Politics
OPINION: Reps. Brown, Morales Top Orange County Democratic House Lawmakers in Passing State Laws
Published
11 months agoon

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) – As the 2022 November midterm election draws closer, political ads have gotten increasingly nastier–especially in the state house elections in Orange County–from Republican candidates claiming their Democrat opponents got no bills passed or signed into law (namely Senator Jason Brodeur in his attack on State Rep. Joy Goff-Marcil in the Senate District 10 race). As such, we’re looking at the Democratic state lawmakers who represent Orange County and how many bills they sponsored (in their own name) out of the 14 bills issued to them that were signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis during the 2021 and 2022 legislative sessions.
Orange County’s Top Two Democratic State Lawmakers
Reps. Kamia Brown and Daisy Morales introduced the most bills (which include companion and appropriations bills) that got signed into law out of the seven Democratic state lawmakers representing Orange County.
Florida State Representative Kamia Brown: 7 Bills
Democratic Minority Leader pro tempore (2020-2022)
Florida State Representative Daisy Morales: 5 Bills
Democratic Freshman Lawmaker (2020-2022)

State Rep. Daisy Morales holds up the signed House Resolution 8069, recognizing April 2, 2022 as Puerto Rican Heritage Day across the state of Florida, on the Florida House floor. Photo: State Rep. Daisy Morales (via Facebook).
A Lawmaker’s Job
For anyone who may not know, in addition to balancing the state budget, getting bills signed into law is the literal job of a state representative and state senator, which is why they’re typically called “lawmakers.” The same is true at the federal level–U.S. representatives (or Congressmen and Congresswomen) and U.S. senators are responsible for balancing the federal budget and getting bills signed into law.
That said, it’s a pretty tough sell to ask voters to re-elect you if you’re an incumbent representative or senator with no bills sponsored in your name getting signed into law.
The Legislative Process in a Nutshell
Granted, the process is long, difficult and a bill is at the mercy of many people. It has to pass subcommittees, committees, then make it to the House or Senate floor for a vote and must pass there before having its companion bill approved in the other chamber (House or Senate, depending on which chamber passes the bill first).
While passing both chambers is exciting because it means the bill is headed to the governor’s or president’s desk for signature, it’s not a law until it gets signed. And there are plenty of bills that never make it that far.
This is why not having any bills signed into law for a particular legislative session (or worse, for an incumbent candidate’s entire legislative career) proves detrimental. It means the candidate only accomplished half of the job.
The Orange County Democratic State Reps’ Record
Here’s how the state representatives in the Orange County Democratic State Legislative Delegation measure up.
Chair – Representative Joy Goff-Marcil (District 30)
Total number of bills signed into law in her name during the 2021 and 2022 Legislative Sessions: 1
2022 Bills:
2021 Bills:
HB 553 | Postsecondary Fee Waivers | Died in Post-Secondary Education & Lifelong Learning Subcommittee | |
HB 555 | Storage of Firearms by Licensed Importers, Manufacturers, and Dealers | Died in Regulatory Reform Subcommittee | |
HB 641 | Charter and Private Schools | Died in Early Learning & Elementary Education Subcommittee | |
HB 1105 | Energy Security and Disaster Resilience Pilot Program | Died in Pandemics & Public Emergencies Committee | |
HB 1225 | Implementation of the Recommendations of the Blue-Green Algae Task Force | Died in Environment, Agriculture & Flooding Subcommittee | |
HB 1339 | Broadband Internet Service | Died in Tourism, Infrastructure & Energy Subcommittee; companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/HB 1239 (Ch. 2021-24) | |
HB 1481 | Vacation Rentals | Died in Regulatory Reform Subcommittee | |
