Welcome to

Florida launched a statewide website for getting your place in line for a vaccine Friday.

MyVaccine.FL.Gov is the state’s new one stop shop for vaccinations.

It allows Floridians to enter their information and secure a place in line for a vaccine.

“The hunting around and trying to find appointments as they come up doesn’t work,” said Jared Moskowitz, Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management.

Moskowitz told lawmakers this week counties can pull names from the list and contact residents when appointments become available.

“So instead of people having to go and find appointments every single solitary day as they pop up, they will be in line and we’ll be able to communicate with them,” said Moskowitz.

The site will also help the state give residents a more accurate timeline of when they can expect to get vaccinated.

“Based on the throughput kind of tell them what the timeline is gonna look like. Based on supply, where they sit, what the timeline could look like,” said Moskowitz.

The site does have its limitations.

It can’t schedule appointments for vaccinations at Publix Pharmacies.

“Right now the Publix system and the state system don’t talk, but I’m not saying that eventually can’t happen,” said Moskowitz.

Counties also have to opt in, but Moskowitz says even if they don’t, the system can still be of value.

“We can say, hey county, look you’re not using our system, but there are 100,000 people in your county that signed up. They signed up in this order. Here’s that list. Again, you county, can work off that list if you want to,” said Moskowitz.

For now, only those 65 and older, long term care facility residents and staff, health care workers and those deemed extremely vulnerable to COVID can register.

You can also call to sign up for the list.

Click this link to find the number to call for your county.

It’s Celebrate Literacy Week in Florida and The Speaker of the Florida House has unveiled a new legislative initiative aimed at improving literacy rates among Florida students.

The New Worlds Reading Initiative filed this week would deliver free books to Florida students who have been identified as struggling readers.

It also would require support materials be provided to parents to help them engage with their children’s literacy education.
“We know how hard our educators and our teachers are working every single day throughout the state to get our children to read on grade level, but we need the help of our parents. And in order to help our parents help their children, we need to provide them with programming and resources to help keep the reading going at home, trying to get children reading at least 20 minutes per day. Because all of the data shows that if we can achieve that goal, that those children will in fact be reading on grade level,” said Florida House Speaker Chris Sprowls.

School districts that decide to participate in the statewide program would be required to work with local organizations that would help raise awareness and funds for the book distribution.

The state would cover half of the cost.

The Governor is proposing Florida spend $4.4 billion more than it did last year, much of it due to federal funding for Medicaid, but none-the-less, the rosy economic picture comes as a surprise.

‘Florida Leads’ is the theme of this year’s budget proposal.

The Governor said despite a pandemic ravaged economy, Florida is doing better than most states.

“If you are a hair stylist, we protect your right to earn a living,” said Governor Ron DeSantis.

The result has been hundreds of millions in unexpected revenue.

“You go back in April, people were anticipating a massive hold, so we were able to do better,” said DeSantis.

Education funding is up in the Governor’s proposal.

He would increase per pupil spending by $233 a student.

“And that’s $18,019 per pupil,” said DeSantis.

There’s also 550 million new dollars for teacher raises.

“To the goal of getting the average starting salary statewide to $47,500,” said DeSantis.

College and University funding remains flat with no hike in tuition.

“There are not a lot of spending increases throughout the budget that are not pandemic driven,” said DeSantis.

Not all is rosy, there are 169 fewer state jobs in the new proposal and a billion dollars would be cut from existing state budgets.

The Governor also wants to continue funding for the Everglades and water quality at $625 million.

There’s also a billion new dollars over four years to fight climate change.

“And the purpose of this is to tackle the challenges posed by flooding, intensified storm events, sea level rise,” said DeSantis.

And with all the increased spending outlined by the Governor, Florida will start the new budget with $6.6 billion in reserves, the highest in state history.

Florida lawmakers will have the final say in the spending plan when their begin their annual session on March 2nd.

The new spending plan takes effect in July.

Florida’s Director of Emergency Management doubled down on the need for more vaccine doses while speaking with State Senators Thursday.

Director of Emergency Management Jared Moskowitz said if Florida had the supply, it has the capacity to administer as many as 250,000 doses a day.

“We would be done with seniors in three weeks,” said Moskowitz.

Even with an extra 40,000 doses this week, the state is nowhere near the necessary allotment to achieve that goal.

