Floridians, prepare yourselves, the lawmakers are back in town.

Tuesday begins the annual 60-day legislative session in Tallahassee. State representatives and senators are constitutionally obligated to do one thing during the session – pass a balanced budget.

But lawmakers have so far filed around 1600 bills that could become new laws by March. State lawmakers have more control over our day-to-day affairs than the federal government ever could.

Being that it’s a major election year (that’s why the session is happening in January, and not in March or April like usual), experts do not expect anything really shocking to happen during this session.

Still, some bills filed so far could still become major talkers. 

We’ve found a few we think you should watch, and we are breaking them down by category:

Guns

There’s a very good chance Florida could become the newest state to allow residents to openly carry weapons -- or at least some residents.

SB 68 and its companion, HB 4001, would allow people with concealed carry licenses to openly carry a handgun.  The bill would also make it easier to bring a gun onto a college or university campus.

While the House, where Republicans have a solid super majority, has already fast-tracked this bill to the full House for debate, the companion bill is still on its third committee in the Florida Senate.

Another bill, SB 1410, would require those subject to protective injunctions (like those accused in a domestic abuse case) to relinquish their weapons to law enforcement or a licensed firearms dealer.

Meanwhile backyard firing ranges would be prohibited in some residential areas under CS/HB 41. 

Education

Education may get some tinkering in the upcoming session, though few will make changes to the state’s controversial testing and accountability system. Bills that would suspend the accountability system have been introduced in both the House and Senate, but may not go far.

One bill, SB 978, would establish a scholarship program for current teachers that would be based on their SAT scores. The bill expands on a similar program that began last year. Many longtime teachers found it ludicrous because these bonuses were tied to a test they hadn’t taken in years (decades for some), and before they were even teachers. Some couldn’t even access their scores to apply for the bonus last year.

Financial literacy, leadership and character skills, and computer coding would all become classes in public schools if approved by the legislature. While some of the classes are electives, SB 96 would make financial literacy a graduation requirement. The Senate bill has no companion in the House yet, however. The computer coding course, if passed, would be used as a substitute to satisfy the foreign language requirement in schools.

Education funding is also getting another look. Lawmakers, including State Sen. Thad Altman, R-Cape Canaveral, wants to replace the portion of the education budget that’s paid with property taxes with a special sales and use tax instead. 

School districts that have been quietly limiting recess because of testing will have to bring the free-play time back under SB 1002. Central Florida lawmakers are a driving force behind the bill which would mandate daily school recess for elementary school students.

Finally, relief may come for students who decide to become public sector attorneys, such as prosecutors or public defenders. CS/SB 142 would offer loan repayment for state or federal student loans and completes at least 4 years of government service.

Health

Combat veterans and their families may get greater access to behavioral health care under SB 128. The bill establishes the Florida Combat Veterans’ Care Coordination Program, which would use the Florida 211 Network to help vets gain access to treatment coordination, peer support, crisis intervention and other services.

HB 139 would create a special program to help dentists who open a practice in an area where there is a need for dental care.

Lawmakers will consider HB 0001, a bill similar to a controversial Texas abortion law. The Florida bill, called the Women’s Health Protection Act, would require physicians performing abortions to have admitting privileges at hospitals near the place where the abortion is being performed.

The Texas version of this law led to the closure of more than 20 abortion clinics in the state. The U.S. Supreme Court is reviewing the Texas law on March 2.

There more than a few bills dealing with marijuana meanwhile. HB 4021 and SB 0616 would remove marijuana from the list of controlled substances.

Having a better chance may be SB 0852, which would create the Florida Medical Marijuana Act, opening medical marijuana to more patients than currently allowed in Florida.

Crime

Texting while driving goes from a secondary offense to a primary offense under SB 328, meaning law enforcement officers can stop you for texting while driving. Right now you can only be cited for it if you are stopped for something else. 

Tampering with an electronic monitoring device becomes a more obvious crime under CS/HB 75. Lawmakers are trying to clarify current law regarding the devices for criminal defendants.

Those who violate protective injunctions multiple times could find themselves facing a felony under CS/HB 101. Currently, anyone who violates an injunction for, say, domestic violence or cyberstalking, only faces a first-degree misdemeanor. Under this bill, a third offense results in a third degree felony.

CS/HB 545 cracks down on human trafficking. Among other things, it bars a massage business from getting a new or renewed license if it is connected with prostitution convictions. It also ensures that people under the age of 18 cannot be charged with certain prostitution offenses.  

Body cameras for law enforcement officers has been a hot topic across the country. HB 93 would require agencies to establish rules for using the cameras, keeping them updated and storing the data. 

A pair of bills also take aim at people who leave their dogs or people alone in cars. One bill, CS/HB 329, would make leaving pets in a vehicle in conditions that could endanger the pet’s health a first-degree misdemeanor.

Several bills, meanwhile, would make it so people who break into a vehicle to rescue a pet or person who is in distress are immune from civil or criminal liability. 

Sales Tax Holidays

Lawmakers are looking for at least three sales tax holidays – the traditional school sales tax holiday, a new sales tax holiday for Small Business Saturday in November and a sales tax holiday specifically for military veterans.

Last but not least…

We could list dozens of other bills, but we know your head is probably spinning. But we have five more bills that we think you’ll find interesting:

HB 103 would make it so fresh produce markets can take EBT cards.

Practicing conversion therapy on someone under 18 years of age would become illegal HB 137.

Flags or emblems of the Confederacy would be banned from public property under SB 154.

Employers would be prohibited from requesting or requiring access to an employee's or prospective employee’s social media accounts under CS/SB 186.

And finally…businesses would no longer be allowed to let you try on intimate apparel and swimsuits without clothes on unless the garment comes with a disposable shield.  That bill is SB 104.

We’ll keep track of these bills and more throughout the session. The annual legislative session ends March 11.