PANAMA CITY, Fla. — Governor Ron DeSantis held a press conference in Panama City Beach today. He was joined by Congressman Dr. Neal Dunn, Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, and Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo.
Governor DeSantis announced a common-sense legislative proposal to make permanent COVID-19 freedoms in Florida. This anti-mandate action will permanently protect Floridians from losing their jobs due to COVID-19 vaccine mandates, protects parents’ rights, and institutes additional protections that prevent discrimination based on COVID-19 vaccine status.
The proposal includes the permanent prohibition of mandates that are continuously proven ineffective, including:
- Permanently prohibiting COVID-19 vaccine passports in Florida;
- Permanently prohibiting COVID-19 vaccine and mask requirements in all Florida schools;
- Permanently prohibiting COVID-19 masking requirements at businesses; and
- Permanently prohibiting employers from hiring or firing based on mRNA jabs.
In 2021, DeSantis signed legislation to protect Florida jobs and parents’ rights [t.e2ma.net] to make health care decisions for their students and to ban mask mandates across the state. The governor continues to safeguard Floridians' freedoms and ensure no one is discriminated against based on their COVID-19 vaccine status.
Included in the legislation are first amendment rights guarantees for medical professionals and will protect medical professionals from discrimination based on their personal religious views.
WATCH NOW | Governor Ron DeSantis
Permanent Protections Against the COVID-19 Biomedical Security State https://t.co/IRVCDsFGM1
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) January 17, 2023
Along with his legislative proposal DeSantis and the Flordia Cabinet approved a $17.7 million investment to conserve more than 3,500 acres across the state.
The project aims to protect lands within the Florida Wildlife Corridor, protecting important resources for animal populations who have inhabited the coastal islands as early as the second millennium. The conservation effort will help safeguard water quality and expand boating opportunities to the park from Lemon Bay.
This approval will complete the Florida Forever project.
