SECTION ONE: New Florida Laws
- HB 255/Dexter’s Law: Animal Cruelty Database: Establishes a state-level registry for offenders convicted of animal abuse to monitor individuals and prevent them from acquiring or adopting pets.
- SB 1808: Patient Refunds for Overpayment: This bill, sponsored by Senator Burton (District 12), requires health care practitioners, facilities, providers, and anyone who accepts payment from insurance to refund any overpayment made by the patient no later than 30 days after determining that the patient made an overpayment. If a violation occurs by a facility or provider, then either the applicable board or the Department of Health will invoke disciplinary action. Any provider who does not abide by this law will receive up to a $500 administrative penalty/fine.
- SB 158: Coverage for Diagnostic and Supplemental Breast Examinations: Recently on July 1, 2026, SB 158 has taken effect. SB 158 prohibits the state group insurance program from imposing any cost-sharing liability for diagnostic breast examinations and other supplementary examinations regarding breast cancer. The bill takes aim at ensuring that with the rising awareness and presence of breast cancer (1 in 8 women), there are cost efficient measures so that detection is not a financial barrier imposed on any qualified person.
- Other Changes: Effective July 1, 2026, school districts and charter schools may be granted exemptions from the mandated start time for middle school (8 a.m.), and high schools (8:30 a.m.), insofar as they submit the required reports to the Florida Department of Education.
SECTION TWO: Federal Developments
The government shutdown, which officially concluded on Nov. 12, 2025, produced a range of profound outcomes for the American people. These consequences include flight reductions and delays, unpaid federal workers, and insufficient resources to sustain SNAP benefits. Following its conclusion, Congress passed a legislative package to reopen the government and effectively put an end to what became the longest government shutdown in modern U.S. history — a 43-day standoff that had intensified the broader Congressional dispute over how to fund the remainder of FY2026 (federal fiscal year 2026).
In this reopening package, lawmakers approved a minibus containing three full-year FY2026 appropriations bills for military construction, veteran affairs, the FDA, and the legislative branch. These agencies are expected to receive stable funding through Sept. 30, 2026. However, all other federal departments were left operating under temporary funding at FY2024 levels, creating an uneven system of certainty across agencies.
Since then, Congress has relied heavily on temporary funding measures, and the current continuing resolution was expected to expire on Jan. 30, 2026. Multiple news outlets have reported that the federal government is once again on the verge of a partial shutdown, since lawmakers have not yet reached an agreement on the FY2026 spending package. USA Today noted that the country is “hurtling toward another partial shutdown,” as Congress faces the Jan. 30 deadline to pass a trillion-dollar spending bill.
In addition to reopening the government, Congress has advanced a separate continuing resolution extending funding for the rest of the government through Jan. 30, 2026. This temporary solution has kept agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) functioning, yet it has prevented them from launching new initiatives or making long-term Congressional commitments. As a result, many departments have been forced to operate with caution, delaying grants, slowing the hiring process, and postponing program expansions. The continuing resolution also included provisions affecting federal workforce rules and state reimbursement processes, demonstrating how even short-term funding bills can carry significant policy implications.
One of the issues of heightened controversy facing representatives is the continued substantial funding for the Department of Homeland Security, particularly the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Newsweek reported that Senate Democrats have vowed not to pass the spending package unless funding for ICE is either removed or rewritten, with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer stating that his caucus “will not pass the DHS budget until it is written.” As of Feb. 2, 2026, the government stands in a partial shutdown over these various points of contention, but the most significant is that of the DHS funding. If this spending bill is passed by the Senate, it will face ever harsher criticism by the likes of the Senate Democrats, and the probability of a government shutdown persists on an upward slope.
Ultimately, the coming weeks will determine whether Congress can finalize full-year funding or whether the cycle of temporary measures will continue, prolonging uncertainty for federal workers, state partners, and the public programs that depend on stable federal support.
SECTION THREE: Political Fun Facts
- William Henry Harrison (9th president) is the only president who studied to become a medical doctor
- The White House’s first website went online in Oct. 1994, which was during the Bill Clinton administration.
- The annual salary for the president of the United States is $400,000 (which was established in 2000 following the Clinton administration into the Bush administration), and the annual salary for the vice president is $235,100.
SECTION FOUR: Coming Up in DP!
- Feb. 24 (12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m.) Outside Olin Library – Voter Registration Drive
- Day of Dialogue is happening on March 6 and will host a range of conversations to foster civic dialogue. This event is partnered with ODK, CLCE, Community & Connection, Center for Spiritual Life & Interfaith Engagement, Democracy Project and Breaking Bread. The event will take place from 11:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. RSVP through GetInvolved!
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