“It’s definitely better, but it’s not enough,” said Moskowitz.

The Director also took shots at comments made by the White House Press Secretary, who said Florida had only used half of its vaccine.

“In that 55 percent, which is what we’re at by the way, I have almost a million second doses that I can’t touch until you hit that schedule,” said Moskowitz.

Supply continues to be the number one issue facing vaccine rollout.

“They know it’s a supply issue. Every state knows it’s a supply issue. You know it’s a supply issue,” said Moskowitz.

The Director acknowledged issues like long lines and canceled appointments in Florida, but a new statewide pre-registration system launching in the coming days seeks to create a smoother process.

That’s welcome news to Senate Pandemic Committee Chair Danny Burgess.

“That system is going to be immensely helpful, but I think he made it very clear that the real issue is supply. That you plan for a certain promise and then if that’s not delivered you have to adjust that plan and you have to be willing to be flexible,” said Senator Burgess.

And still today the state is only getting a six day heads up on weekly vaccine allotment, though the Director said the federal government is hoping to increase that to three weeks.

The Director did highlight that the state achieved its goal of offering vaccinations to all nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

He also noted an issue that has been creeping up, saying high rates of health care workers and long term care facility workers have declined to take the vaccine.

Under legislation passed through its first Senate committee in the State Capitol Wednesday, teachers, police and other public sector union members would have to reaffirm their desire to be in their union.

Sponsors argue the bill makes sure employees have the final say on their money, but unions say it’s an effort to hurt them.

Police, firemen, teachers and even government clerks would have to proactively confirm they want to continue their union membership under legislation moving at the Capitol.

Sponsor Ray Rodrigues wants those union members to know they have alternatives.

“The acknowledgement must include a statement that payment of union dues is voluntary and that the employee may not be discriminated against based upon union membership,” said Senator Rodrigues.

But union sympathizers allege the bill is about much more.

“This bill is just another attempt at union busting,” said State Senator Victor Torres.

The bill would require public sector union members to proactively tell their employer they want to stay in a union at least every three years, or after each new contract.

“We would ask what is the compelling reason to insert the employer between the employee and their union,” said Stephanie Kunkel with the Florida Education Association.

Law enforcement unions in particular are worried that someone will miss the notice to re-up and then not have any benefits if they get hurt.

The legislation cleared its first committee on a four to two vote.

“It encourages that discussion between a member and their union,” said Senator Kelli Stargel.

“I heard from the law enforcement, firefighters, teachers, health care workers and they are asking us not to support this bill,” said Senator Linda Stewart.

Sponsor Rodrigues rejects the union busing characterization.

“We think there should be a signed authorization, signed by the employer, before the employees pay is reduced,” said Rodrigues.

If the bill becomes law, public sector unions would not be allowed to ask anyone why they dropped their membership.

The bill cleared the House last year but was never taken up in the Senate.

Union leaders worry it stands a better chance this year, since it’s getting such an early hearing in the Senate.

Since hemp was approved for hemp cultivation in mid-2019, 729 Florida farmers have been approved to grow the crop.

Despite challenges posed in 2020, the industry is beginning to bloom.

The Department of Agriculture’s Cannabis Director Holly Bell told Senators all but one of Florida’s 67 counties have farmers licensed to grow hemp.

293 acres were planted in 2020.

“We did have 44 acres destroyed,” said Bell. “There were only about two of them because the field went what we call ‘hot’ above the level of 0.3 total THC allowed.”

That’s a success rate of 85 percent.

Most of the unsuccessful crops were the result of inexperienced growers and Florida’s unique climate, but universities like FAMU are actively conducting research to identify strains that grow best in the sunshine state.

Funding for those research programs is slated to expire this September.

Lawmakers like Senate Ag Chair Darryl Rouson believe their continuation is vital.

“We need to do more. Hemp is an important product and an important part of the economy now,” said Senator Rouson.

In its first year, the state’s hemp industry already includes more than 7,000 retailers, 280 manufactures, more than 200 warehouses, 38 distributors and 15 processors.

And with a total of 23,000 acres approved for cultivation statewide, Bell predicts the industry will continue to grow as much as 25 percent each year.

“We’ve had success even during COVID and the industry appears to be growing rapidly,” said Bell.

Initial estimates put 2020 hemp tax revenue in the millions of dollars.

