […]

Larry GriffinDecember 15, 2016

A new bill filed by Rep. Bob Cortes would allow parents who have miscarriages to get a certificate to properly mourn their child. Dubbed the “Grieving Families Act,” the bill would allow parents of a birth that is deemed unviable and dies before 20 weeks into the pregnancy to have a certificate made for them […]

Tag: Grieving Families Act
Crowds gather to see Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. (Gabrielle Russon)

The 5 on 1: Five ‘most interesting’ laws taking effect July 1

Rick Scott signs Grieving Families Act, plus four other bills, into law

Florida passes bill to issue certificates for miscarriages

Florida considers issuing certificates after miscarriages

Bob Cortes files ‘Grieving Families Act’ to allow certificates for miscarried children