While Florida lawmakers are getting ready to begin work in Tallahassee as the next legislative session gets underway on Tuesday, some are calling for all members to come together and work as a government and not just for individual political parties.

Florida lawmakers want nearly $70 million in the coming year’s budget to strengthen fatherhood in Florida through grants and education.

Gov. Ron DeSantis visited Pinellas and Miami-Dade counties Tuesday to announce the award of grants totaling over $404 million for 113 environmental resilience projects across the state through the Resilient Florida Grant Program, which will help prepare coastal and inland communities for the adverse impacts of flooding and storm surge.

It's called the New Worlds Reading Initiative

Gov. Ron DeSantis voiced support Wednesday morning for a Republican-led bill that would ban most abortions in Florida after 15 weeks of pregnancy and signaled that he would sign it if it landed on his desk.

Governor Ron DeSantis was joined by Florida Speaker Chris Sprowls and Senate President Wilton Simpson to sign legislation that will protect Floridians from losing their jobs due to COVID-19 vaccine mandates and protect parents’ rights to make healthcare decisions for students.

Minimum wage workers in Florida will get a voter-approved pay boost this week, while about two dozen new laws kick in, including a regulatory framework for electronic cigarettes.

Gov. Ron DeSantis doubled down Thursday on his opposition to mask mandates for public-school students during the COVID-19 pandemic, saying he would call for a special legislative session if the federal government moves toward requiring masks in schools.

The Seminole Tribe would be able to operate sports betting and add roulette and craps to its casinos and Florida would potentially receive $20 billion over the next 30 years, under an agreement the Legislature approved Wednesday.

The Florida Legislature gaveled in Monday for what is expected to be a quick special session to ratify Gov. Ron DeSantis’ 30-year compact with the Seminole Tribe of Florida.

Florida will spend hundreds of millions of dollars over the next few years to protect against coastal flooding under a bill signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.

State lawmakers have wrapped up their work for the 2021 legislative session agreeing on a historic $101.5 billion budget.

The fate of more than $42 billion in spending on health and human services programs remained in limbo after House and Senate budget negotiators were unable to reach agreement by Monday night.

Tens of millions of dollars in tax breaks could be in our future.

The Florida House heard two bills Tuesday attempting to combat foreign influence and intellectual theft in the state.

Local governments in Florida will be severely limited when issuing emergency orders in the future under legislation moving quickly through the State Capitol.

Ron DeSantis said Monday that he would issue an executive order forbidding local governments and businesses from requiring so-called “vaccine passports” to show proof that customers have been inoculated against the coronavirus. While the governor has previously spoken out against “vaccine passports,” he said he would take the additional step of forbidding businesses from refusing to serve people who can’t prove they have been vaccinated. The governor has rejected mask mandates and has used his executive authority to preempt local governments from enforcing such measures. AdThe “vaccine passports” are expected to be free, be available through smartphone apps, be printable and have a scannable code that’s similar to an airline boarding pass. DeSantis said allowing governments and businesses to require proof of vaccinations would be “an unprecedented expansion” of public and private power.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida businesses, governments and healthcare providers will be protected from coronavirus lawsuits if they made a good effort to follow guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19 under a bill signed by Republican Gov. The legislation was the first bill to go to the governor during the 60-day legislative session that began March 2. In order for a lawsuit to move ahead, a plaintiff would have to show that the defendant deliberately ignored guidelines. DeSantis had a live band playing a cover version of The Beatles “With a Little Help from My Friends” in the Cabinet meeting room before he signed the bill. They said the language in the bill and need to prove gross negligence will make it difficult to bring a case forward.

