Peter Schorsch
Sixty Days — A prime-time look at the 2018 Legislative Session
The Last 24
Wednesday evening. Nothing about it is good.
The House observed a moment of silence for those involved in a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Broward County. At press time, a suspect was in custody, and there were “numerous fatalities.” Sixty Days has no words. Here’s your evening rundown.
Getting Good: Sarasota Democrat Margaret Good was sworn in after her Tuesday special election and took her seat on the House floor.
Minor marriages: The House passed a bill that moves away from banning all minors to marry and instead allows 16- and 17-year-olds to marry in cases when the girl is pregnant.
Monkey mayhem: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officially voted to prohibit the feeding of wild monkeys, or “free-roaming, nonhuman primates,” because duh.
Amendment advertising: “Leave it be until Amendment 3,” says a new ad from the group behind a constitutional amendment on voter control of gambling.
Statue supported: A bill to OK a likeness of Florida educator and activist Mary McLeod Bethune to replace one of a Confederate general representing Florida in the U.S. Capitol was cleared for the House floor.
Tops in transport: A proposal that would provide $25 million each to the Tampa Bay area and Miami-Dade County for alternative transportation projects beginning in 2021 advanced in a Senate committee.
Quote of the Day
“Too many to count.” — An eyewitness to Wednesday’s Broward County school shooting, when asked by ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos how many shots he heard.
Bill Day’s Latest
3 Questions
The House passed a measure Wednesday (HB 1013) to keep Florida on daylight saving time (DST) all the time, sending it to the Senate. But don’t think about changing your clocks: The move would require Congress to pass a law “to permit states to take such action.” So it’s a long shot this will happen. We culled a Q&A from the staff analysis on the bill to find out a little more about DST.
Q: What was the first time DST was observed?
A: Germany was the first country to implement DST in 1916 to conserve fuel, take advantage of more usable daylight hours, and win the war [World War I, that is].
Q: Is DST not observed anywhere in the U. S.?
A: Currently, DST is not observed in Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and most of Arizona.
Q: So what does the bill actually do?
A: The bill creates the “Sunshine Protection Act.” The bill states it is the intent of the Legislature that DST will be the year-round standard time of the entire state and all of its political subdivisions if the U.S. Congress amends the Uniform Time Act of 1966 to permit states to take such action.
Lobby Up
Got a bike? Get a lobbyist.
Zagster, the self-billed “U.S. market leader in bike sharing,” hired Timothy Alborg as its legislative lobbyist as of Feb. 9, records show.
The San Francisco-based concern operates “200+ programs in 35 states that make bikes available to more than 6.5 million people every day,” it says.
In Florida, Zagster bike shares are in Gainesville, Cape Canaveral, Port St. Lucie, Babcock Ranch, Delray Beach, and Miami.
Breakthrough Insights
The Next 24
The House Health & Human Services Committee meets to discuss bills related to substance abuse and child welfare, among others. That’s at 8 a.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, The Capitol.
The Senate Rules Committee meets to take up bills, including ones on banning steroid use on racing greyhounds and alcohol delivery services. That’s at 10 a.m., 110 Senate Office Building, The Capitol.
The Florida Supreme Court is expected to release its weekly opinions at 11 a.m.
Reproductive rights advocates will “boycott” a House committee hearing on a bill they say is “Method Ban” legislation. Missy Wesolowski of Florida Planned Parenthood, Barbara DeVane of Florida NOW, and Democratic Rep. Amy Mercado of Orlando also will hold a news conference at 11 a.m. outside the House Office Building, The Capitol.
The Senate Appropriations Committee will take up a number of bills, including autocycles, payday loans, and care for retired law enforcement dogs. That’s at 1 p.m., 412 Knott Building, The Capitol.
The House is scheduled to hold a floor session. That’s at 1:30 p.m., House chamber, The Capitol.
The James Madison Institute holds its 2018 Annual Dinner featuring keynote speakers and conservative commentators Guy Benson and Mary Katharine Ham. That’s at 7 p.m., Augustus B. Turnbull Florida State Conference Center, 555 W. Pensacola St., Tallahassee.