HB 2451 | Maitland Art Center Structural Rehabilitation | Died in Appropriations Committee |
Vice Chair – Representative Travaris L. McCurdy (District 46)
Total number of bills signed into law in his name during the 2021 and 2022 Legislative Sessions: 4
2022 Bills:
HB 61 | Transportation Facility Designations | Died in Tourism, Infrastructure & Energy Subcommittee | |
HB 109 | Prohibiting Deception in Interrogations of Minors | Died in Criminal Justice & Public Safety Subcommittee | |
HB 367 | Juneteenth Day | Died in Government Operations Subcommittee | |
CS/HB 369 | Motor Vehicle Registration Certificate Cards | Died in Infrastructure & Tourism Appropriations Subcommittee | |
CS/HB 371 | Fees/Motor Vehicle Registration Certificate Cards | Died in Infrastructure & Tourism Appropriations Subcommittee | |
HB 919 | Florida Teachers Classroom Supply Assistance Program | Died in PreK-12 Appropriations Subcommittee | |
HB 1587 | Residential Tenancies | Died in Civil Justice & Property Rights Subcommittee | |
HB 3457 | Florida Children’s Initiative Recidivism Reduction and Prevention | Died in Appropriations Committee | |
HB 6079 | Eligibility for Temporary Cash Assistance | Died in Children, Families & Seniors Subcommittee | |
HB 9459 | Dre’s Haven – Supportive Independent Living | Died in Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee |
2021 Bills:
Secretary – Representative Anna V. Eskamani (District 47)
Total number of bills signed into law in her name during the 2021 and 2022 Legislative Sessions: 2
2022 Bills:
2021 Bills:
Representative Geraldine F. Thompson (District 44)
Total number of bills signed into law in her name during the 2021 and 2022 Legislative Sessions: 2
2022 Bills:
2021 Bills:
2021 | HB 103 | Elections | Died in Public Integrity & Elections Committee |
2021 | HB 105 | Required Instruction in the History of the Holocaust and of African Americans | Died in Secondary Education & Career Development Subcommittee |
2021 | HB 107 | Discrimination in Labor and Employment | Died in Regulatory Reform Subcommittee |
2021 | HB 161 | Judicial Nominating Commissions | Died in Civil Justice & Property Rights Subcommittee |
2021 | HB 277 | Statewide Police Misconduct Registry | Died in Criminal Justice & Public Safety Subcommittee |
2021 | HB 377 | Youth in Solitary Confinement | Died in Criminal Justice & Public Safety Subcommittee |
2021 | HB 443 | Eligibility for Medical Assistance and Related Services | Died in Finance & Facilities Subcommittee |
2021 | HB 533 | Divine Nine Specialty License Plates | Died in Tourism, Infrastructure & Energy Subcommittee; companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/SB 676 (Ch. 2021-177) |
2021 | HB 2579 | Town of Windermere Pedestrian Trail Phase 1 | Died in Infrastructure & Tourism Appropriations Subcommittee |
2021 | HB 2581 | Town of Windermere Pedestrian/Multi-Modal Bridge Project | Died in Appropriations Committee |
2021 | HB 2691 | Windermere Water Master Plan Central Phase (Lake Butler Waterway and N of 6th Ave) | Died in Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee |
2021 | HB 2693 | Windermere Water Master Plan South Phase (South of 6th Ave) | Died in Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee |
2021 | HB 2695 | Windermere Water Master Plan North Phase | Died in Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee |
2021 | HB 3101 | Oakland South Lake Apopka Initiative | See SB 2500 (line item 1607A) |
2021 | HB 3103 | D.U.S.T – Developing Urban Sophisticated Technocrats | Vetoed by Governor; See SB 2500 (line item 110) |
2021 | HB 3231 | Sankofa Black Cultural Tourism Enhancement | Died in Infrastructure & Tourism Appropriations Subcommittee |
2021 | HB 6081 | Collective Bargaining for Instructional Personnel | Died in Government Operations Subcommittee |
2021 | HR 8047 | George H. Starke, Jr. | Adopted by Publication; companion bill(s) passed, see SR 2036 (Adopted) |
Representative Kamia L. Brown (District 45)
Total number of bills signed into law in her name during the 2021 and 2022 Legislative Sessions: 7
2022 Bills:
2021 Bills:
2021 | HB 179 | Prohibited Discrimination Based on Hairstyle | Died in Civil Justice & Property Rights Subcommittee |
2021 | HB 181 | 1920 Ocoee Election Day Riots | Died in Post-Secondary Education & Lifelong Learning Subcommittee |
2021 | CS/HB 183 | Office of Minority Health and Health Equity | Chapter No. 2021-117 |
2021 | HB 645 | Postpartum Medicaid Coverage | Died in Finance & Facilities Subcommittee; companion bill(s) passed, see SB 2518 (Ch. 2021-41) |
2021 | HB 743 | Insurance Coverage for Breast Cancer Tests and Procedures | Died in Finance & Facilities Subcommittee |
2021 | CS/HB 1381 | Maternal Health Outcomes | Chapter No. 2021-238 |
2021 | HB 1383 | Maternal Health Care Services | Died in Professions & Public Health Subcommittee; companion bill(s) passed, see CS/HB 1381 (Ch. 2021-238) |
2021 | HB 3859 | Florida State University – Florida Health Equity Research Institute | Died in Appropriations Committee |
2021 | HB 3861 | Central Florida Family Health Center COVID-19 Infusion Center | Vetoed by Governor; See SB 2500 (line item 444) |
2021 | HB 3863 | Special Hearts Farm | Died in Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee |
2021 | HB 3865 | Tech Sassy Girlz | Vetoed by Governor; See SB 2500 (line item 110) |
2021 | HB 3867 | Apopka Fire Station 6 | See SB 2500 (line item 2377A) |
2021 | HB 3869 | Adult Mobile Response (MRT) for the Central Region | Withdrawn prior to introduction |
2021 | HB 4087 | Re-Establishment of the Florida Center for Nursing | See SB 2500 (line item 444) |
2021 | HR 8057 | Black Maternal Health Awareness Week | Adopted by Publication |
Representative Daisy Morales (District 48)
Total number of bills signed into law in her name during the 2021 and 2022 Legislative Sessions: 5
2022 Bills:
2021 Bills:
2021 | HB 269 | Definition of Developmental Disability | Died in Children, Families & Seniors Subcommittee |
2021 | HB 517 | School Meals | Died in Early Learning & Elementary Education Subcommittee |
2021 | HB 855 | Barber Services | Chapter No. 2021-218 |
2021 | HB 857 | Commercial Telephone Solicitation | Died in Regulatory Reform Subcommittee; companion bill(s) passed, see CS/SB 1120 (Ch. 2021-185) |
2021 | HB 887 | Lactation Spaces in Courthouses | Died in Civil Justice & Property Rights Subcommittee |
2021 | HB 1271 | Claims for Medical Negligence | Died in Civil Justice & Property Rights Subcommittee |
2021 | CS/CS/HB 1347 | Educational Opportunities for Disabled Veterans | 04/30/21 S Died in Appropriations |
2021 | HB 2051 | English as a Second Language through Arts Integration | Died in Appropriations Committee |
2021 | HB 2561 | Capital & Procurement Access for Minority Owned Businesses | Died in Appropriations Committee |
2021 | HB 2773 | Smiling at Life | Died in Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee |
2021 | HB 2775 | Access Community Awareness Center | Died in Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee |
2021 | HB 2855 | Gateway Orlando Economic Prosperity Initiative | Vetoed by Governor; See SB 2500 (line item 2245A) |
2021 | HB 3197 | Dreams in Action for Young Adults: Value Leadership to Build Successful Stories | Died in PreK-12 Appropriations Subcommittee |
2021 | HB 3199 | Grow It Forward Urban-Farm Network Strategic Planning | Vetoed by Governor; See SB 2500 (line item 1502) |
2021 | HB 3525 | Magic of Orange County Conservation and STEM Environmental Outdoor Learning for K-12 and Beyond | Died in Appropriations Committee |
2021 | HR 8053 | World Vitiligo Day | Adopted by Publication; companion bill(s) passed, see SR 2058 (Adopted) |
Representative Carlos Guillermo Smith (District 49)
Total number of bills signed into law in her name during the 2021 and 2022 Legislative Sessions: 2
2022 Bills:
2022 | HB 199 | Assault Weapons and Large-capacity Magazines | Died in Criminal Justice & Public Safety Subcommittee |
2022 | HB 205 | Gay and Transgender Panic Legal Defenses | Died in Criminal Justice & Public Safety Subcommittee |
2022 | HB 439 | Small Business Saturday Sales Tax Holiday | Died in Ways & Means Committee |