The House on Thursday rolled out a health care spending proposal that includes deep cuts, including slicing Medicaid reimbursements to nursing homes by 2 percent, or $80.4 million in state and federal funding. Florida Health Care Association President Emmett Reed said the proposed Medicaid cuts to nursing homes would translate to about a $125,000 reduction in payments per facility per year. In all, the House proposed spending roughly $42.1 billion across the state’s six health care-related agencies. Unlike the House, the Senate proposal wouldn’t cut funding for nursing homes. The House has proposed increasing the rates by $12.1 million in overall funds, while the Senate has proposed a $36.6 million increase.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida House on Thursday began debating legislation that aims to crack down on violent protests. Democrats proposed adding five amendments to House Bill 1 in an effort to water down the bill, which critics say will impose on people’s rights to peacefully protest. The legislation was written in response to the burning of buildings in the Tampa Bay area in June and windows smashed in Tallahassee, among violent unrest elsewhere in the state. It protects police officers who are there protecting against violent protests,” House Speaker Chris Sprowls said of the bill. Opponents claim the legislation will stifle peaceful protests, a criticism Sprowls took issue with.

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.

DeSantis contends the state is getting about $2 billion less than it would be if the federal government used past stimulus funding formulas. In terms of infrastructure, DeSantis wants to spend $1 billion on top of money he proposed earlier to address sea-level rise over a four-year period. Ad“It’s going to be $2 billion over that four-year period,” DeSantis said Tuesday, as he announced the additional money. DeSantis, who had already requested that Visit Florida receive $50 million for marketing next fiscal year, proposed another $50 million for the agency Tuesday. The fund, which was created for job training and public infrastructure projects, was vetoed last year as DeSantis cut $1 billion from the budget.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Dozens of survivors of communist regimes flocked to the State Capitol on Thursday in a show of support for a bill that would bring stories like theirs into the classroom. Supporters expressed concerns that younger generations don’t understand the history of America’s founding principles and how they differ from communist ideology. But for dozens of survivors of communist regimes who brought their stories to the State Capitol, it’s personal. A survey by The Victims of Communism Foundation found one in three millennials have a favorable view of communism. A separate bill has been filed that would establish Victims of Communism Day as an official state holiday to commemorate the 100 million victims killed under communist regimes.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – In a priority of Speaker Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, a House committee on Monday unanimously approved a bill that would crack down on people who run scams about vaccines and personal protective equipment during pandemics. The vote by the House Judiciary Committee positioned the bill (HB 9) to be heard by the full House after the annual legislative session begins Tuesday. Sponsor Ardian Zika, R-Land O’ Lakes, said it stems from people using authentic-looking websites to run scams that purportedly offer access to COVID-19 vaccines or personal protective equipment. “This is important legislation that protects Florida consumers against fraud during a pandemic,” Zika said. The bill would lead to felony charges for people who run the scams and would authorize the attorney general to seek injunctions to shut down websites or other platforms that are used to spread fraudulent information.

The state Senate and House gaveled into session with members donning face masks on the floors of their respected chambers. Ron DeSantis said he would looking forward to working with lawmakers on the key issues facing their state. AdAlthough it was the first day of the session, lawmakers have been traveling to Tallahassee for weeks to begin committee hearings on the measures that could eventually make to the governor’s desk. While Republican lawmakers have signaled their support for the governor's initiatives, they will have their own priorities. “By prioritizing Big Tech companies, social media — that's not the priorities of the people of the state of the Florida.

Ron DeSantis and state lawmakers are adding China to the growing list of targets for the 2021 Florida legislative session, which gets underway on Tuesday. Newly filed bills include measures that aim to limit intellectual property theft by the communist regime and crack down on Chinese influence at American colleges and universities. “The growing presence of the Chinese communist party influence in domestic and international affairs is one of the most pervasive threats to American security and prosperity,” DeSantis said during a Monday news conference. The first seeks to curb Chinese influence in the academic field by requiring transparency for donations from foreign governments over $50,000 and punishing institutions that don’t comply. AdAlso filed this year is legislation that blames China for the economic fallout caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Coronavirus, budget questions, anti-riot legislation and an attempt to reign in large technology companies will be among issues lawmakers will take up in their 60-day session that begins Tuesday. More than 2,500 bills have been filed ahead of the 2021 session. The budget is the only bill lawmakers are required to pass, and lawmakers won’t get the latest revenue estimates until after session starts. Ron DeSantis proposed a $96.6 billion for the fiscal year that begins July 1, or $4.3 billion more than the current budget. Reductions will be necessary.”A priority for DeSantis, Sprowls and Simpson is passing protections for businesses and health care facilities that would shield them from COVID-19 lawsuits.

