The Anna for Florida Blog

Orlando, FL: Today immigrant rights organizations across the State of Florida are calling for businesses to close, workers to stay home, and everyday people not to purchase items in the Sunshine State as a means to demonstrate solidarity with immigrant families. This...

Dear Friend, Today marks the beginning of Pride Month, and now it is more important than ever for us to honor Pride and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. Let me tell you why.  In case you missed it, this has been a disastrous year for equality in Florida. In one day...

The Sierra Club has released their Legislative Scorecard and Representative Anna V. Eskamani has been named a Legislative Hero for her actions this past session in support of Florida's environment. Read the full scorecard here. Here is a statement from The Sierra...

Orlando, FL - Representative Anna V. Eskamani will host a mental health awareness discussion with Dr. Cristi Salinas, PsyD on Thursday, May 25th at 11:00AM. The program will address key policy developments in Florida, share relevant community resources, and explore...

Orlando, FL: Today Governor Ron DeSantis announced his bid for presidency. Here is Representative Anna V. Eskamani's statement in response. "Governor Ron DeSantis is an extremist who preaches about freedom while he strips away our freedoms as Floridians. Whether it's...

Orlando, FL - Join Representative Anna V. Eskamani on Wednesday, May 24th at 12pm alongside professionals from Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health to host a virtual event that brings awareness to National Foster Care Month. A live program will be streamed at...

This event will take place in partnership with community advocates and policy experts Eatonville, FL - In February, State House Representative Anna V. Eskamani joined community advocate Chasman Barnes to host an in-person “Policy to the People” town hall that set the...

Orlando, FL: Today Governor Ron DeSantis signed four anti-LGBTQ+ bills into law at a Christian Private School in Tampa. That includes the gender affirming care ban, the bathroom ban, restrictions on drag shows and the expansion of Don’t Say LGBTQ. He also signed a...

Led by Dr. Thomas Hall, Director or Orange County’s Coalition for a Drug-Free Community Orlando, FL - Join Representative Anna V. Eskamani (D-42) this afternoon Tuesday, May 16th from 2:00pm - 3:00pm ET for a virtual discussion to address regional opioid trends and...

The Florida Legislative Session formally ended Friday, May 5th Orlando, FL - The 2023 Legislative Session has finally come to an end in Tallahassee. In recent months, Florida State Representatives and State Senators have passed new laws, developed a statewide budget,...

During the 2023 Legislative Session sweeping changes were made to the Florida elections systems via SB7050. Here is a breakdown of what was included in that bill. You can also click here for a PDF version and see the bill text here. Changes an existing requirement for...

Dear Friend, Happy Mother's Day from my family to yours! I'm not going to lie, this can be a hard day for me -- my Mom passed away after a long fight with cancer back in 2004. I was just 13 years old. I miss her terribly, every single day. Here's a photo of my Mom...

Orlando, FL: Yesterday Floridians Protecting Freedom officially announced and launched a statewide campaign to codify abortion rights in Florida's State Constitution via a citizen-led ballot initiative. Today that petition officially went live and this evening...

Dear Friend, It’s finally over. This was the session from hell when it comes to the personal freedoms that Floridians hold so dear – like access to abortion, LGBTQ+ equality, immigrant rights and collective bargaining.  We did see success with Florida’s state budget,...

Somewhere On I-10, Florida: Governor Ron DeSantis was sent SB1604, legislation that was once focused primarily on land use issues but was amended to also include language to nullify the Disney and Reedy Creek agreement. About 30 minutes later, he signed this bill into...

Tallahassee, FL: Today marks the end of Florida’s 2023 Legislative Session. Here is Representative Eskamani’s statement. “This has been a session from hell when it comes to the personal freedoms that Floridians hold so dear, like access to abortion, LGBTQ+ equality,...

The Gender Affirming Care Ban has passed the Florida Legislature and now goes to the Governor's Desk. This is a breakdown of the amended version, provided by civl rights attorney Simone Chriss. Click here for a PDF version. (1) Custody provision: Big Picture Take...

Tallahassee, FL: Today the Florida House passed SB254, legislation that -- among many things -- will ban gender affirming care of new minor patients, requires that only MDs and DOs provide gender affirming care, prohibit public funding from going to gender affirming...

Tallahaseee, FL: Today the Florida House just passed HB999/SB266 from the House Floor. Here is Representative Eskamani’s statement in response. “This is a destructive bill that targets diverse students like me and our ability to thrive in higher...

