HB 347 - Florida Competitive Workforce Act

• Creates the "Florida Competitive Workforce Act" by adding sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes under Florida's civil rights laws, with exceptions for constitutionally protected religious exercise.

• Defines "gender identity" as gender-related identity, appearance, or behavior regardless of whether it differs from assigned sex at birth, provable through medical history, consistent assertion, or other evidence of sincerely held core identity.

• Defines "sexual orientation" as an individual's heterosexuality, homosexuality, or bisexuality.

• Extends anti-discrimination protections to employment, housing, public accommodations, public lodging and food service establishments, brokerage services, financial services, club memberships, and land use decisions.

• Takes effect July 1, 2018, and applies protections across multiple Florida statutes including the Florida Civil Rights Act of 1992 and the Fair Housing Act sections.