The first week of the 2022 Legislative Session is behind us! Here’s a quick update on a few of the bills I heard and what I’m working on while I'm up here.

I got one of my transportation projects through its first committee this week! While others sit by, I'm fixing these damn roads!!!

Many of you know I own a small tutoring company, so it was an honor to pass a bill expanding tutoring services statewide! Under the bill, we created stipends for teachers and an option for high school students to receive credit towards their Bright Futures scholarship. 

In the Judiciary Committee, I tried to amend a bill to remove a mandatory minimum lifetime sentence that would have non-violent drug offenders in prison longer than rapists. I lost the vote, but I think I may be successful in killing the bill in the Senate. Hey, a win is a win!

My co-sponsored bill that would allow for the expungement of juvenile arrest records after a diversion program (so kids have a one-time opportunity to clean up and apply for college, the military, and jobs without an arrest record) passed my committee. We also passed bills to better protect victims of crime, fight animal abusers, and end the use of mechanical restraints on children in schools. 

On a lighter note, I was happy to rock some strawberry shortcake socks to STAND TALL for shortcake as our new official state dessert! Key lime pie is still our beloved state pie, but as someone who literally takes meetings at Parksdale Farms in Plant City, I'm proud to be a co-sponsor of this sweet idea!

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It was Girl Scout Day at the Capitol this week! A great opportunity to learn about their confidence-boosting, outdoor, and STEM programs. Yes, I did eat the cookies, but I swear that's not the only reason I went down to the courtyard!

Redistricting is upon us! If you want to make sure the House Republicans don't gerrymander Florida and lump our East Hillsborough suburb in with downtown St. Pete over an hour away, you can leave a comment saying so here.

If you want to do that AND help me pass some great bills, head over to AndrewLearned.com/Action, and let's get to work!

See you next week and happy MLK Day weekend!