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Final Name — A major-time learn of what’s taking place in Florida politics.
First Shot
Gov. Ron DeSantis signaled as soon as once more he isn’t on board with considered one of Home Speaker Paul Renner’s prime priorities.
Throughout an look in Cape Coral, the Governor mentioned he wouldn’t again laws that will ban kids beneath 16 years outdated from social media. The controversial plan (HB 1) has already cleared the Home with sturdy Republican help in addition to sure votes from most Home Democrats.
“I believe that I’m not going to be supporting if I don’t assume it’s going to be one thing that’s going to move authorized muster within the courts,” DeSantis mentioned. “What I’ve mentioned beforehand, this stuff have large authorized hurdles. They’ve been held up in courts. I don’t wish to go down the street of doing one thing that isn’t going to be going to move muster legally.”
DeSantis has beforehand voiced considerations on the invoice, as has Florida’s senior U.S. Senator, Marco Rubio, who mentioned social media is an “interstate commerce issue,” and thus one thing a person state would have problem regulating assuming it’s not struck down in court docket.
The Home controls the destiny of some DeSantis priorities, too. And one of many massive ones — a one-year reduce in insurance coverage premium taxes — was conspicuously absent within the $728.1 million tax cut package that the chamber rolled out this morning.
The invoice (PCB WMC 24-05) does embrace many of the broad-based staples Floridians have come to count on: a pair of back-to-school gross sales tax holidays; two catastrophe preparedness gross sales tax holidays; “Freedom Month,” which provides gross sales tax break on quite a lot of occasions and outside experiences; and a “software time” vacation protecting instruments in addition to associated security gear, protecting gear and sure clothes.
Companies would additionally win massive beneath the proposal. The biggest single reduce within the invoice would cut back the enterprise hire tax reduce to 1.25% for one 12 months beginning July 1. The speed is at the moment 4.5% however is slated to drop to 2% in August.
There was additionally some motion — or not less than the trace of some — on one other prime enterprise precedence. After a invoice (HB 1179) cracking down on third-party litigation financing stalled out within the Home, Rep. Tommy Gregory floated the idea of mixing it with a proposal that will double the state’s sovereign immunity caps. Notably, the sovereign immunity invoice is the most-tracked piece of laws on LobbyTools’ Checklist of the Prime 20 Tagged Payments by Subscribers.
The torts proposal, in the meantime, is backed by the Florida Justice Reform Institute and many of the enterprise associations that supported final 12 months’s torts bundle, which they celebrated as essentially the most vital “reforms” to Florida’s authorized system in many years.
The Home Judiciary Committee, which Gregory chairs, will take up a proposed committee substitute combining the 2 payments when it meets Wednesday.
Invoice Day’s Newest
Night Reads
—“Democrats should pick a new presidential candidate now” through Damon Linker of The Atlantic
—”Donald Trump’s NYC criminal trial is his final showdown with Michael Cohen” through Adam Rawnsley and Asawin Suebsaeng of Rolling Stone
—”How big of a factor will Joe Biden’s age be in the 2024 Election?” through Nathaniel Rakich, Julia Azari, Galen Druke, and Geoffrey Skelley
—“A prescription for housing? States prepare to use Medicaid for rental assistance for the first time.” through Rachel M. Cohen of Vox
—”Bill could boost Florida’s ‘renewable’ fuel industry. Critics say it will cost consumers” through Ashley Miznazi of the Miami Herald
—”Driving without a license in Florida could result in jail time” through Mitch Perry of Florida Politics
—”‘I feel like there’s still people inside’: Parkland’s 1200 building houses unwelcome, haunting memories” through Rafael Olmeda of the South Florida Solar-Sentinel
—“Fresh roses wither and die, but Florida-grown plants are a longer-lasting token for Valentine’s Day” through Peter Schorsch of Florida Politics
—”Love (and 460 million flowers) are in the air for Valentine’s Day, but not without a Miami layover” through The Related Press
Quote of the Day
“The objective is to not enhance poverty. The objective is to get individuals into jobs and positions that get them out of poverty.”
— Rep. Shane Abbott, a DeFuniak Springs Republican, defending his invoice (HB 1289) requiring extra stringent verification for unemployment advantages.
3 Questions
The 2024 Legislative Session is half over, however there may be nonetheless lots of work to be accomplished. Particularly, the 2024-25 state funds. The Home and Senate have each put ahead spending plans within the $115 billion vary — a slight dip from the present fiscal 12 months — however key variations stay. Florida Politics spoke with Rep. Danny Perez, the Home Speaker-designate, in regards to the Home’s funds, his ideas on Session plans and what payments he has his eyes on.
FP: What insights are you able to share with us on how the present Session is progressing?
