by Florida NOW
The HAVEN Act became law as of July 1, 2026
Compiled by Judi Marraccini from many sources
The Florida Senate passed SB 296, called “Helping Abuse Victims Escape Now (HAVEN) Act.” The legislation is designed to protect victims of domestic violence in dating relationships during what experts said is the most dangerous time — when they’re trying to escape their abusers.
by Florida NOW and Debbie Deland, Vice President
Written by Debbie Deland / Vp@flnow.org
Among the other important resolutions, the Gaza Crisis Resolution was neither presented nor debated at the National NOW Conference due to running out of time. Although some good resolutions were passed, there was no time for the very important and more controversial ones. Almost all the 2026 resolutions were sent to the Board. Even the straightforward Book Banning Resolution was sent to the Board.
Summary of Gaza Crisis Resolution
The Gaza Crisis by the numbers: 38,000 women and girls killed 47/day; 11,000 women and girls sustained lifelong disabilities; tens of thousands of women now heading households alone without income, support, or access to essential services; 2400+ documented violations of the ceasefire by the Netanyahu regime; 181 out of 203 days attacks by this regime, famine rampant 470,000 facing catastrophic hunger, over 80% of buildings damaged or destroyed. Also horrible is that 589 aid workers have been killed, including 397 UN staff (highest in UN history). In violation of International Law, Humanitarian Aid is blocked, with less than half of aid trucks and 14% of fuel trucks blocked. The situation is dire and already out of the news. Netanyahu’s regime cannot be conflated with the Israeli people or American Jewish people. Netanyahu is a cruel dictator with no conscience.
The resolution calls for:
1. Strict, verified ceasefire compliance with independent international monitoring
2. Immediate, unconditional opening of all border crossings for humanitarian aid
3. End to expulsion of humanitarian organizations
4. Independent investigation into aid obstruction and confirmed famine
5. U.S. military aid conditioned on compliance with international humanitarian law
6. Gender-responsive recovery with women-led participation
7. Accountability for all violations of international law
Lobby for Key Legislation in Congress to address the crisis. Through NOW
lobbying, press releases, and social media postings, drive support.
SEE GAZA CEASEFIRE, HUMANITARIAN AID OBSTRUCTION, PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN RESOLUTION
Other Resolutions that Were Not debated go to the National NOW Board for review and approval (Membership must ratify these at next conference). Some may not be approved by the Board and will then wait until the next conference. See other pending resolutions submitted by FL NOW members:
CONDEMNING THE BANNING OF BOOKS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES
ACCESS AND INFORM ON 2 MODELS FOR PROSTITUTION REFORM
COMMUNICATE OUR KEY POSITIONS AND MOVE TO A MORE TRANSFORMATIVE FEMINISM
ALLOCATION OF REBATES TO QUALIFYING CHAPTERS
by Florida NOW and Kaitlyn Kirk, Communications Director
Written by Kaitlyn Kirk / Communications@flnow.org
This past week, the Florida NOW board and members attended the 2026 NOW conference in D.C. Here are some of the business day highlights.
We had 24 total resolutions on the floor on Sunday. We got through 15. Access them all through the membership side of the national website. The collective threw out one resolution from the 2026 consent agenda, which is the leftover resolutions from last year.
The consent agenda resolutions that passed were (#3 thrown out):
1. RECOGNIZING THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT IN CONGRESS
2. FIGHT AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY
4. LONG-TERM FAMILY CAREGIVING
5. NOW Stands for All Members of the LGBTQIA+
6. An Intersectional Feminist Response to the Big Brutal Bill (Big Beautiful Bill)
7. Resolution in Opposition to War and Its Disproportionate Impact on Women, Children, and Other Marginalized People
8. Resolution to Demand Action to Support Survivors of Epstein Trafficking List and Other Predators
The resolution that was thrown out was one in support of identity verification to access adult content online. I spoke and motioned to throw out the bill, stating that I appreciate and empathize with the intention, but have greater concerns about the consequences and the implementation of obtaining such sensitive data. I also brought up that Republicans are calling just about everything porn right now. Books are being banned left and right. Republicans are coming for abortion pills accessed by the internt too. It would be devastating if Florida ID blocked Plancpills.org. We need more accessible information, not Republican-controlled internet censorship and security risks. I briefly mentioned my childhood as a queer kid in rural Idaho with unsupportive parents, and the importance of internet access to kids in difficult homes. Many other people got up to speak. I was glad to see the collective understanding and engaging with the nuance of this topic and others. The surveillance state is no joke!
