Welcome to

The Florida House began debating controversial legislation cracking down on violent protests Thursday afternoon.

Democrats proposed five amendments in an effort to water down the legislation.

The burning of buildings in the Tampa Bay Area in June, windows smashed in the state’s capital and trouble elsewhere were the genesis of House Bill 1.

It’s number is indicative of how important it is to leadership.

“It’s protects the businesses from the destruction of property. It protects police officers who are there protecting against violent protests,” said House Speaker Chris Sprowls.

Opponents claim the legislation will stifle peaceful protests.

“That is totally and utterly false. There is not a line in this bill that would affect anyone who is peacefully protesting. Who it will effect, who it will affect, are people who are being violent,” said Sprowls.

As written, the driver of a red truck that ran through protesters in Tallahassee over the summer wouldn’t face charges or civil action if a convicted protester was hurt as he escaped after inadvertently ending up in the middle.

“It’s promoting vigilantism of the worst kind, and so, that’s what my amendment would do, it would remove that from the bill,” said Rep. Fentrice Driskell.

Driskell knew the amendments would all be voted down.

“You know, we have to continue to fight. We have to continue to raise the arguments and at least try to use this process to make a piece of legislation better,” said Driskell.

The House will take a final vote Friday, but the bill is in trouble in the Senate where it has yet

But the clock is ticking, and the Governor and Sprowls have been on National TV telling the nation they were going to pass the toughest law in the nation.

The Governor told us last week that he believed lawmakers would reach a deal on the legislation by the end of session.

Several dozen mainly African American pastors stood on the front steps of the State Thursday, urging lawmakers to withdraw elections legislation the pastors say will stifle voters.

The legislation eliminates drop boxes, which pastors say 70 percent of voters like.

It will also cut in half the life a mail ballot request.

“So, not only is God watching, we’re watching. We want you to understand we voted you in. We’ll surely, surely, vote you out. Godspeed,” said President of the Equal Ground Action Committee, Marcus R. McCoy Jr.

The group said it made more than a half million voter contacts in 2020 to get out the vote.

The Senate and House are split on how to respond to the civil unrest spurred by the death of George Floyd.

The Florida House is moving full steam ahead with legislation that would raise penalties for crimes committed during a riot, but the Senate has taken a different approach, pushing a police reform bill that reflects some of the concerns raised during the civil unrest in 2020.

“I think law enforcement is looking, not for bills and for policy that creates a further divide between the community and law enforcement, but things that bring us together,” said Senator Jason Pizzo.

Pizzo, who chairs the Senate Criminal Justice Committee, is sponsoring the policing reform package.

“This is everyone’s opportunity, basically not to have short term memories. You know again, in May and early June, everybody, both sides of the isle came out and said these atrocities need to stop, we need to improve the situation. Here’s your opportunity,” said Pizzo.

It would mandate implicit bias and deescalation training.

“At the very least, let’s have a standard threshold of best practices and promulgate them statewide,” said Pizzo.

It also creates a duty for officers to intervene if they witness another officer using excessive force and bans choke holds in most situations.

“You know, it’s an imminent life threatening situation, any and all response is appropriate,” said Pizzo.

The police reform bill is being held up in the House by the prime co-sponsor of the anti-rioting legislation.

Likewise, the anti-rioting bill is being blocked in the Senate by the sponsor of the police reform bill.

Thus far, the two sides seem unwilling to compromise.

House Criminal Justice Chair Cord Byrd is skeptical of the police reforms proposed in the Senate.

“We’re trying to get at the bad ones, not impugn the behavior of all police officers,” said Byrd.

When asked a deal could be worked out between the two chambers, Byrd said one was currently not in the works, but left open the possibility.

“That’s what the end of session is for,” said Byrd.

Pizzo was more direct.

“I don’t horse trade. There’s no bartering going on. There’s no communication. I’ve actually never spoken to Cord Byrd,” said Pizzo.

Pizzo noted there’s only one Criminal Justice meeting left in the Senate.

The anti-rioting bill is not on the agenda.

Byrd said there would be multiple amendments made to the anti-rioting legislation when it’s heard by the full House.

Whether it will be enough to garner support in the Senate is an open question.

Three different legislative committees in the State Capitol approved three bills that will help Floridians drive into the future Wednesday.

The bills set the stage for digital and autonomous technology.

Hungry for a pizza?

There’s an app for that, and there’ll soon to be an app for the autonomous vehicle that will deliver it.

“I mean, we’re right around the corner, you’re seeing more and more of these companies developing everyday. You’re seeing really interesting partnerships developing out of this technology,” said State Senator Jeff Brandes.