May is dedicated to celebrating and supporting the professionals, families, and care-givers in their critical role of taking care of children in the foster care system. The theme of 2023’s Foster Care Month sponsored by the Children’s Bureau, emphasizes “the need to...

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is an important celebration that recognizes the achievements and the rich culture of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in various fields being brought to the forefront of society. The annual celebration of this...

The month of May is dedicated to raising awareness for mental health. The theme of 2023’s Mental Health Awareness Month focuses on how our surroundings and financial security impact mental health. Topics within this theme include that of “Safe and Stable Housing”, as...

Dear Friend, Well, this is it.  We’re headed into the last week of the 2023 legislative session. The final day of the 60-day session – known as Sine Die – is Friday. Before we start the final sprint, I wanted to get you a recap of Week 8. Unfortunately, we saw some...

Tallahassee, FL: Today the Florida Legislature passed HB1417, legislation that will preempt local governments and their ability to put into place local ordinances that support renters. Below is Representative Eskamani’s statement in response. “Today is another slap in...

Tallahassee, FL: Today the Florida House passed House Bill 7063, a bipartisan tax package that includes Representative Eskamani’s House Bill 29, a bill to permanently eliminate Florida’s sales tax on children’s diapers and adult incontinence products. Here is...

Tallahassee, FL: Today Disney filed a lawsuit against Governor Ron DeSantis over control of its Florida Resort. The company claimed “a targeted campaign of government retaliation” which it said stemmed from its criticism of a contentious state education law. Below is...

Dear Friend, We’re down to just two weeks to go in the 2023 legislative session.  Last week, we saw a coordinated assault on the rights of LGBTQ+ families by Gov. Ron DeSantis and Tallahassee Republicans. We also saw last-minute plots launched to supper the vote,...

Orlando, FL: The Supreme Court said Friday evening that the abortion pill mifepristone would remain widely available for now, delaying the potential for an abrupt end to a drug that is used in more than half of abortions in the United States. The order halts a...

April 22nd marks Record Store Day! It will carry on the sixteen-year-long tradition of celebrating the importance of brick-and-mortar record stores. These stores serve a vital role in our community by reminding each generation the uniqueness of a record and the...

Due to public feedback, both HB999 and SB266 have been amended through the committee process. This is a reminder that advocacy WORKS! See below for key updates. Improvements have been made, but serious concerns remain. Click here to see a one-pager. The Good HB 999...

Tallahassee, FL -  Representative Anna V. Eskamani (D-Orlando) and Senator Bobby Powell (D-West Palm Beach) have both passed memorials in their respective chambers to condemn the barbaric oppression of the people of Iran and stand in support of the fight for freedom....

Students at Florida Colleges and High Schools to Walk Out on Friday, April 21st On Thursday, April 20th, Walkout 2 Learn will kick off student walkouts at colleges and high schools across Florida with a press conference at the Florida State Capitol Rotunda alongside...

Orange County lawmakers want Governor DeSantis to Move On and Focus on Real Issues Tallahassee, FL: Today Governor Ron DeSantis announced more random policy proposals to target Walt Disney World as he continues his attempt to weaponize government to target a company...

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – On Monday, April 17, at 1:00 P.M. ET, Florida faith leaders, advocates and representatives will come together to call on lawmakers to protect reproductive freedoms in Florida and condemn the newly passed six-week abortion ban.  Leaders will join...

Costing Floridians billions of our tax dollars, lawmakers, constituents and  taxpayers call on legislative leaders to finally make corporations pay the taxes they owe this Tax Day  TALLAHASSEE – It’s Tax Day and hardworking Floridians will pay a disproportionate...

Dear Friend, I’m not going to sugarcoat it: Last week was a tough one.  Week six of the 2023 session saw the passage of a near-total ban on abortion in the state of Florida – which Gov. Ron DeSantis then cowardly signed behind closed doors and in the dark of night. ...

Tallahassee, FL: Tonight behind closed doors Governor Ron DeSantis signed one of the most consequential and devastating bills for women’s healthcare into law. SB300 bans abortion at 6 weeks and strips away bodily autonomy for more than half of the state. Here is Rep....

There is a LOT going on right now, but wanted to lift for your attention that SB266 (the Senate companion for HB999) had a hearing on Wednesday and was AMENDED. Unfortunately, the amendments really did not make things much better. Click here and read below for...

Dear Friend, Last week marked the halfway point of the 2023 legislative session.  The House and Senate each passed different versions of a $113 billion budget, and the two chambers will spend the next few weeks negotiating a final spending plan. There are some good...

