Peter Schorsch
Sixty Days — A prime-time look at the 2019 Legislative Session
The Last 24
Good Monday evening. This is the first of three back-to-back committee weeks before the start of the 2019 Legislative Session and it did not disappoint for lack of drama. An effort to fix state law by removing the ban on smoking medical marijuana was nearly deep-sixed by an amendment even the bill’s sponsor didn’t want, and lawmakers again dove into the issue of cleaning up the state’s waterways. Dive in: Sixty Days soaks you in pre-Session goings-on. Here’s your nightly rundown.
How the marijuana bill almost went up in smoke: Sen. Gayle Harrell got language added requiring most medical marijuana patients to get — and presumably pay for — a second doctor’s opinion to OK their smoking.
Algal blooms, begone: Florida’s agriculture industry is ahead of schedule in reducing the amount of nutrients it pumps into Florida’s water supply, a Senate panel was told.
Plastic straws, redux: Local governments wouldn’t be able to regulate single-use plastic straws under a measure filed in the House, imperiling a local ban in St. Pete.
Storm dollars: Gov. Ron DeSantis’ proposed budget banks on at least $1.5 billion in federal money for Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Michael. That’s a lot of simoleons.
The legacy continues: DeSantis also is continuing the $85 million Job Growth Grant Fund started by former Gov. Rick Scott. Well, at least for this year.
Dudley does good: The man in charge of making a recommendation to the Senate on whether to reinstate suspended Okaloosa County Schools Superintendent Mary Beth Jackson wants to have a report on the table by mid-Session.
Quote of the Day
“I want to advance this with the proper restrictions, (but) I’m on edge … I want to move gingerly.” — Sen. Aaron Bean, speaking during a Senate panel’s consideration of a bill to allow smoking of medical marijuana in Florida.
Bill Day’s Latest
3 Questions
Shannon Shepp, the executive director of the Florida Department of Citrus, went through one of the worst citrus seasons in decades last year because of Hurricane Irma. We caught up with Shepp in Tallahassee to talk about the citrus industry, and the anticipated turnaround growers face this year.
Florida Politics: Do you believe the latest citrus forecasts from the USDA are accurate?
Shepp: I do. We have every reason to believe that. We’ve got growers who’ve been in their groves, we have other folks who’ve been going through groves throughout the state, and they’re seeing that same abundance on the trees. They’re seeing a lot of pieces of fruit on the trees, especially in our Valencia crop. So, in our minds, [the forecast] could actually even go up a little bit.
FP: The government shutdown delayed federal relief to farmers. Is it back on track now?
Shepp: It is, to a certain extent. The [Farm Service Agency] offices were integral to that [2017 Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program] funding process through the USDA moneys, and also there was some documentation that had to come from those offices for the state block grant … Now that the shutdown is over, growers have better access to those offices and of course everything they need for documentation to get to the Division of Emergency Management.
FP: What is the Department of Citrus prioritizing this Session?
Shepp: Well, being up here is not my day job. Certainly, [we’re prioritizing] maintaining the confidence of our policymakers in the Florida citrus industry and its economic contributions to the state, and certainly that the functionality and focus and effectiveness of the Florida Department of Citrus to support that industry, those are key. From a legislative perspective, that’s where we are. We probably have a higher presence [in Tallahassee] than we ever have only because we want them to see that we will be accountable for the privilege to use state tax dollars and hope to not have to do that for very long.
Lobby Up
RSA Consulting Group keeps picking up Tampa Bay-area clients.
Firm founder Ron Pierce and lobbyists Edward Briggs and Natalie King added the Hillsborough County Tax Collector’s office to their client sheets last week, expanding on a list that already includes some of the region’s staples, including the Tampa Bay Lightning, Tampa Bay Regional Transit Authority and the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority.
RSA also represents Florida Tax Collectors, an association that advocates for changes benefiting the state’s 67 county tax collectors. Their most recent legislative win, helped along by RSA, was the 2016 law allowing tax collectors to print and deliver concealed carry license renewals.
The addition of the Hillsborough tax collector comes shortly after Pierce was recognized by the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce with its “Chamber The Greater Brandon Community Leadership Award” — the highest honor it hands out. The Chamber noted that Thonotosassa Sen. Tom Lee, who represents Brandon, was instrumental in the pick.
“His impact in our community is recognized by so many and we are always beyond proud of him,” the Chamber said in announcing the award.
Breakthrough Insights
The Next 24
Sen. Aaron Bean, a Fernandina Beach Republican, is expected to take part in a breakfast for the Florida Coalition of Children’s annual rally. That’s at 8 a.m., 22nd floor, The Capitol.
The Florida Public Service Commission will hold a regular commission meeting, followed by a hearing on the impacts of the 2017 federal tax overhaul on Florida Power & Light. That’s at 9:30 a.m., Betty Easley Conference Center, 4075 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.
The Senate Education Committee will take up a bill that would require students entering ninth grade beginning in the 2019-2020 school year to earn one-half credit in personal financial literacy and money management. The bill is dubbed the “Dorothy L. Hukill Financial Literacy Act,” after the late Sen. Dorothy Hukill, a Port Orange Republican who long pushed for teaching financial literacy in schools. That’s at 10 a.m., 412 Knott Building, The Capitol.
The Senate Innovation, Industry and Technology Committee will take up a proposal to carry out a voter-approved constitutional amendment that bans vaping in indoor workplaces. Voters approved the constitutional amendment in the Nov. 6 election. That’s at 10 a.m., 110 Senate Office Building, The Capitol.
The Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee will consider a proposal that would set contribution rates for government agencies in the state retirement system. That’s at 10 a.m., 301 Senate Office Building, The Capitol.
The House Appropriations Committee will receive a presentation about Gov. DeSantis’ proposed 2019-2020 budget. That’s at 10:30 a.m., 212 Knott Building, The Capitol.
The House Education Committee will take up issues related to career and technical education, including a presentation by the Foundation for Excellence in Education about the impact of industry credentials. That’s at 1:30 p.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, The Capitol.
The Senate Community Affairs Committee will consider a proposal that would place additional restrictions on the use of impact fees by local governments. That’s at 2 p.m., 301 Senate Office Building, The Capitol.
The Senate Ethics and Elections Committee will take up a proposal that would impose a single-subject requirement on measures placed on the ballot in the future by the Florida Constitution Revision Commission. That’s at 2 p.m., 412 Knott Building, The Capitol.
The Senate Infrastructure and Security Committee will hold a workshop and panel discussion on distracted driving. That’s at 2 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, The Capitol.
The Alzheimer’s Association will hold a news conference to outline its legislative priorities, with Department of Elder Affairs Secretary Richard Prudom; state Rep. Matt Willhite, a Wellington Democrat; state Rep. Byron Donalds, a Naples Republican; and state Rep. Scott Plakon, a Longwood Republican, expected to attend. That’s at 6 p.m., Old Capitol steps.