Supporters of Florida hemp like Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried have suggested the industry has potential to eventually become a 20 to $30 billion industry.

A Senate resolution approved by a committee in the State Capitol Wednesday says Florida rejects socialism in all its forms.

The resolution is pushback to the political unrest leading up to and after the election.

Senate sponsor Manny Diaz said its main purpose is to remind people that system we have is still working.

“Its just a message that the system itself works. Capitalism and free markets have pulled more people our of poverty worldwide than any other system. And anywhere that socialism has devolved, it hasn’t worked,” said Diaz.

The resolution, if it clears the full Senate, carries no legal weight and it does not have to be approved by the House or Governor.

Florida lawmakers have taken the first step towards compensating hundreds of men and or their families for the abuse they suffered in a state reform school.

Legislation approved by its first Senate committee Tuesday morning would allow victims of the now-shuttered Dozier school in Mariana to file claims with the state.

The Florida Legislature formally apologized in 2017 for the physical and sexual abuse alleged to have been committed at the Dozier School for Boys throughout its century long history.

We spoke with Charlie Fudge at the time.

He’s among roughly 500 who have come forward alleging abuse at the school.

“It’s hard to make it through the day because of the abuse that we went through,” said Fudge, who attended Dozier from 1960 to 1961.

Now Fudge and other victims’ ask for compensation is finally gaining traction.

Legislation sponsored by the same lawmaker who championed the apology would allow victims to make a claim with the state.

“For physical or psychological injury,” said Senator Darryl Rouson.

It’s not clear how much Dozier victims would be eligible to receive, but the bill sponsor told us sovereign immunity, which generally limits compensation to $200,000 wouldn’t apply in this case.

The bill passed its first committee with only one no vote, from a Senator who grew up near the school.

“I don’t believe for a minute that 500 people were mistreated there,” said Senator George Gainer.

But the bill sponsor said the remains of 40 boys uncovered on the school grounds in 2013 tell a different story.

“How can you reject graves? Bones that yet scream out for justice,” said Rouson.

And while the bill sponsor told us it would be helpful to have the backing of lawmakers from the Mariana community, he said it’s not necessary for the legislation’s success.

Memorials for the Dozier victims on the school grounds and at the State Capitol are in the process of being designed an built.

They were approved in 2017 alongside the official apology from the Legislature.

The names of everyone applying to be a university or state college President in Florida will no longer be public under legislation approved along party lines Tuesday morning in the State Capitol.

This is the sixth year the legislation has been filed.

Only the names of finalists would become public, which records advocates say doesn’t tell the public enough.

State lawmakers want to keep the names of people applying for university or state college presidencies out of the public record, at least initially.

Their argument, candidates don’t want their current bosses to know they applied for another job.

“What we really want is a broader pool of applicants,” said Senate sponsor Jeff Brandes.

But opponents, including FSU faculty union president Matthew Lata, contradicted lawmakers.

He said being considered for a new job is actually a plus in academia.

“Being recruited is a part of what we do, and its a part of what cements our national reputation,” said Lata.

The First Amendment Foundation worries the public will never know if politics overshadowed a quality leader.

“So we won’t know if there was a lovely, diverse pool of applicants of women, of people of color. We won’t have any of that information. We’ll only know about these last candidates,” said Pam Marsh, President of the Foundation.

The legislation has never been able to get the two thirds vote required to enact a new public records exemption.

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Let’s leave things the way they are because its been working,” said Lata.

Committee Chair Joe Gruters said the legislation doesn’t undermine current university leaders, but it could prove beneficial.

“I think we’ve been pretty lucky with our picks, so the other side works, and however, I just think you are limiting the pool,” said Gruters.

Over the six years the bill has been introduced, it has passed both chambers on majority votes, but never by the two thirds votes needed to enact new restrictions on public records.

Under the legislation only finalists names become public at least 21 days before a vote, but opponents say the final recommendation could be just one candidate.

Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, Apple, and Alphabet would all be banned from doing business with the state or local governments in Florida under legislation filed at the State Capitol.

The ban would go into effect two years from now, at the beginning of 2023, but House sponsor Rep. Randy Fine hopes the companies will change their censorship policies before the deadline begins.