2022 | HB 675 | Medicaid Buy-in Program | Died in Finance & Facilities Subcommittee |
2022 | HB 1237 | Nursing Home Accountability | Died in Finance & Facilities Subcommittee; companion bill(s) passed, see HB 539 (Ch. 2022-49) |
2022 | HB 1471 | Availability of Marijuana for Adult Use | Died in Professions & Public Health Subcommittee; companion bill(s) passed, see HB 5003 (Ch. 2022-157) |
2022 | HB 1473 | Fees/Cannabis Expunction | Died in Professions & Public Health Subcommittee |
2022 | HB 1569 | Social Services Estimating Conference | Died in Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee |
2022 | HB 6047 | Wage and Employment Benefits Requirements | Died in Regulatory Reform Subcommittee |
2021 Bills:
2021 | HB 343 | Availability of Marijuana for Adult Use | Died in Professions & Public Health Subcommittee |
2021 | HB 345 | Fees/Cannabis Expunction | Died in Professions & Public Health Subcommittee |
2021 | HB 653 | Assault Weapons and Large-capacity Magazines | Died in Criminal Justice & Public Safety Subcommittee |
2021 | HM 825 | Conviction and Disqualification of President Trump | Died in Public Integrity & Elections Committee |
2021 | HB 1415 | Driver Licenses and Identification Cards | Died in Tourism, Infrastructure & Energy Subcommittee |
2021 | HB 1435 | Utility Customer Assistance Funds | Died in Tourism, Infrastructure & Energy Subcommittee |
2021 | HB 1469 | Florida Commercial Rent Stabilization Fund | Died in Infrastructure & Tourism Appropriations Subcommittee |
2021 | HB 1471 | Gay and Transgender Panic Legal Defenses | Died in Criminal Justice & Public Safety Subcommittee |
2021 | HB 6031 | Wage and Employment Benefits Requirements | Died in Regulatory Reform Subcommittee |
2021 | HR 8071 | Posttraumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day/Month | Died, reference deferred |
2021 | HR 8089 | Jared Moskowitz | Adopted by Publication; companion bill(s) passed, see SR 2042 (Adopted) |
As for Senator Jason Brodeur’s recent attack ad claiming that State Rep. Joy Goff-Marcil didn’t pass any laws, that’s not entirely true. For the 2022 Legislative Session, yes, she didn’t get any bills passed, but she did get one passed in 2021, which is part of her term. One is still more than zero.
All in all, Democrats have an uphill climb to pass bills and get them signed into law, as they have over the last two decades as the minority party in the state legislature. It takes far more effort for them to persuade their Republican colleagues to pass bills out of committee to even make it to a floor vote. Most bills are dead on arrival and never get heard in any committee. Even for the bills that pass the legislature, it takes a miracle for Governor DeSantis, who naturally prioritizes his own party’s legislation, to sign a Democrat lawmaker’s bill into law. That’s why Reps. Brown’s and Morales’ numbers above are so significant. It’s a tough feat to pass laws as a Democrat state representative, and especially as a freshman. Results like those are a testament to a lawmaker’s grit, resilience, and adaptability.
After this year’s midterm election, the Democrats will have an even tougher fight, given the GOP’s aggressive push to gain more seats after this year’s redistricting, and with the Democrats prioritizing abortion rights as their primary campaign message compared to the GOP’s focus on the economy–which is what most voters are concerned with right now–the Dems will have to claw their way through over the next two to four years to get anything done.
Watch this space.
__________________________________________________
Mellissa Thomas is Editor for Florida National News. | mellissa.thomas@floridanationalnews.com
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In the previous district, 46.5 percent of the voting age population was Black. Under the new map, the four districts in the area are 23.1 percent, 15.9 percent, 31.7 percent and 12.8 percent Black.
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This is an ongoing story. Bookmark and follow Florida National News for more updates.
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