TAMPA, Fla. — A number of new laws went into effect this month, including one requiring lactation spaces in all Florida county courthouses. And now, advocates are pushing another bill that would excuse mothers from jury duty within six months of giving birth.

Passed in 2023, Senate Bill 144 requires that lactation spaces in courthouse be shielded from public view and made available not only to courthouse employees, but also members of the public.

Jennifer Feld, the attorney and mother who was a driving force behind the bill’s passage last year, showed off one of two new lactation spaces at the Pinellas County courthouse. And she said she's not finished.

“It feels amazing — I’m so happy to see the bill come to fruition,” Feld said. “That feeling when it passed last year, when I saw that final vote in the house and all the votes just went green on my screen, I was so elated.”

Feld, who is a member of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers, said the group is now pushing new legislation to further help new mothers.

If passed, Senate Bill 462 would excuse mothers from jury service within six months of giving birth.

“They would have to put forth a copy of the birth certificate along with their request for excusal,” Fled explained. “They would no longer have to come to jury duty before they’re medically cleared to do so.”

After that six month mark, Feld said the lactation rooms would be available to all mothers who need them.