“Twitter banned 70,000 accounts. Is this just going to be a cascading thing? Our goal is for these companies to realize they have made a mistake and reverse course, so we never actually have to do this. But should they continue to shut down the thoughts of half our state, then we have to stand up for those folks and say look, if you are going to boycott Florida, then we are going to boycott you,” said Fine.

“Conservative voices are being suppressed. There is no doubt about it. We have to do something to hold these companies accountable,” said Senate sponsor Joe Gruters.

A second piece of the same bill blames China for the Coronavirus economic meltdown.

It would ban state and local governments from purchasing any product made wholly in China or assembled elsewhere that contains less than 25 percent of US made parts.

Legislation aiming to close a loophole that has allowed at least one convicted sex offender to skirt registering with the state after his release from prison passed its first Senate committee Tuesday morning.

The loophole came to light after a Tampa man who was convicted for molesting two young girls was released from prison in 2016.

Two courts found that he was not required to register as a sex offender until he’d paid a $10,000 fine tied to his case due to poor wording in state statute.

Senator sponsor Lauren Book said fixing the technicality is imperative to public safety.

“If left unfixed it will absolutely pave the way for other sex offenders to legally exploit the same loophole to avoid registration and the stipulations that come with it,” said Book.

The legislation is backed by Florida’s Attorney General and numerous law enforcement agencies.

Legislation to protect businesses from what lawmakers describe as ‘frivolous’ lawsuits related to the pandemic passed its first Senate committee Monday.

The bill is facing stiff opposition from trial lawyers, who argue it would make it almost impossible for a person to seek damages from businesses that aren’t taking precautions.

Lawmakers have made COVID-liability protections a top priority for the 2021 legislative session.

“Businesses need certainty,” said State Senator Jeff Brandes.

Brandes is sponsoring the bill.

It would require a person to prove a business acted with ‘gross negligence’ in order for a civil suit related to the pandemic to go forward.

“The key here is, did the businesses reasonably follow the rules?” said Brandes.

But Jacksonville Trial Lawyer Eddie Farah worries the gross negligence standard tips the scale too far in the favor of businesses.

“You’re eliminating valid claims. You’re giving protection to people who do not comply with the law and when they know the standard is gross negligence they can be more lackadaisical,” said Farah.

Brandes told us the opposition comes as no surprise.

“They see that they could mine this gold mine for four years,” said Brandes.

Democratic state lawmakers did propose an amendment to lower the gross negligence standard in the bill’s first committee hearing, but it and three other proposed changes failed.

Brandes said the high standard is necessary to prevent people from engaging in ‘sue to settle’ schemes.

“Pay us off to make this issue go away and we won’t take you to court, but for most small businesses one lawsuit like this would bankrupt them,” said Brandes.

Farah argued there are already safeguards in place to deter frivolous suits.

“The system is not perfect, but you don’t shut down the whole system because there are some minor imperfections within it,” said Farah.

A recent report by Florida TaxWatch found 490 COVID-related suits have been filed so far in the state.

The TaxWatch report also estimated 356,000 Florida jobs could be at risk with out liability protections and the state could see a $28 billion reduction in economic activity.

Sales over the internet have increased from 30 to 50 percent during the pandemic, yet Florida remains one of two states with a sales tax that does not place the tax burden on out-of-state retailers.

But where the tax is collected could soon be changing.

If you have purchased something over the internet or from a catalog, and the seller didn’t collect the sales tax, you as a consumer, are supposed to fill out this form and send what you owe to the state.

Only Florida and Missouri don’t force out-of-state retailers to collect at the point of sale, but lawmakers today took the first step to shift the burden to internet merchants.

“This is the right time. During the pandemic we’ve seen people’s buying patterns shift. And certainly, Florida is on the losing end, because not enough people are paying the tax that’s owed,” said State Senator Joe Gruters.

The constant parade of packages arriving at doors is only expected to increase in volume, even post pandemic.

Collecting the already owed tax at the point of sale is one of dozens of recommendations that Florida TaxWatch believes will get the state finances back on track.

“We have the second highest reliance on sales and use tax. We should have been at this a long time ago. It’s been ideological head in sand,” said Dominic Calabro, President and CEO of Florida TaxWatch.

There’s always been opposition.

It used to come from lawmakers worried about being labeled with voting for a tax increase.

But now the AFL-CIO says corporations and others should pay more before working people.

“We have working people who should be paying the tax, but why do they go first? Why are they the ones whose pocket books are going to get hit first?” said Dr. Rich Templin with the Florida AFL-CIO.