Legislation approved by a Senate committee sets the road map for driverless delivery vehicles.

“When you order from Walmart, it’ll ultimately come in an automated vehicle, delivered to your house, via an app. You’ll press a button, it’ll open a door,” said Brandes.

A million dollars in insurance will also be required.

“And just last week I talked to another company that wants to relocate to Florida and begin to grow their business here as it relates to the future of automated, shared and electrical vehicles,” said Brandes.

The vehicles will only be allowed to travel on roadways with a 35 mile an hour limit or less, with one exception.

The vehicles will be allowed to operate on a 45 mile per hour road for one mile, to get from one neighborhood to another.

Another bill will use a handful of state vehicles to become a pilot for digital license plates.

“You have to actually purchase a physical plate before you can purchase a digital license plate,” said Representative Nick Duran.

The possibilities are endless.

Never changing the sticker on the plate and much more.

“If the car gets stolen, you can type in the license,” said Duran.

Digital license plates currently cost just under $500, but the cost is expected to come down significantly as they gain popularity.

Finally, Florida will piloting a digital drivers license, so if you are ever stopped and the officer asks for your license and registration, you simply press a button to send it.

Digital drivers licenses could be a year away.

Black mothers are three to four times more likely to die than white mothers as a direct result of child birth or from postpartum complications.

Florida’s House Speaker has vowed to tackle the disparities and he’s now backing legislation that would extend Medicaid eligibility for postpartum care.

In Florida, nearly half of all births are covered by Medicaid, but recipients are only eligible for two months of postpartum care.

“One third to one half of maternal deaths occur in the postpartum period,” said House Speaker Chris Sprowls.

Sprowls is backing legislation that would extend coverage for the first time since 1976.

Under the $240 million plan Medicaid would cover mothers up to a year after delivery.

“We acknowledge that it won’t solve every problem. We need physicians and medical experts to play their part in educating patients and we need better career and education programs to drive Floridians to in-demand jobs where there’s healthcare coverage. We’re working on those things too in this House, but this is a step that we must take to help support an important and vulnerable population, our pregnant moms and their babies during and after their pregnancy,” said Sprowls.

The legislation has wide bipartisan backing.

“This problem impacts minority communities disproportionately,” said State Representative Kamia Brown.

Brown, a Democrat, hopes the legislation will close the racial disparity gap in maternal mortality rates.

“Extending this coverage will save lives,” said Brown.

Democrats hope this is only the beginning, another part of the puzzle is access to care.

A 2018 report revealed there were zero OB/GYNs in Gadsden County, where nearly six in ten residents are Black.

Brown is backing another bill seeking to expand Telehealth services for maternal health care in minority communities.

“We’re looking at expanding access, but also quality access. This particular bill stems to do that,” said Brown.

The speaker said he hasn’t talked with the Governor or the Senate on the Medicaid proposal.

He was careful to call the plan a Medicaid extension as opposed to an expansion, which has been long opposed by Florida Republicans.

Of the $240 million investment, $92 million will come from the state, with the Federal Government picking up the rest.

The Speaker also vowed to make the change permanent, although actions of the current Legislature cannot tie the hands of future Legislatures.

Parents and the recipients of Bright Futures Scholarships sent thousands of emails to lawmakers opposing changes to the popular merit based program.

As a result, the legislation has been watered down, but some are still concerned about the program’s longterm future.

State lawmakers email boxes are blowing up over possible changes to bright futures.

“I don’t think I’ve received more emails than received on this subject,” said State Senator Janet Cruz.

A survey conducted by Cruz found 98 percent knew someone who benefited from Bright Futures.

Another 56 percent said they or someone they know could not have gone to college without the scholarship.

“People love this scholarship,” said Cruz.

Sponsor Dennis Baxley has been taking the brunt of the criticism.

“Well, I think they were a big part of where we are winding up,” said Baxley, who is sponsoring the bill aiming to alter the program.

The concerns forced significant changes.

Scholarships won’t be withheld no matter what course you are taking, but students will have to get career counseling about their choices.

“We have a significant number of college graduates that can’t get hired,” said Baxley.

Amendments were voted down that would have guaranteed funding for recipients already in school.

“There’s a lot of concern about the funding,” said Senator Tina Polsky.

Alison Roush came to Florida State after turning down full rides at two out of state schools.

Now she is worried.

“In the next few years there is a potential for the money for my scholarship to be reduced,” said Roush. “I think it would leave me with a portion of the money.”