AdThe House is looking to budget $25 million next fiscal year and establish a program to help local governments cover costs of addressing flooding and sea level rise. The House plan and DeSantis’ proposal include some key differences. AdWhile the funding source for the House plan still needs to be worked out as lawmakers put together the 2021-2022 budget, the House doesn’t call for bonding the money. The House proposal, which Sprowls called a “suite of bills,” also would set up a three-year Statewide Flooding and Sea Level Rise Resilience Plan that the Department of Environmental Protection would update annually. Here in the state of Florida the members who spoke here today are interested in the people who live in our community.

Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, initiated the process before committee meetings began in January. To adhere to social-distancing requirements during the 60-day legislative session, the House is offering limited seating on a “first-come, first-served basis” for committee meetings in which legislation is discussed. AdThe updated House protocols won’t allow people who can’t get access to committee rooms to testify remotely from an overflow room, a change from the earlier coronavirus precautions. Members of the public who aren’t registered lobbyists and can’t attend committee meetings in person will be allowed to submit written comments to committee members electronically. House visitors will be required to wear face masks, including when they are addressing committees, and won’t be allowed to show up unannounced.

AdThe House is looking to budget $25 million next fiscal year and establish a program to help local governments cover costs of addressing flooding and sea level rise. The House plan and DeSantis’ proposal include some key differences. AdWhile the funding source for the House plan still needs to be worked out as lawmakers put together the 2021-2022 budget, the House doesn’t call for bonding the money. The House proposal, which Sprowls called a “suite of bills,” also would set up a three-year Statewide Flooding and Sea Level Rise Resilience Plan that the Department of Environmental Protection would update annually. Here in the state of Florida the members who spoke here today are interested in the people who live in our community.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – With Speaker Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, making the issue a priority, the House Judiciary Committee on Monday will consider a bill that would crack down on scammers who provide fraudulent information about COVID-19 vaccines. If the bill (HB 9), sponsored by Rep. Ardian Zika, R-Land O’Lakes, gets approved by the Judiciary Committee, it would be ready to go to the full House after the annual legislative session starts March 2. Sprowls told reporters last week that Zika’s bill and a measure that would provide COVID-19 liability protections for businesses (HB 7) are priorities for early passage in the House. A news release last month announcing the filing of Zika’s bill pointed to such things as fake websites that offer access to vaccines in exchange for payments. “This legislation puts them on notice and helps protect Floridians from getting scammed.”AdThe House is tentatively scheduled to hold two floor sessions next week in which it could take up the bills.

Blaming coronavirus-related delays, the U.S. Census Bureau announced Friday that data Florida lawmakers will use to redraw legislative and congressional boundaries won’t be delivered until September. The bureau had planned to start delivering census data to states on Friday and complete the rollout by March 31. In a blog post, James Whitehorne, chief of the bureau’s Redistricting and Voting Rights Data Office, wrote that COVID-19 delays have pushed back the timeline. The data is now expected to be released to all states at one time before Sept. 30. “We are acutely aware of the difficulties that this delayed delivery of the redistricting data will cause some states,” Whitehorn wrote.