A federal judge in Texas has just ruled on a lawsuit that seeks to restrict access to one of the two drugs typically used to induce a medicated abortion. The decision could impact 40 million women nationwide, making it the most consequential legal ruling since the...

Joined by Attorney Robert Branson and Senior Paralegal Tammy Branson of BransonLaw Orlando, FL - According to the Student Federal Aid Agency, Floridians have a total of $105.1 billion dollars in student debt with roughly 2.7 million borrowers. When examining the...

Invest in our Mother Earth this Earth Day through action, education, and raising awareness to the place we call home. Earth Day is celebrated everyday to increase support, consciousness, and attention for the much needed environmental protections and sustainability...

TALLAHASSEE, FL – Representative Anna V. Eskamani (D-Orlando) alongside 18 lawmakers sent a letter to the Executive Director of the Florida Department of Revenue (DOR) requesting information relating to the state’s corporate income tax collections. In the letter,...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, March 31st 2023 PRESS CONTACT ysabella@flaccessnetwork.org Florida Abortion Fund leaders to host the first Abortion Fund Day at the Florida Capitol On Wednesday, April 5, Florida Access Network (FAN) will host the first Abortion Fund Day...

Tallahassee, FL: Today Florida Republicans pushed through an extreme 6 week abortion ban and we expect this bill to be heard soon in the Florida House. Here is Representative Eskamani’s response. "This is a devastating day for our state and freedoms. This 6 week...

Tallahassee, FL: Today the Florida Senate dropped a 98 page elections bill that will be heard in its first committee stop tomorrow. Here is Representative Eskamani’s response:    "It is absolutely absurd to drop a 98 page elections bill with just a 24 hour notice for...

Dear Friend, It's hard to believe this, but 2024 will be my last election for the Florida State House. This is due to Florida's term limits: as a State House Representative I can only serve a total of four terms (which equates to eight years). With that said, we want...

Dear Friend, Almost a quarter of Florida residents — some 5.5 million people — pay for medical treatment through Medicaid, a federal government program for low-income families. But close to a million of those could be thrown off the program over the coming year as the...

HB 29 passed its first committee stop unanimously on Thursday, March 30th Tallahassee, FL - Representative Anna V. Eskamani will host a press conference centered on diaper need this Tuesday, April 4th at 9:00AM in the 4th Floor Rotunda of the Capitol Building in...

Dear Friend, We’re almost halfway through the 2023 session, the Florida Legislature continues to be led around by the nose by an increasingly desperate Gov. Ron DeSantis – who is sinking in presidential polls but trying hard to prove he’s more of an extremist than the...

The month of April is a time for communities to come together to raise awareness, improve prevention, and take action against sexual assault. The theme of 2023’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) is “Drawing Connections: Prevention Demands Equity”, making a call...

Arab American Heritage Month is an important celebration that recognizes the achievements and the rich culture of Arab Americans in various fields being brought to the forefront of society. The annual commemoration of this month serves as a way to promote cultural...

Dear Friend, Florida's near total abortion ban is being fast-tracked. The bill will be heard on the Senate Floor this Thursday and in its final House Committee stop on that same day at 8:00am. SB300/HB7 is extreme, dangerous, and will force millions of people out of...

Dear Friend, By the time you read this, I’ll already be back in Tallahassee, but I wanted to get you a recap of Week 3.  Things are moving very fast right now. Gov. Ron DeSantis sees his poll numbers slipping in the Republican presidential race, so Republican leaders...

Orlando, FL - According to Florida Policy Institute, there are already 900,000 cases in Florida which have been declared ineligible for Medicaid. On April 1st, the Department of Children and Families will begin to reevaluate who qualifies for Medicaid in a phase...

Dear Friend, Florida Republicans have once again demonstrated a complete disregard for the women of our state and for our collective freedoms by filing SB300/HB7 -- a bill to ban abortion in Florida at six weeks. This bill is extreme, dangerous, and will force...

Dear Friend, The second week of the 2023 legislative session is in the books and, just like we expected, it was a tough week and things are moving fast.  Bullied by Gov. Ron DeSantis, Republican leaders in the Legislature are trying to ban abortions and books,...

Dear Friend, The first week of the 2023 legislative session is in the books and, just like we expected, it was a tough week.  Bullied by Gov. Ron DeSantis, Republican leaders in the Legislature are trying to ban abortions and books, strangle academic freedom in...

Put together a fact sheet to help unpack HB999/SB266. This 24 page bill is laden with unconstitutional provisions hostile to the First Amendment and academic freedom. The bill has been scheduled for a hearing THIS Monday at 3:00pm in the Postsecondary Education &...