In the end, the legislation was approved.

Janet Cruz worries GOP supporters are trying to steer students to some courses.

“Students will have to sign they understand what career paths pay well, and what career paths perhaps don’t pay as well,” said Cruz.

The conversation about Bright Futures is far from over.

Concerns will likely require more changes, and the House is using a carrot instead of a stick to get students to go into careers in demand.

Florida is spending $618 million on Bright Futures this year.

All of fund come from lottery revenue.

Major changes to the state’s alimony law are on the table at the State Capitol.

Legislation heard Monday afternoon in a Senate Committee would end permanent alimony and set in law formulas for how much and how long a spouse would make or receive payments.

Deborah Favata-Shultz, a physician from Apollo Beach, has been paying alimony for 17 years.

“I’ve paid alimony as long as we were married,” said Shultz.

Under proposed sweeping changes, alimony would no longer be permanent, but limited to half the time of the marriage.

“I am 68 years old. I want to retire. I don’t know how I am going to do that if I have to keep paying him this money,” said Shultz.

Senate Sponsor Joe Gruters said alimony will also end at retirement.

“This doesn’t end alimony. It just ends permanent alimony. But on top of that, you still get 50 percent of all marital assets,” said Gruters.

Under current law, alimony only ends when a spouse gets remarried or a court agrees, but this legislation ends alimony if someone is getting substantial support like living with someone who is helping pay the bills.

“What happens is that they just will never remarry because it’s not in their best interests. And ultimately, it’s cheating the system,” said Rep. Anthony Rodriquez, who is sponsoring the bill in the House.

The Florida National Organization for Women has fought the changes for a decade.

“That woman will be punished for staying home and talking care of the children, while her husband is out advancing his career, and then casting her aside,” said Barbara DeVane with Florida NOW.

The legislation does make it easier for either spouse to go back to court to seek a modification, up or down.

The bill also says there is a presumption spouses will share children equally.

Similar ideas were vetoed by then Governor Rick Scott in 2013 and again in 2016.

The 2020 election was once of the safest and securest in Florida history, but lawmakers are still looking to make changes to the state’s election laws.

Preventing ballot harvesting and increasing transparency and security of vote by mail are the focus of a bill approved by its first House committee Monday.

The sponsor of the House’s election reform legislation agrees, Florida’s 2020 election was a success.

“And we should never pass up an opportunity to make a good thing even better,” said Representative Blaise Ingoglia.

The bill would prevent election supervisors from taking private grants.

“Elections are a function of government and government should be paying for it,” said Ingoglia.

It would also require mail ballots be requested each election cycle instead of every other cycle, but requests made before July 1st 2021 would still be honored.

Mail ballot drop boxes would have to be monitored at all times and only family members or a roommate could drop off another person’s ballot.

Democrats worry those limitations don’t account for all situations.

“There’s no allowance for a guardian in here, there’s no allowance for a caregiver,” said Rep. Allison Tant.

The sponsor said the goal is to crack down on ballot harvesting.

“We just got to make sure that we’re not opening it up where any one just signs a piece of paper saying that I’m the caregiver for this person and they can return the ballot. We don’t want to turn it into the fireworks where people sign saying they’re not going to do it and they do it anyway,” said Ingoglia.

One major concern from election supervisors is that the bill would require all mail ballot signatures to be posted online so they could be reviewed and potentially challenged by other voters.

“I think that opens up great opportunities, very bad opportunities, for identity theft,” said Leon County Election Supervisor and Vice President of the Florida Supervisors of Elections Mark Earley.

The sponsor did say he’s willing and preparing to make changes to the bill to address concerns.

Democrats indicated if enough changes are made, they could potentially support the legislation.

The Senate version of the legislation is far more restrictive.

It would ban mail ballot drop boxes altogether.

It also doesn’t grandfather in outstanding mail ballot requests like the House version.

If you’ve been baking from home during the pandemic to help make some extra cash, Florida lawmakers want to make your life easier.

Legislation heard by a Senate Committee at the State Capitol Monday would raise the amount of money you can earn from $50,000 in sales, to $250,000 a year.

Sponsor Senator Jason Brodeur said it’s a recognition that pandemic has been challenging for many.

“One of the things we have seen during COVID is the amount of creativity that has happened with folks. And we already had a cottage foods bill on the books. The bill allowed entrepreneurs the ability to make products in your home that don’t require your normal business license because they were under a certain threshold. As we’ve seen folks continue to get creative and grow these businesses, we want to expand that threshold. So as there’s no increase to a public safety risk, we’re still seeing people able to work and earn out fo their home,” said Brodeur.