TALLAHASSEE – A woman dies every nine days in Florida from a pregnancy-related complication, and Black Floridians are dying at higher rates than white or Hispanic women. “I’ve been looking at the data of the disparities that Black women face in maternal health care,” said Sprowls. The state has made some progress at closing racial disparities in death rates between Black and white mothers. “The rates for women of color are disproportionately high compared to white women, and so, that is not something to celebrate,” said Eskamani. Democrats on the committee said they want to see the state implement racial bias training in hospitals and expand Medicaid to improve maternal mortality rates.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A priority of House Speaker Chris Sprowls that would lead to books being delivered to the homes of struggling elementary school readers got unanimous approval Thursday from a House panel. “In the essence of this bill, we certainly want our children to read on grade-level, we want them to be successful students and adults. But more importantly, we want them to be excited about reading,” Trabulsy said during Thursday’s meeting of the House Early Learning & Elementary Education Subcommittee. AdThe most recent data on English Language Arts assessments, recorded during the 2018-2019 school year, showed 43% of third-grade students were reading below grade level. To choose a distributor for delivering books, Trabulsy said the Department of Education or third-party administrator will publish a request for bids.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A proposal that would require more online sellers to collect Florida sales taxes and turn the money over to the state will appear Monday before the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee. Many out-of-state online retailers have not collected and remitted the taxes. House Speaker Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, reiterated in November that, “I rule out tax increases,” before noting the online “sales tax already exists.”Gruters filed a similar measure for the 2020 legislative session, but it did not get through Senate committees. A task force led by officials from Associated Industries of Florida, the Florida Retail Federation, the National Federation of Independent Business Florida and the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association included the collection of online sales taxes in a list of proposals for the 2021 legislative session. Florida retailers have long complained of being at a competitive disadvantage because of out-of-state retailers not collecting and remitting the taxes.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – State lawmakers, advised this week about limited tax dollars amid the COVID-19 pandemic, have already proposed 43 hometown projects worth more than $45 million. In most years, lawmakers approve a couple of hundred local projects in the state budget, though the governor has line-item veto power to eliminate spending. When legislators last year sent a $93.2 billion budget to Gov. In slashing $1 billion from the budget in June to reduce spending amid the pandemic, DeSantis vetoed $264 million worth of those projects. A year earlier, about $270 million for 440 local projects made the final budget, after DeSantis used his line-item veto to cut more than 160 proposals, worth $130 million.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Fraudsters who mislead the public about access to COVID-19 vaccinations could be charged with a third-degree felony and sued in civil court, under a measure championed by House Speaker Chris Sprowls. The proposal (HB 9), released Thursday, would make it illegal to receive compensation for falsely advertising access to COVID-19 vaccinations or any other pandemic-related vaccine. First-time violators would face third-degree felony charges and upward of five years imprisonment. Repeat offenders would face second-degree felony charges, which are punishable by at least 15 years in prison. The House Pandemics & Public Emergencies Committee is slated to consider the bill during a Jan. 14 meeting.

Broward Health Medical Center began vaccinating frontline healthcare workers last week with the Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine and are continuing to inoculate frontline caregivers with both of the vaccines after the arrival of the Moderna. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)A pair of legislative committees set up to review Florida’s response to the coronavirus pandemic will hold their first meetings next week. State Surgeon General Scott Rivkees is scheduled to address the Senate Select Committee on Pandemic Preparedness and Response on Jan. 14. The Florida Department of Health has logged 1.39 million cases in the state since the pandemic started in March. State officials also have reported that 289,773 people in Florida had been vaccinated with either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine as of Tuesday.