And consumers who haven’t paid the tax could be liable for what they over for up to three years.

Changing the point of the taxes collection is expected to raise up to a billion dollars a year that has been going uncollected.

Florida has experienced eight straight months of job growth according to the report released Friday from the Department of Economic Opportunity.

The report shows positive signs in the Florida economy with jobs increasing and unemployment rates dropping.

Florida’s unemployment rate for December was 6.1 percent.

It’s down two tenths of a percent from November, but even as the unemployment rate improves, there are still pockets of sky high unemployment in tourism heavy counties.

Osceola, Miami-Dade and Orange Counties all have unemployment rates over seven percent.

“And so just the nature of their industry makeup has led to an elevated unemployment rate,” said Adrienne Johnston, Bureau Chief of Workforce Statistics and Economic Research at DEO.

But Chief Economist for the Florida Chamber of Commerce Dr. Jerry Parrish has high hopes for a faster than anticipated recovery of the state’s tourism industry.

“I will guarantee you that as soon as people get vaccinated and feel comfortable again, we’re going to see a big return of visitors from other states and other countries,” said Parrish.

And Johnston said overall, the numbers are trending in the right direction.

“Seeing labor force actually increasing while our unemployment rate is going down,” said Johnston.

While the numbers are trending in the right direction, the state still has a ways to go to get to its pre-pandemic unemployment rate of 2.8 percent.

But as the Chamber points out, four of the state’s major industries, manufacturing, construction, finance and education and health services have nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels.

“So other than leisure and hospitality, which has obviously taken a big hit, I think Florida is doing really well,” said Parrish.

Florida’s new unemployment rate represents 614,000 people out of a job and actively looking for a new one.

DEO’s report also identified at least 64,000 people who stopped looking for work all together and therefore not counted in the unemployment rate.

The Florida Chamber attributes the positive economic trend in Florida to the state’s decision to reopen schools and businesses.

Florida hovers half a point lower than the national unemployment rate of 6.7 percent.

The Florida Department of Health is no longer publishing the number of people who are overdue for their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The Department told us the number was causing confusion, but some state lawmakers argue the move is yet another example of a lack of transparency.

High demand and low supply continues to plague the COVID vaccine rollout.

“People are calling my office desperate, yelling, screaming. Elderly, infirm, sick people and they can’t get a vaccine,” said State Senator Lori Berman.

Some hospitals have stopped giving out first doses to ensure an adequate supply for those who are eligible for booster shots.

As of the last reported numbers, there were more than 40,000 Floridians classified as overdue for their second shot.

To the dismay of some Florida lawmakers, the Department of Health decided Wednesday to stop publishing those statistics.

“You know, the more data the better to help our government make informed decisions and for the public to hold the government accountable,” said state Representative Anna Eskamani.

In an emailed statement, DOH told us the decision to stop reporting the numbers is two fold.

One, it said the stats aren’t reported by the CDC.

“This number is being removed to align with CDC reporting, which only includes information on first dose and series complete (first and second dose),” said Jason Mahon, Interm DOH Communications Director.

And two, it said the designation was misleading.

“this number is being removed as it may cause confusion related to the following CDC guidance,” said Mahon.

That guidance from the CDC said in part, “There is no maximum interval between the first and second doses for either vaccine.”

Mahon said it means no one is in fact ‘overdue’.

“No one is overdue for their second dose, but rather, will be eligible for their second dose. The Department of Health continues to recommend that individuals receive their second dose at 28 days for the Moderna vaccine, or 21 days for the Pfizer vaccine,” said Mahon.

Lawmakers we spoke with still argue it would be beneficial to know how many people who are eligible for the second dose are in the pipeline.

“So that we can provide clarity and comfort and answers to Floridians that are waiting their turn,” said Eskamani. “Not providing insight into how many people need a second booster shot impacts the timeline for when our teachers can get vaccinated, for when our essential workers can get vaccinated. At this point we’re operating without a transparent plan.”

The lawmakers we spoke with also said they are hopeful the new Biden Administration will work to ramp up vaccine production and better communicate to the states how much vaccine they can expect to receive on a long term basis.

We did ask for an interview with the Surgeon General and the Director of the Division of Emergency Management for this story to provide more clarity, but our requests went unanswered.