Budget conference begins tonight, state allocations unveiled

With two weeks left in Session, the Florida Legislature on Tuesday agreed to the outline of the 2018-19 state budget that will use roughly $32 billion in state funds.  At 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Conference Chairs Sen. Rob Bradley and state Rep. Carlos Trujillo will hold an organization meeting in 212 Knott Building. Conference subcommittees have…

The Latest: School safety bill moves ahead in Florida Senate

A Florida Senate committee has approved that chamber’s version of the school safety bill.  The bill was approved on a 13-7 vote Tuesday evening.  Sen. Bill Galvano, who is designated to become the next Senate president and is ushering through the bill, said the earliest it will be considered by the full Senate is Friday.…

FSBA Session Spotlight — February 27, 2018

Today marked the last day of regularly scheduled committee meetings during this Session. Although committee meetings may still be called, if needed, the bulk of each of the remaining days of the Session will be devoted to floor sessions where bills will be heard on 2nd and 3rd Reading and will be swapped in Messages…

Despite Parkland’s opposition, Florida House panel votes to arm teachers

Facing anguished relatives and classmates of shooting victims, a panel of Florida legislators took the unprecedented step Tuesday of creating a new statewide program to put armed teachers in classrooms — over the vocal opposition of Parkland residents.  Voting along party lines, the House Appropriations Committee approved training teachers to carry guns in class under…

FSBA Session Spotlight — February 26, 2018

As we enter the 8th week of the Legislative Session, please take a few minutes to review our Legislative Weekly video featuring Andrea Messina providing a recap of events last week and a status report on key bills and issues to be addressed in the final weeks of the Session including legislation to address student…

FSBA Session Spotlight — February 25, 2018

As we enter the 8th week of the Legislative Session, several very important issues are pending including, most notably, legislation to address student safety and school security.  As we alerted you last week, Governor Scott, the Senate, and the House have all recommended legislation on student safety and school security.  We have posted information on…

As lawmakers tiptoe to budget negotiating starting line, state revenue estimate is cut by $167 million

With less than two weeks before the end of the 2018 Legislative Session, the pot of money lawmakers must work with in order to craft a state budget is shrinking rapidly.  At work are two factors: one is a revised estimate for state tax and revenue collections, the second is the estimated cost of the…

Rick Scott, lawmakers call for beefed up school security, gun provisions

Gov. Rick Scott on Friday offered a $500 million proposal to address school safety, gun laws and mental-health issues after the mass shooting this month that killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Broward County.  The proposal, in part, calls for at least one school resource officer to be stationed in every…

FSBA Session Spotlight — February 22, 2018

Legislators took up several bills of interest today including bills relating to retirement, curriculum and graduation requirements, and government accountability and ethics. Please click on the link below for our report on the outcome of consideration of these and other bills today.  There are no committee meetings or bills of interest scheduled on Friday.  However,…