Florida’s HAVEN Act, creating silent domestic violence alert system, signed into law

Florida Governor signed the HAVEN Act into law, establishing a secure digital pathway that allows domestic violence survivors to silently summon emergency services via a generated phone number and PIN without alerting an abuser. The law also standardizes the legal definitions of dating and domestic violence so survivors of dating violence can access the same state resources, including the Attorney General’s Address Confidentiality Program. A feasibility study on the technical infrastructure is due by the end of January, with the law taking effect July 1.

Sources: The Gainesville Iguana

UFF-UF leader urges public workers to mobilize against new Florida union law SB1296

A co-president of the United Faculty of Florida at UF is calling on public-sector union members to join their unions and sign recertification cards in response to SB1296, a recently passed Florida law that tightens the rules for union survival. Under the new law, a union seeking recertification must win votes from a majority of all eligible workers — not just those who cast ballots — meaning abstentions would effectively count as votes against the union. The piece argues this change, combined with a 2023 law requiring 60% dues-paying membership, threatens the continued existence of public employee unions statewide.

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Sources: The Gainesville Iguana