Florida has new laws on Confederate statue, gay marriage

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Confederate Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith's time representing Florida in the U.S. Capitol is coming to an end and clergy will be able to say no to gay weddings under new Florida laws.

Gov. Rick Scott signed a bill Thursday that calls for Smith's statue in the National Statuary Hall to be replaced and another that puts into law language that clergy don't have to marry same-sex couples — a right bill opponents said the state and federal constitutions already give them.

The measures were among more than two dozen bills signed.

Among other news: Florida will boycott companies that boycott Israel, disabled veterans will get free parking at public airports and Floridians will be able to designate a custodian to access and manage their social media, email and online financial accounts when they die or become incapacitated.

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The Gayly - 3/10/2016 @ 4:34 p.m. CST