Carrie Pettus-Davis is the founder of the FSU Institute for Justice Research and Development and was instrumental in developing the training program Resiliency Behind the Badge. Unveiled Thursday, the three-hour course seeks to help officers recognize PTSD in themselves and fellow officers. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida law enforcement officers have a new tool to help them spot post-traumatic stress disorder in themselves and coworkers. Unveiled Thursday, the three-hour course seeks to help officers recognize PTSD in themselves and fellow officers. Another goal of the online program is to help officers understand why after multiple incidents, they can’t shake their anxiousness.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – More than two dozen loyal Republicans gathered in the Senate chamber of the Florida Capitol on Monday afternoon and cast the state’s 29 votes in the Electoral College for President Donald Trump. The 29 electors -- many of them current or former elected or party officials -- were submitted to Gov. Ron DeSantis on Aug. 31 and earned a seat in the chamber when Trump won the most votes in Florida in the Nov. 3 election. Had Joe Biden carried the state, a slate of 29 prominent Democrats selected as that party’s electors would be voting Monday instead and, based on the certified popular vote, Biden will win 306 electoral votes to 232 votes for Trump. That fact made Monday a bittersweet day for Dr. Roy Hinman, of St. Augustine, who case one of Florida’s 29 votes for Trump.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – It’s been more than seven years since Florida Universities raised tuition. And this year lawmakers face a pandemic induced $2.7 billion decline in revenue, which has them putting tuition hikes back on the table. At $6,370, university tuition in Florida, before fees, is the second lowest in the nation. In the end, any tuition hike would have to get the OK from the governor, and Gov. So far, United Faculty of Florida, the union representing professors, hasn’t taken a position on supporting a tuition hike.

“We need to identify our most vulnerable areas, where the need is,” Simpson said. “They’re acknowledging the need --- how can you not in Florida acknowledge the need to start making our communities more resilient?” Florida Conservation Voters Executive Director Aliki Moncrief said. Sprowls, meanwhile, suggested shifting environmental spending from land acquisition to addressing rising waters that flood streets, damage homes and ruin businesses. We need to bring the same long-range planning and strategic discipline to our environmental programs that we bring to our transportation work plan,” Sprowls said. In 2014, former Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, suggested lawmakers set a multiple-year work plan for voter-approved water projects and land preservation.

In separate news conferences, Senate President Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, and House Speaker Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, indicated support for legislation that would protect businesses from lawsuits related to COVID-19. Meanwhile, Sprowls and Simpson may see things differently when it comes to workers’ compensation insurance. Business groups have pushed the Legislature to address the system since a 2016 Florida Supreme Court ruling that found strict caps on plaintiffs’ attorney fees in workers’ compensation cases were unconstitutional. After the ruling, businesses warned that the elimination of the caps on attorney fees would cause workers’ compensation rates to increase and pushed lawmakers to reinstate them. Despite the business groups’ arguments, workers’ compensation rates have decreased in 2018, 2019 and 2020 and are expected to decrease again in 2021.

The legislators who tested positive for COVID-19 include Republican state Sens. Senate spokeswoman Katie Betta said Wright took three separate tests -- and tested positive twice -- at a state-supported testing site that was set up outside the Capitol for lawmakers, guests, legislative staff and reporters. While Salzman tested negative for the virus, her son tested positive. Jeanette Nuñez, members of the Florida Cabinet, and the 160 members of the Florida Legislature have offices in the Capitol complex in Tallahassee. The Florida House and the Florida Senate have different COVID-19 infection-prevention policies in place.

But the message Senate President Wilton Simpson and House Speaker Chris Sprowls sent was one that seeks to cross a divide. Sprowls and Simpson talked about the difficult task of recovering from the pandemic. “Fortunately, Florida is more prepared than most other states,” Simpson said. In fact, it’s pouring.”But while Simpson said the state will have to cut its budget, lawmakers can't forget about priorities. In separate phone interviews, Sprowls and Simpson talked about how the pandemic will present a new challenge for the Legislature.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida lawmakers return to Tallahassee on Tuesday after an eight-month hiatus. The senate president and the house speaker are the two most powerful people in Florida behind the governor. Prior to the mid 1960′s, most presiding officers were from north and north central Florida. This time, the presiding officers both hail from the Tampa Bay area. That both presiding officers come from the same area is very rare, but so is legislators being tested for COVID-19 before they can enter the building.