Refrigerated foods are not included in the legislation.

It does allow neighbors, or anyone, to file complaints with the Department of Agriculture, which oversees the cottage food industry.

The legislation also allows people to accept payment in a business name and ship the goods, rather than requiring in person sales.

Starting Monday Floridians aged 50 and up will be eligible to receive the COVID vaccine.

Part of that effort will be increasing outreach to underserved and minority communities.

Since the first pilot launched, the state’s faith based outreach program targeting minority communities has vaccinated 70,000 people at 215 houses of worship.

“Florida has been the model for how you partner with the faith based community and in fact they’re trying to roll that out in other places in other states,” said Jared Moskowitz, Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management.

Starting next week, nine more vaccination sites in minority communities will launch.

Within the next two weeks mobile units severing minority communities will increase from three buses to 15.

“All these different outreach efforts, all these different pockets, each one obviously helps try to increase shots in arms,” said Moskowitz.

Moskowitz said part of that state’s strategy is branching off smaller ‘spokes’ from main vaccine sites to penetrate deeper into communities.

He reported almost 50 percent of people using those sites are Black and brown Floridians.

The state has also knocked on 35,000 doors in minority communities, in some cases even offering a shot on the spot, but vaccine hesitancy remains an issue.

“We’re finding it’s about a ten percent conversion rate. And you know that’s why it’s hard to do these things as far as with speed,” said Moskowitz.

Reverend Dr. RB Holmes heads a statewide task force of pastors attempting to break through some of the barriers.

“The numbers not where I think they ought to be, but it’s not because we’re not trying,” said Holmes.

He believes persistence is key.

“We just gotta tell folks that these vaccines are safe, they will save lives, but we just can’t give up,” said Holmes.

Black Floridians make up only about 6 percent of those vaccinated so far.

The ultimate goal is to vaccinate 70 percent of Florida’s Black community, and while meeting that goal will be a challenge, Reverend Holmes said the state’s efforts are headed in the right direction.

The Florida Senate is poised to pass legislation walking back plans for three major road construction projects signed into law just two years ago.

The legislation would cancel plans to extend the turnpike to the west coast and a toll road from Collier County to the center of the state, but keep in place plans to extend the Sun Cost Parkway on a slightly different path.

Funds from the canceled projects would be redirected to the transportation trust fund to support improvements to existing roadways.

Bill sponsor Senator Gayle Harrell amended the bill in its last committee stop to add more environmental protections.

“And by revisioning what we are doing we can accomplish the goals of better transportation, improved safety and also look at the environmental impact of what we are doing when we build our roads,” said Harrell.

Environmental groups are split on the legislation.

While all that testified Thursday said the new proposal is better for the environment than the existing plan, some groups remain concerned the Sun Coast Parkway extension could result in negative environmental impacts.

The Governor’s top legislative priority, increasing penalties for violent protesters, continues to draw protesters to the Capitol, but the legislation may be in trouble because of a lack of support from law enforcement.

Three dozen people opposing tougher penalties for protesters who cross the line into violence were at the Capitol Thursday.

“DeSantis’ anti protest bill attempts threatens us into submission with ridiculous prison sentences. That’s what I call fear,” said FSU student Jalen Blocker.

But inside the building, the legislation is stalled.

With the session a third over, the Governor’s top priority has yet to get a hearing in the Senate.

Criminal Justice Chair Jason Pizzo won’t talk about it

“Stuff on my committee I don’t comment,” said Pizzo.

Governor Ron DeSantis laughed when we asked if he was worried.

“Are we going to be prepared to respond appropriately and protect our people? And I think the House believes that we will. I think the majority of the Senate believe that,” said DeSantis.

Senator Jeff Brandes, who is vice chair under Pizzo, isn’t so sure.

“I just don’t know they have the votes on that committee,” said Brandes. “They are either going to pare the bill down to something that is acceptable and they can get the votes for, or it will continue to be reviewed.”

We asked the Governor if he would let lawmakers go home without passing the legislation.

“Oh, I don’t think that’s going to be an issue. I think they know they are going to have to do it. So, it’s not a question if I let them go home. What would their voters do if they went home without doing it? I know our voters would be very upset,” said DeSantis.

Every session ends with the most important bills being horse traded.

For the Governor the question is how much political Capitol is he willing to spend.

The Democratic Caucus in the Florida House voted Thursday to oppose the House version of the bill.

That means all 42 Democrats will likely vote no.

There are 78 GOP members in the House.

