Legislative session in full swing with several consequential bills advancing, red tide disrupts Gulf Coast, DeSantis' personal military, and more...
March 17, 2023 — This Week's Top Stories in Florida
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Here’s the latest from Florida…
Second week of the 2023 legislative session concludes
State legislators have wrapped up their second week of the annual 60-day legislative session in what has quickly become a fast-moving, highly-consequential time in Tallahassee. Lawmakers are in overdrive, maintaining momentum from two special sessions held in the last three months as the new GOP supermajority has proven little opposition to an agenda that Governor Ron DeSantis will likely tout as he (likely) launches a presidential bid. This is a sharp contrast to previous years when legislators often determine the fate of the most consequential and controversial bills in the waning days of the annual session as the state budget finalizes. Legislation related to guns, abortion, school vouchers, immigration, the death penalty, higher education, and unions have already been heard and
Florida’s constitutional carry bill moves forward
Among the bills being closely watched is legislation that would allow Floridians to carry a concealed firearm without a license, background check, or training. The bill has swiftly advanced in both the House and Senate, where it is expected to report to the floors of both chambers for a vote in the coming weeks and be approved along party lines. Proponents of the bill, including sponsor Jay Collins (R-Tampa) argue that a license to carry a concealed weapon is an unnecessary burden, characterizing it as a "government permission slip to exercise a constitutional right." Gov. DeSantis has pushed for lawmakers to take the bill further by including open carry, but House and Senate leaders are not aligned with the governor and do not support the proposal. Senate President Kathleen Passidomo (R-Naples) pointed to the Florida Sheriffs Association’s opposition to open carry as justification for her position. Staunch second amendment advocacy groups oppose the current version of the bill for its absence of an open carry provision. The National Rifle Association, the Florida Sheriffs Association, and the Florida Police Chiefs Association are all in favor of the legislation.
Raising the minimum age to purchase a firearm
A separate bill being considered in the House would reduce the minimum age to purchase a firearm from 21 to 18 and has already cleared its first of two committees favorably. In 2018, the state barred people under the age of 21 from buying a gun in response to the deadly Parkland school shooting, in which a 19-year-old carried out the act armed with an AR-15-style assault rifle. However, President Passidomo shot down questions about reducing the current age restrictions to buy a gun from 21 years old, saying that she did not support the move. She added that Senate GOP members are unlikely to visit the issue.
Lawmakers advance bill to ban abortions at six weeks
A proposal that would ban abortions in Florida after six weeks is closer to becoming law after the House Healthcare Regulation Subcommittee voted 13 to 5 to move forward on the bill during a hearing filled with emotional testimony. Currently, the state has a 15-week abortion prohibition in place, which state legislators approved during last year’s session, and the state Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a challenge to the law this year. However, as lawmakers hear House Bill 7, the legislation provides for abortion exceptions in cases of rape, incest, or if the life of the mother is in danger. One opponent of the stricter abortion ban is Republican Sen. Rick Scott, who argued that the general public supports more lenient abortion policies and is less likely to favor a 6-week prohibition versus the current 15-week law.
Universal school choice clears the House
The Florida House of Representatives has passed a universal school choice voucher program that would be the most comprehensive in the nation. In an 83-27 vote largely along party lines, the legislation would expand families’ access to state-funded vouchers via an education savings account and removes previous income caps for eligibility. Currently, vouchers only apply to two-child families with an annual income below $110,000. If this bill becomes law, Florida students can take advantage of a voucher next school year worth about $8,000 per student to apply toward tuition at eligible private schools or for education-related costs like tutoring, homeschooling, and materials. Home-schooled students would also now be eligible to receive voucher funds if the bill passes the Senate and is signed into law. Democratic lawmakers criticized the bill for eliminating income-based eligibility, allowing wealthy families to take advantage of taxpayer funds to send their children to private schools. They also expressed concern it could result in private schools absorbing dollars and resources from public schools. Gov. DeSantis has previously pledged that he would sign any legislation that would expand the school voucher program. Staff analyses by the House and Senate differ on how much the program expansion is estimated to cost, with the House saying it would cost $209.6 million while the Senate pinned the amount to $646 million. The Florida Policy Institute, a non-profit research organization, calculates the proposal would cost taxpayers about $4 billion.
Illegal immigration crackdown
A Senate Committee approved legislation that would add greater scrutiny and levy penalties against businesses that hire undocumented immigrants and increase criminal liabilities for those convicted of human smuggling. SB 1718 by Sen. Blaise Ingoglia (R-Spring Hill) would fine businesses $5,000 or more if they hire a single undocumented immigrant and will require employers to verify the legal status of new employees. The measure would also make it a felony for anyone to “transport, conceal, harbor, or shield from detection" an illegal immigrant. If passed, it could mean family members of an undocumented immigrant in Florida could be criminalized for giving them a ride to the grocery store if they did not check in with federal authorities upon entry to the U.S. Opponents say the bill puts landlords, lawyers, and church staff at risk of felony charges if they are caught with anyone in the U.S. illegally. For example, an immigration attorney who drives an undocumented client to court. Another provision of the legislation requires hospitals that accept Medicaid to report the legal status of a patient and track how much in care is spent on illegal immigrants. The bill has one more committee stop before it reports to the Senate floor for a vote.
