New Florida Laws In Effect: Bath Salts Ban, Random Drug Testing, Dyeing Animals, And Ads In Parks

Neon Pups And Other Wacky Florida Laws Now In Effect

It's clear that Governor Rick Scott is vehemently against Obama's Affordable Care Act taking root in Florida.

So what kinds of issues does this widely criticized state official actually approve of?

Well, according to the 150 new Florida laws that just went into effect on July 1, the governor is all for designating an official state boat, randomly drug testing his employees, allowing prayer in schools, placing billboard ads on park trails, and wait for it, the right to dye animals unnatural colors.

But the fact that 21 percent of Floridians are uninsured? Crickets.

See below for a quick roundup of the more interesting new Florida laws that went into effect over the weekend.

Healthy Pregnancies for Incarcerated Women: Bans the shackling of pregnant prisoners during labor and after delivery.

Bath Salts And Spice Ban: Lists synthetic drugs as a Schedule I controlled substance. Possession of 3 grams or less results in a first degree misdemeanor.

Additional Homestead Tax Exemption for Seniors: Allows counties and cities to reduce property taxes for poor seniors.

Homestead Tax Exemption for Fallen Heroes: Permits homestead property tax relief to the surviving spouse of a military vet who died from service-connected causes while on active duty or a surviving spouse of a first responder who died in the line of duty.

Ads On State Trails: Private advertisements will be allowed on certain state greenway and trail facilities or property.

Video Voyeurism: Raises the crime of secretly recording someone who has a "reasonable expectation of privacy" from a first degree misdemeanor to a third degree felony.

Inspirational Messages In Schools: Allows students to recite "inspirational messages" at mandatory school events as long as faculty is not involved.

Random Drug Testing: Permits state agencies to randomly drug test employees every 3 months.

Animal Dye Ban Reversal: An amendment on an agricultural bill reverses the ban on dyeing animals artificial colors.

Everglades Day: Makes April 7 an official state day recognizing the River of Grass.

Official State Boat: Designates the Schooner Western Union, a 130-foot historic sailing vessel of the tall ship class, as the official state flagship.

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