State Representative Christine Hunschofsky (D-Parkland)
From State Rep Christine Hunschofsky:
It’s great to be back in the district after our busy Legislative Session. Throughout the upcoming months, I will be giving legislative updates regarding bills that were signed by the Governor and appropriations in the budget that survived the veto, as well as our successes and missed opportunities that we need to address.
This year’s legislative session I was proud to work on bills dealing with protecting consumer information, school safety, expanding the My Safe Florida Homes program to condominium associations, flood disclosures on real estate, and expanding workforce opportunities. There was a big healthcare package to improve our healthcare workforce, including physicians and audiologists.
As many of you have expressed your concerns regarding property insurance reforms, it disappoints me to report that, as a body, the Legislature did not focus enough on this major issue. While we approved a tax package to give homeowners a temporary break on property insurance tax, which is 1.75% of the property insurance premium, we did not hear bills that would systemically address our property insurance crisis. One of these was a bi-partisan bill, HB 1213, by Representatives Hillary Cassel (D) and Spencer Roach (R), that would allow Citizens to offer wind-only coverage so that the private insurers would only offer the typical property insurance that they do in other states. This idea is not a new one. In fact, it was introduced back in 2009. We had a workshop on the bill in our Insurance & Banking Subcommittee, and it received quite a bit of positive feedback, but leadership unfortunately never added it to the agenda.
We will be sending out information in our email newsletter and posting on social media regarding upcoming legislative updates and events. Please reach out to us at HD095@myfloridahouse.gov to subscribe or for more information.
Earth Day is Saturday, April 22, and Arbor Day is April 26. The theme this year for Earth Day is Planet vs. Plastics to advocate for awareness of the health risks of plastics. I myself have been working on better habits to minimize our own family’s use of single-use plastics. While we are doing better with using reusable mugs and bags, there is still more we can do. Please look forward to the multiple events cities within our district are hosting to celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day.
The City of Margate is hosting a tree giveaway for Margate residents (proof of residency is required) on April 20 at 8 am at the NW corner of State Road 7 and Margate Blvd. The City of Coconut Creek is hosting a tree giveaway for Coconut Creek residents (proof of residency is required) on April 27 from 8 am-12 pm at Coconut Creek City Hall, 4800 West Copans Road.
The City of Parkland is hosting an environmental expo at the Parkland Farmer’s Market on April 21 from 9 am-1 pm at 8350 Ranch Rd., Parkland. The City of Coral Springs is hosting Earthfest on April 27 from 9 am-12 pm at the Sawgrass Nature Center, 3000 Sportsplex Drive. I hope many of you are able to attend these wonderful upcoming events! Also, remember we can also make a difference by reducing our water and electricity usage, making use of reusable containers and bottles, composting, and recycling effectively, thereby lowering contamination.
I personally want to wish a Happy Passover – Chag Sameach, and Ramadan Mubarak to all who celebrate. We are blessed to live in an area with diverse religions, and this month is a special one with several holy days. It is also a wonderful opportunity to learn more about our own and other religions and traditions from our families, friends, and neighbors.
Thank you to all who have reached out to me with concerns, comments, questions, and support. I appreciate the honor of representing you. To reach us for assistance with state agencies or to share your thoughts and concerns, please call 954-956-5600. To receive our email updates, please subscribe by emailing HD095@myfloridahouse.gov with “subscribe” in the subject line. Also, follow me on Facebook at @RepChristineHunschofsky and Twitter @RepHunschofsky for regular updates. Looking forward to staying in touch!
District 95 includes Coconut Creek, Parkland, Margate, and a portion of Coral Springs.
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