Toxic red tide upsets the Gulf Coast
Dead fish, burning eyes, an endless cough, and a foul smell are an unfortunate commonplace along Florida’s Gulf Coast as red tide algae blooms hit many area beaches. High levels of the red tide algae Karenia brevis has been tested in 89 water samples spanning from Naples to Clearwater, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). More moderate concentrations were found along beaches in Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Sarasota, Manatee, and Pinellas counties – all popular tourist destinations. Some sample locations in Northwest Florida, specifically offshore from Pasco and Bay counties also contained detected levels of algae. A neurotoxin contained in K. brevis kills marine life and other animals while resulting in respiratory irritation in humans or serious illness in those with conditions like asthma or lung disease. Of course, this bad news comes amid the spring break season, when many Americans flock to Florida’s beaches. The economic impact of red tide is unknown at this time, but it’s expected to negatively affect travel plans for many tourists to the region. It’s also unclear how long the latest red tide outbreak will persist, but experts predict it could linger for several weeks before beach communities see relief. Some coastal towns have already canceled future events and festivals that were set to take place, citing public health concerns. Fortunately, the toxic algae bloom has not been detected along Florida’s East Coast.
DeSantis seeks $98M to fund his own state military
State legislators in Tallahassee will consider Gov. Ron DeSantis budget proposal during the current session, including his proposed allocation of $98 million to fund Florida’s own military – the Florida State Guard (FSG). Last June, DeSantis announced the return of the Florida State Guard last June, announcing a retired U.S. Marine Corps lieutenant colonel as its director. The FSG previously operated from 1941 to 1947 as the state’s defense force alternative to the Florida National Guard, where many guardsmen were deployed overseas during World War II. The state governor serves as the force’s commander-in-chief and can be activated for any purpose in the state as deemed necessary by the sitting chief executive. More than half of DeSantis’ $98 million budget request would be used for “aviation equipment and operations” with a $22 million ask for “maritime and aviation storage facilities.” Another $19 million is sought for recruiting and training members as well as providing protective equipment. Gov. DeSantis seeks to expand the number of troops to 1,500 and claims 1,200 have applied thus far. In March 2022, lawmakers approved $10 million in funds to reactivate the FSG, allowing for the enlistment of 400 members, and began accepting applications in May 2022.
Gigantic seaweed blob heads for Florida
As the state is already grappling with red tide along the Gulf Coast, a 5,000-mile-wide seaweed blob – nearly twice the width of the U.S. – is drifting closer to the Florida coastline and expected to wash ashore in the coming months. The massive bloom of sargassum seaweed formed in the Atlantic Ocean and has moved closer to the state since researchers began monitoring the build-up last month. Although sargassum is a naturally occurring macroalgae and portions of the seaweed wash up annually from the ocean, this year’s bloom is much larger and a record amount of it is expected to make its way onshore. The leafy algae bunches up in thick clumps and leaves behind not only a mess when it washes up on the beach but also an awful smell that can become a respiratory irritant for beachgoers. It can also disrupt the local ecosystem by disrupting the pH balance of the water and choking coral reefs, not to mention negatively affecting the local economy by dissuading tourism. The sargassum belt in the Atlantic has trended larger and larger each year with researchers saying the current seaweed mass has doubled in size every month from November to January. The blob is projected to pass through the Caribbean and move up into the Gulf of Mexico before making its way onto Florida shores by June or July.
Buccaneers sign QB Baker Mayfield
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a successor to the former quarterback and seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady in the 2018 No. 1 pick Baker Mayfield. Sources say the team and Mayfield have agreed to a one-year contract worth up to $8.5 million. Mayfield began his NFL career with the Cleveland Browns for three seasons before being traded to the Carolina Panthers ahead of the 2022 season. The Heisman Trophy winner played his final five games of the previous season with the Los Angeles Rams and completed 63.6% of his passes for 850 yards in those games. Mayfield boasts a completion percentage of 61.4% for 16,288 yards during his career, including 102 touchdowns and 64 interceptions.
The world’s largest bounce house comes to Tampa
At 16,000 square feet, the Florida State Fairgrounds was home to the world’s largest bounce house last weekend, joining other massive inflatable attractions for guests to enjoy. The event was part of the Big Bounce America tour that delivers the Guinness World Records-certified bounce house to cities across the U.S. And yes, adults could participate in the jumping fun during special adults-only time slots.
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