Florida’s House of Representatives voted 68-50 to remove the gay adoption ban language from state statute March 11, but where does it go from here?
The adoption ban amendment was attached to a broader gay adoption bill that provides adoption benefits to state employees and incentive payments to community-based care groups. As any Schoolhouse Rock fan knows, the next step for a bill to become law is a Senate vote. Florida’s state Senate will review the law passed by the House and can vote to pass the bill without any amendments or chose to amend. If they chose to amend then the House and Senate must reconcile so that the verbiage of both bills matches.
While there is no official schedule of what the Senate will discuss in their next session on March 18, it is anticipated that they will be voting on this bill. If the Senate votes to pass without amendment then it will go back to the House and be placed in “enrolled” status. This means that the bill is sent to the Governor for signing.
If signed by Governor Rick Scott, then the bill is expected to become law on July 1.