The collective also voted in an amendment to update some of the language on resolution 8, making it stronger and more accurate.
Then we discussed and voted on bylaw changes. There was one change that passed. Unfortunately, the one we wanted did not pass. Florida proposed a bylaw change on the requirement around district candidates (our national board members). The Southern District has had two empty seats on the national board for years because we don’t allow two people from the same state. I spoke for this change because of the need for southern representation on our national board, regardless of whether they are all from Florida, saying, “you can’t beat fascism without the south”. The other 2 Southern chapters have not produced a candidate and are very, very small as it is. Florida is massive and has a diversity in people and thought. This was voted down, and some people (from blue states nonetheless) got to the microphone to call us “lazy” and to say we needed to “work harder” to find more people outside of our state. That was completely insensitive and uncalled for. That is that blue-state eliteism I cannot stand. We work our asses off down here with incredibly limited resources and feel the brunt of everything. We are happy to support any candidates. We want southern representation on our national board.
Then we went to our new resolutions. 17 new resolutions were up this year. We only got through 7 of them.
Passed 1. RESOLUTION ON REMOVAL OF TRUMP FROM OFFICE
Passed 2. EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT RESOLUTION: CONGRESS MUST ACT IN THE FIRST 100 DAYS
Passed 3. CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTERS RESOLUTION
Passed 4. RESOLUTION FOR WORKER ECONOMIC EQUITY AND OPPOSING THE DE-PROFESSIONALIZATION OF WOMEN’S OCCUPATIONS
Passed 5. RESOLUTION CONDEMNING THE BANNING OF BOOKS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES
Passed 6. RESOLUTION DEMANDING UNITED STATES RATIFICATION OF THE EQUAL REMUNERATION CONVENTION
Passed 7. RESOLUTION: THE NEW GENERATION OF NOW
8. RESOLUTION FOR LESBIAN ONLY SPACES
9. RESOLUTION: SINGLE SEX PRISONS
10. Resolution: Gaza: Ceasefire, Humanitarian Aid Obstruction, Protection of Women & Children
11. CONDEMNING DEHUMANIZING LANGUAGE TOWARD WOMEN
12. ALLOCATION OF REBATES TO QUALIFYING CHAPTERS
13. National Organization for Women to Incorporate the Slogan “BELIEVE HER”
14. Resolution: Assess and Inform on 2 Models for Prostitution Reform
15. Resolution: Communicate Our Key Positions and Move to a More Transformative Feminism
16. RESOLUTION “YOU GUYS” AND OTHER GENDERED TERMINOLOGY WHEN ADDRESSING GROUPS
17. Transgender Women in Sports
The highlighted resolutions will be referred to the national board and brought back next year to be debated and voted on.
I was disturbed to see what I believe were three transphobic resolutions brought forward. We only started on the first one’s discussion when we ran out of time. I felt a bit better seeing the pushback and discussion for what I would call the most undercover of the transphobic resolutions. I was absolutely appalled by the “single sex prisons” resolution…. Let’s make sure these don’t pass next year.
Debbie, Alex, myself, and others helped put together 5 of the resolutions:
Passed 5. RESOLUTION CONDEMNING THE BANNING OF BOOKS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES
10. Resolution: Gaza: Ceasefire, Humanitarian Aid Obstruction, Protection of Women & Children
14. Resolution: Assess and Inform on 2 Models for Prostitution Reform
15. Resolution: Communicate Our Key Positions and Move to a More Transformative Feminism
17. Transgender Women in Sports
The youth resolution, created by Bell Pastore and other young feminists, was at first tabled. This was obviously upsetting and sent a message to the young feminists in the room. Thankfully, someone had a change of heart and asked to change their vote. The vote was redone, and enough people changed their vote to pass the resolution supporting young feminists.
We started discussion on #8 but ran out of time to vote on the resolution.