Dear Friend, House Bill 999 / Senate Bill 266 is laden with unconstitutional provisions hostile to freedom of expression and academic freedom within higher education. If passed, it would represent another retreat from the open exchange of ideas that Florida’s leaders...

House Republicans Reject Every Single Pro-Renter Amendments TALLAHASSEE, FL - Today the Florida House State Affairs committee heard HB 627 related to Housing. The bill has many provisions, including a state mandate prohibiting local caps on rent hikes and various...

Honoring Central Florida State Representatives   Each year, March has been nationally recognized as Women’s History Month and March 8th is recognized as International Women’s Day!  This is a time to celebrate the obstacles, successes, and challenges faced by...

There is nothing scarier than not being able to find your child; that fear increases when your child has special needs  Tallahassee, FL: Representative Anna V. Eskamani and Minority Leader Lauren Book filed legislation to ensure all school districts have School Staff...

Today Florida Republicans have filed SB300/HB7, a bill to ban abortion in Florida at 6 weeks. Prior to running for public office, Representative Anna V. Eskamani worked at Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida, and before that was a Planned Parenthood...

Tallahassee, FL: Today it was announced that the Florida Department of State will be withdrawing from the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC). Here is Representative Anna V. Eskamani’s statement in response: “This is a terrible decision that is 100%...

The sweeping “Keep Floridians Housed Act” is one the most comprehensive housing reform packages ever proposed in Florida – a package focused squarely on the needs of renters and tenants rather than landlords and developers. Orlando, FL – Representative Anna V....

In Partnership with the Eatonville Chamber of Commerce, Historic Town of Eatonville, and Senator Geraldine Thompson  Eatonville, FL - Established in 1887, Eatonville made history as the first town in United States’ history to be organized, governed and incorporated by...

Every year, the month of March is recognized as Women’s History month, a time to reflect on the history of women's suffrage, highlight breaking glass ceilings, and shed light on the current struggles that women still face today. Women's History Month began in 1981,...

Today Governor DeSantis signed into law a bill that seals his hostile takeover of Reedy Creek. Below is Representative Eskamani's response: "It’s absolutely wild to see a self-proclaimed capitalist like DeSantis celebrate the government takeover of a private board...

Dear Friend, We just wrapped up our sixth, and final, week of pre-session meetings in Tallahassee. The next time we return to Tallahassee it will be for the start of the 2023 session, which begins March 7 and runs for 60 days. I’m not going to sugarcoat it: This is...

This virtual workshop will focus on the upcoming 2023 Legislative Session Orlando, FL - On Sunday, March 5th, from 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm, Representative Anna V. Eskamani will be hosting a virtual pre-session legislative workshop on Zoom and Facebook Live. Join...

Panel will focus on the past, present and future of women’s history in Florida Orlando, FL - In honor of Women's History Month, Representative Anna V. Eskamani has invited elected officials from across Central Florida to convene on a virtual panel to honor the...

A community resource drop to share information on the upcoming 2023 Legislative Session Orlando, FL - On Thursday, March 2nd, from 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm, Representative Anna V. Eskamani will be hosting an in-person pre-session community literature drop in Orlando. Join us...

Dear Friend, HB999 was filed late on Thursday and is the Governor's priority higher education bill. To put it bluntly, this is a very bad bill that includes a breathtaking control of viewpoint and content throughout all academic activity in the entire Florida system....

HB 769/SB 1144 would stop global corporations from using shell games to dodge taxes, level the competitive playing field for small businesses, and raise revenue to help everyday Floridans. Orlando, Fla. – Rep. Anna V. Eskamani and Senator Geraldine Thompson have filed...

An in-person event alongside community advocates and organizational leaders Eatonville, FL - On Tuesday, February 28th, from 5:00pm - 6:00pm, Representative Anna V. Eskamani will be hosting an in-person town hall meeting in the Historic Town of Eatonville alongside...

The Bill to Transition Florida to 100% Renewable Energy Is Critical to Florida’s Environmental Health and Economic Success Orlando, FL -  Representative Anna V. Eskamani (D-Orlando) has refiled legislation to transition Florida to 100 percent renewable energy by 2050...

Dear Friend, We’re on the highway and headed back to Tallahassee for one final week of committee meetings before the 2023 session of the Florida Legislature begins on March 7.  But before this week’s battles begin, I wanted to give you an update on last week, which...

Dear Friend, Today marks five years since the Parkland shooting where we lost 17 students and staff to gun violence. Nothing we say or do will bring back the lives lost, but we can -- and we must -- honor their lives through action. The epidemic of gun violence has...