Perez: As we enter the second half of Session, I believe we’re in nice form. The subcommittees and committees have accomplished an outstanding job advancing good payments, whereas ensuring unhealthy insurance policies don’t advance. One thing I’m very happy with that the Home persistently focuses on is being a member-driven course of. Members are inspired to convey their concepts ahead on behalf of their constituents and their communities and because of this, we see insurance policies that may profit all Floridians from the Panhandle to South Florida.
FP: Because the funds continues transferring by way of the method what do you hope to see in its last kind?
Perez: To date, the Home has accomplished an unimaginable job at crafting a funds that’s fiscally conservative, whereas remaining aware of regardless of the future economic system might maintain. We’ve persistently positioned document numbers in reserves whereas additionally asking ourselves what spending is important for Floridians and what spending just isn’t. As we head into convention and past, I do know we’ll do a fantastic job working with our Senate companions and the Governor to verify we’re ready for the long run, whereas additionally spending tax {dollars} properly in a method that advantages all Floridians.
FP: What are a number of payments which are transferring thus far that you’re enthusiastic about?
Perez: There are lots of insurance policies to be enthusiastic about this 12 months that shall be large impacts for Floridians from reasonably priced housing to making sure each pupil has what they should succeed.
For instance, house values and property taxes are on the rise, and the Legislature is at all times dedicated to addressing runaway inflation and housing affordability, which is why we have now proposals transferring that characterize one of the crucial vital property tax breaks since voters authorised the second $25,000 homestead exemption on non-school taxes in 2008.
On this similar vein, all of us have considerations about affordability, inflation and residential costs, and the Senate has been steadfast of their dedication to sort out these points of their Dwell Native laws. I’ve been very completely satisfied to see how briskly the updates to final 12 months’s invoice are transferring of their chamber and stay up for seeing the way it’ll present further reduction to Floridians.
Lastly, ensuring every pupil in Florida has the chance to achieve their full potential is at all times a precedence, so we have now insurance policies transferring which can present extra children entry to an expanded New Worlds Scholarship for studying and math, in addition to enhancements to Speaker Renner’s precedence to enhance entry to common college alternative.
All in all, beneath Speaker Renner’s management, together with our companions within the Senate and the Governor, Florida is in nice fingers, and we’re having an unimaginable Session.
Put It on the Tab
Apparently, drugstores are maintaining toothpaste “behind lock and key,” so it is likely to be much less of a problem to purchase Ron DeSantis an Azure Crest than a tube of the stuff 9 out of 10 dentists advocate.
Nothing says “second half of Session” like a torts train. Serve Rep. Tommy Gregory a Chocolate Choo-choo for making it occur.
The Home is rolling out a $728.1 million tax cut package, with companies in line to get an enormous slice of the pie through a business hire tax reduce. Seems like your native leaseholder is due for a Saving Mr. Banks.
Do you want unemployment advantages? Robust luck — lawmakers are contemplating including “more hoops” to qualify. How about an ice-cold Courtside Punch, as a substitute?
Breakthrough Insights
Tune In
Lightning seems to be to strike in Boston
Two of the highest three groups within the NHL’s Atlantic Division meet because the Tampa Bay Lightning journey to Boston to face the Bruins (7 p.m. ET, Bally Sports activities Solar).
The Lightning (28-20-5) enter the sport in third place within the Atlantic Division with 61 factors and have gained 9 of their final 12 video games whereas Boston (32-11-9) boasts the perfect document within the Jap Convention and the second-best document within the league.
The 2 groups have met twice throughout this season, with the Lightning profitable on house ice on Nov. 20 in a 5-4 time beyond regulation recreation and the Bruins taking the second assembly 7-3 in Boston on Jan. 6.
The sport is of specific curiosity for the Florida Panthers who’re sandwiched between the Bruins and Lightning within the standings. If Tampa Bay can win on the street, it opens up the door for the Panthers to match the Bruins within the standings with a win over Pittsburgh tomorrow night time.
Tampa Bay right-winger Nikita Kucherov leads the NHL in factors. He has scored a objective or supplied an help in 20 of the final 23 video games together with seven video games with not less than three factors. A Lightning victory would additionally tighten up the divisional race with fewer than 30 video games remaining within the common season.
Additionally tonight:
6 p.m. — NCAAW: BYU Cougars @ UCF Knights
7 p.m. — NCAAW: Wichita State Shockers @ South Florida Bulls
7:30 p.m. — Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder @ Orlando Magic
8 p.m. — Miami Warmth @ Milwaukee Bucks
8 p.m. — NCAAM: LSU Tigers @ Florida Gators
9 p.m. — NCAAM: UCF Knights @ BYU Cougars
9 p.m. — NCAAM: Florida State Seminoles @ Virginia Tech Hokies
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Final Name is revealed by Peter Schorsch, assembled and edited by Phil Ammann and Drew Wilson, with contributions from the employees of Florida Politics.
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