Incoming Senate President Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, is requiring all senators to take a COVID-19 test prior to entering the Senate chambers on Nov. 17. “Members are constitutional officers who have a right to be in the chamber,” Sprowls' spokeswoman Jenna Sarkissian said in an email Tuesday, when asked about a testing requirement. Since desks won’t be rearranged inside the House chamber, members who seek greater social distancing or have underlying medical conditions can request special seating accommodations, according to a guide issued by House leaders last week. The testing requirement applies to senators, as well as certain staff and guests who will be authorized to be in the Senate chamber during the organization session. Next week’s organization session includes swearing in new members and the official selection of Sprowls and Simpson as leaders of the House and Senate.

Lawmakers will hold an organization session Nov. 17 to formally swear in members and leaders, with the 2021 legislative session starting in March. Sprowls' committee changes also involve a newly named and expanded Education & Employment Committee, which will be chaired by Clearwater Republican Chris Latvala. Palm Coast Republican Paul Renner, who is in line to succeed Sprowls as speaker in November 2022, was named Rules Committee chairman. Spring Hill Republican Blaise Ingoglia will chair the Commerce Committee, and Lakeland Republican Colleen Burton will chair the Health & Human Services Committee. Meanwhile, Miami Republican Daniel Perez, R-Miami, will take over as Judiciary Committee chairman; Lecanto Republican Ralph Massullo will serve as State Affairs Committee chairman; and Palatka Republican Bobby Payne will be Ways & Means Committee chairman.

Senate President-designate Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, told business leaders that lawmakers meeting for the 2021 legislative session also will need to consider efforts to keep polluted Central Florida waters from flowing in Lake Okeechobee. Simpson and Sprowls separately addressed the need for lawmakers to reduce the state budget in response to the revenue estimates. Simpson told forum attendees he’d also like lawmakers to consider the Florida Retirement System’s unfunded liability. The Senate leader also suggested lawmakers consider other insurance-related legislation, such as limiting water-damage claims and home repairs. And we need to get people back to work,” said Patronis, who intends to pursue Chamber-supported coronavirus liability-protection legislation in the upcoming session.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The state Republican and Democratic parties have named their slates of electors for this year’s presidential election, with the names of current and former lawmakers sprinkled through the lists. EXPLAINED: Electoral College vs popular voteThe Florida Department of State posted the lists Friday on its website. The Republican list includes Florida GOP Chairman Joe Gruters, a state senator from Sarasota; incoming state Senate President Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby; state Sen. Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples; state Sen. Keith Perry, R-Gainesville; incoming House Speaker Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor; state Rep. Jason Fischer, R-Jacksonville; state Rep. Randy Fine, R-Palm Bay; and state Rep. Daniel Perez, R-Miami. The Democatic list includes Florida Democratic Chairwoman Terrie Rizzo; Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried; former U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla.; former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham, D-Fla.; state Rep. Joe Geller, D-Aventura; and state Rep. Shevrin Jones, D-West Park. Rod Smith, a Gainesville attorney who was a Democratic candidate in the 2016 race for governor, is also on the list.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida lawmakers Monday dug into issues involving climate change and greenhouse gas emissions, phrases mostly kept under wraps by state Republican leaders before last year's elections. Throughout Scott's two terms as governor many critics saw an indifferent or hostile approach to concerns about the impact of climate change in Florida. We need to stop being afraid of words like climate change' and sea level rise.'" In September, for instance, he promoted his gubernatorial administration's work to fight climate change. In a reply to Yoca Arditi-Rocha, the executive director of Miami's climate-change-fighting CLEO Institute, Scott said, "Climate change is real and requires real solutions."

Oliva reported a $15.2 million net worth, bolstered by $7.25 million in bank and investment accounts and $5.59 million in real estate investments. The $15.2 million number was up from a net worth of $13.65 million as of Dec. 31, 2017, reports show. An attorney who chairs the House Rules Committee, Sprowls had reported a net worth of $232,879 a year ago. Sen. Wilton Simpson, a Trilby Republican who listed a net worth of nearly $25.92 million, is in line to take over as Senate president after the 2020 elections. Simpson has seen his net worth grow 66.5 percent since being elected to the Senate in 2012.