The Governor brought back some of his favorite public health experts for a round table touting the success of the state’s COVID policies Thursday.

The roundtable was full of many of familiar talking points.

“The lock downs have led to many, many unnecessary deaths,” said Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a Professor of Medicine at Stanford University.

Also the importance of opening of schools.

“It is really unconscionable that there are any schools that are not in person,” said Dr. Scott Atlas, the Robert Wesson Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution of Stanford University and former Member of the US Coronavirus Task Force.

The Governor also emphasized Florida won’t endorse vaccine passports.

“People don’t have to worry about it here in the State of Florida and if folks try to start doing it privately, you know we may have a role to play there as well,” said Governor Ron DeSantis.

But there was a new critique of COVID policy lobbed during the meeting, with panelists questioning the effectiveness of masks.

“The people in the United States at a very high frequency have been wearing masks for months and the cases exploded,” said Atlas.

The Governor shied away when we asked if he planned to lift all local mask orders.

“I think the proper role for public health is to give people information to provide some guidance, but ultimately individuals should be able to make their own decisions and I don’t think it should be compulsory and I don’t think certainly it should come under penalty from the state,” said DeSantis.

The Governor also touted the state’s vaccine rollout, but outside the Capitol, a coalition of social justice groups repeated criticisms that the black community hasn’t gotten its fair share.

“How come brown people didn’t get it just like the white people got it? Let me tell you something, they all need the vaccine,” said Dr. Tracey Stallworth with Faith in Florida.

Medical doctors also joined with social justice advocates outside the Capitol calling into question the Governor’s rosy picture painted of the COVID situation.

“Florida has no expansion of Medicaid. Our Government run unemployment system is a failure,” said Dr. Armen Henderson with the University of Miami. “The rich have been given access to vaccines at alarming rates in comparison the the rest of the Florida population.”

Social justice advocates also took numerous shots at the Legislature, which they say is spending too much time on the Governor’s social agenda and not enough on COVID relief.

Of the 4.4 million vaccine doses administered in Florida so far, 67.6 percent have gone to white Floridans, while only 6 percent have gone to Black Floridans.

An additional 15.4 percent of recipients did not report their race or ethnicity at all.

Law Enforcement and others like state employees and 911 operators with access to the Driver Vehicle Information Database will face stiffer penalties for misusing the system to acquire personal information of members of the public under legislation passed by its final Senate committee Thursday morning.

Current misuse of the system results in a $500 fine, but the legislation would raise financial penalties as high as $2,000.

Sponsor Senator Ed Hooper said it wasn’t one, but many incidents that inspired the change.

“It turns out that there are multiple pages of inappropriate research on that database and I thought now is the time to address it and let’s see if we can encourage folks not to misuse this data system,” said Hooper.

The legislation also requires law enforcement agencies include training on the proper use of the DAVID system in initial and ongoing training for officers.

Governor Ron DeSantis wants to spend just less than half the roughly $10 billion Florida is getting from the Federal Government in stimulus money during the coming budget year and the plan is getting rave reviews from state lawmakers.

The Governor is asking lawmakers to spend $4.1 billion in coming federal money.

On top of the list, $1,000 bonuses for the state’s first responders.

Florida’s firefighters are surprised, and grateful.

“I’d be remiss if I did not recognize the other front line workers that are out there that are deserving of being recognized,” said Bernie Bernoska, President of the Professional Firefighters of Florida.

A billion to fight climate change makes up the biggest chunk of the federal windfall.

The money is on top of the Governor’s proposal to spend another billion on climate over the next four years.

“I think that will make a huge impact when you are talking about building infrastructure,” said DeSantis.

Even Florida’s top Democrat is calling it a good, but overdue idea.

“If we don’t spend the money now creating programs, creating ways to protect our state, its going to be a $75 billion hit in the future,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried.

In reality, the state doesn’t know how much cash it’s getting or what strings will be attached.

Senate Appropriations chair Kelli Stargel told us the Governor and Senate are on the same page.

What the state can’t do is spend one time money on expenses that come every year.

Some of the cash will likely strengthen the state’s already hefty reserves.

“I would hope we hold some of it in reserve. I think it would be pretty challenging actually, and impractical to spend $10 billion in one year anyhow,” said Stargel.

The Governor also wants to use the Federal cash to pay for the $73 million rebuild of the state’s failed unemployment system. but none of the one time money can be used to increase future benefits.

The Governor’s plan also sets aside $250 million to help Florida ports prepare for when cruise ships begin sailing again, as well as money to beef up the state’s national guard equipment.