Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed several new laws into law, including one that overhauls the state's alimony laws by eliminating permanent alimony. Click the video player below to take a look at other new laws in effect in Florida. Proponents say that won't happen with this law. Apply to existing alimony agreements, opponents say that could happen. DeSantis signed this bill into law on Friday evening. The new law came into force on Saturday. Supporters say this bill limits how long an ex-spouse must pay alimony. They also say that this will reduce the number of legal disputes by providing more certainty in the calculation of alimony. Stay up to date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25 Republican State Rep. John Snyder of Martin County, who approved the bill, shared the following statement with WPBF 25 News: “As society changes, we have more Households in which both spouses work. By eliminating permanent alimony, the bill strikes a good balance between supporting the spouse, who may not earn as much income during the marriage, while encouraging self-sustainability. “The bill will also reduce litigation by providing greater certainty in child support calculations.” Opponents like Democratic state Rep. Anna Eskamani of Orlando say this new law will harm many Floridians – especially women. “Florida already has it for women their rights taken away when it comes to women's issues and we seem to be going backwards in so many different policy areas and I was very concerned that this could be another example of that,” Eskamani said. “We're taking this process out of a judge's hands and putting it in the legislature, where it can be very political and very biased.” She also says it's possible that this new law will allow judges to approve some existing child support agreements end, and that the new law won This applies not only to future agreements. Follow us on social networks: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | TikTokDemocratic Sen. Lori Berman of Palm Beach County agrees with Eskamani. “I tabled an amendment to say this bill is not retroactive and they would not accept my amendment. So I'm concerned that even though they've stated that it's not retroactive, parts of it will actually have the same effect as if it were retroactive,” Berman said. First Wives Advocacy Group founder Jan Killilea of Boca Raton says the organization was disappointed by DeSantis' decision to sign the bill, “putting older women in a situation that will cause financial devastation,” Killilea said. “The so-called party of 'family values' has just contributed to the erosion of the institution of marriage in Florida.” Desantis vetoed a similar bill last year. WPBF 25 News contacted DeSantis' office for comment on this new law. Never miss a thing: Sign up for personalized newsletters and alerts from WPBF 25 News
Florida –
Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed several new laws into law, including one that overhauls the state's alimony laws by eliminating permanent alimony.
Click the video player below to take a look at other new laws taking effect in Florida
While proponents say this law doesn't apply to existing alimony agreements, opponents say it could.
DeSantis signed this bill into law on Friday evening. The new law came into force on Saturday.
Supporters say this bill limits how long an ex-spouse must pay alimony. They also say that this will reduce the number of legal disputes by providing more certainty in the calculation of alimony payments.
To stay updated: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25
Republican Rep. John Snyder of Martin County, who approved the bill, shared the following statement with WPBF 25 News:
“As society changes, there are more and more households where both spouses work. By eliminating permanent alimony, the bill strikes a good balance between supporting a spouse who may not earn as much income during the marriage and encouraging self-sufficiency.”
“The bill will also limit the number of legal disputes by providing greater certainty in the calculation of alimony.”
Opponents like Democratic Rep. Anna Eskamani of Orlando say this new law is harmful to many Floridians — especially women.
“Florida has already taken away women's rights when it comes to women's issues and we seem to be going backwards in so many different policy areas and I was very concerned that this could be another example of that,” Eskamani said. “This is what we do.” Take this process out of the hands of a judge and into the legislature, where it can be very political and very biased.
She also says it is possible that this new law will allow judges to terminate some existing alimony agreements and that the new law will not only apply to future agreements.
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Democratic Sen. Lori Berman of Palm Beach County agrees with Eskamani.
“I tabled an amendment to say this bill is not retroactive and they would not accept my amendment. So I'm concerned that even though they've stated that it's not retroactive, parts of it will actually have the same effect as if it were retroactive,” Berman said.
First Wives Advocacy Group founder Jan Killilea of Boca Raton says the organization was disappointed with DeSantis' decision to sign the bill.
“We believe that by signing him, he has put older women in a situation that will cause financial devastation,” Killilea said. “The so-called 'family values' party has just contributed to the erosion of the institution of marriage in Florida.”
Desantis vetoed a similar bill last year.
WPBF 25 News has reached out to DeSantis' office for comment on this new law.
Never miss anything again: Sign up for personalized newsletters and alerts from WPBF 25 News
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