Dear Friend, I’m already preparing to head back to Tallahassee for Week 5 of Committee Meetings, but I wanted to give you on update on the events of last week – which included a five-day special session in which the Florida Legislature made itself into even more of a...

Dear Friend, I wanted to uplift for you a very serious and potentially damaging lawsuit on abortion access taking place in Texas federal court right now. In Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA, this case could revoke FDA approval of mifepristone and remove it...

Tallahasee, FL: House Bill 9B just passed the Florida House and is now heading to the Senate. See Representative Eskamani’s statement below. Florida House Republicans just approved the hostile takeover of Reedy Creek while admitting that the district still keeps all...

Representative Eskamani Will Be Unpacking Corporate Tax Loopholes To Close Orlando, FL: Tonight Representative Anna V. Eskamani will be hosting a virtual event focused on Corporate Tax Policy in Florida. Why does this matter? Well, taxes are how governments decide how...

Tallahassee, FL: Today Florida Republicans filed HB9B, a bill that brings back Reedy Creek with a name change and Governor appointed board. Below is Representative Eskamani’s statement in response. "They should rename the district to “Disney is the Governor's...

Dear Friend, Today House Bill 543 will be heard in its first committee stop, Constitutional Rights, Rule of Law & Government Operations Subcommittee. This bill, known as permitless carry, is dangerous. It goes against the will of law enforcement, Florida voters,...

SB 462/HB 579 take action towards ending gun violence Orlando, FL-- Senator Lori Berman (D-Delray Beach) and Representative Anna V. Eskamani (D-Orlando) have filed SB 462 / HB 579, legislation that would ban assault weapons and large-capacity magazines in Florida....

Orlando, FL: Today Governor Ron DeSantis released his proposed budget for the next fiscal year. Part of his proposal includes what is a Democratic tax break: the tax on children’s diapers. As sponsor of the bill and Ranking Member of the Florida House’s Ways &...

Every year, the month of February is recognized as Black History Month, a time where we honor historic struggles experienced by generations of Black Americans, highlight their boundless achievements, and commit to advancing racial equity in all areas of our society....

As protesters for freedom in Iran persist, federal representatives should continue to push the United Nations' investigative mechanism for crimes against humanity committed by Iran and demand the end of unlawful imprisonment and execution in Iran. Orlando, FL - ...

I see a lot of folks upset and frustrated by book bans in our schools, and classroom libraries shutting down. I am frustrating too, but it's really important to understand how this happened as it's the only way to fight back long term. Here is the final vote on...

State House Representatives in Orange County Are Fighting Back for Public Safety Orlando, FL: Today Florida Republicans announced and filed House Bill 543, a bill that would implement permitless carry in the state and allow people to carry a concealed firearm without...

Orlando, FL: Governor DeSantis just finished what was an unhinged press conference once again attacking higher education in Florida. Below is Representative Anna V. Eskamani’s response. “Unlike Governor Ron DeSantis, I actually went to and graduated from a Florida...

Dear Friend, Session is coming.  I’m back from Tallahassee, where we just wrapped our third week of committee hearings in advance of the Legislative session, which begins March 7. We’re now halfway through our pre-session “committee weeks.” We’ll be headed back to the...

In Partnership with the Eatonville Chamber of Commerce and Senator Geraldine Thompson  Eatonville, FL - In 1887, Eatonville became the first town in America to be organized, governed, and incorporated by African-American citizens, serving as a nationwide pillar of...

Tallahasee, FL: Today, Senate Republicans introduced a housing proposal, SB102. Below is Representative Eskamani’s initial response: “Though I am glad to see Florida Republicans finally agree that housing affordability is an issue that should be addressed, I am...

HB 473 Creates an Interstate Compact Agreement  Orlando, FL -  Representative Anna V. Eskamani (D-Orlando) has refiled legislation to end corporate giveaways in Florida and increase corporate tax transparency.  HB473, titled Agreement For Best Practices in Economic...

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida Supreme Court accepted a request by abortion providers today to hear arguments in their case against House Bill 5 (HB 5), a ban on abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The move comes after several court rulings closed off meaningful...

House Bill 1 is expected to have huge consequences on public education  Orlando, FL - Filed last week, House Bill 1 is a major expansion of school vouchers, and would essentially set up what are known as “education savings accounts,” providing publicly-funded vouchers...

With the two new team members comes transition with current team too Tallahassee, FL: Today Representative Anna V. Eskamani is excited to announce two new members of her Legislative Team. Madison Clearman (she/her) will serve as District Aide and James Williams...