Staff Reports
Last Call — A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
As far as the state government is concerned, tomorrow is New Year’s Day.
In addition to marking the start of a new fiscal year, July 1 is the effective date for more than 100 bills passed in the 2020 Legislative Session.
Most of the bills going into effect won’t have an immediate effect.
The pharmacist “collaborative practice” bill, for instance, will be on paper but not in practice pending the completion of a rule-making process.
Another bill that merely starts the ball rolling is HB 969, which puts $5 million a year into broadband infrastructure expansion along the route for the toll road expansion prioritized by Senate President Bill Galvano in the 2019 Session.
Still, there is one particularly timely bill becoming law at midnight: a reworking of the state’s stance on fireworks.
Under SB 140, consumers will no longer need to sign an archaic form stating the bottle rockets or other festive fireworks they’re buying will be used to ward off birds for agricultural purposes.
Among the other 111 bills going into effect tomorrow is the controversial ban on sunscreen bans, which blocks local governments from interfering with the sale of sunscreens that contain certain chemicals thought to degrade coral reef.
Another: the “scope of practice” bill to allow advanced practice registered nurses to operate independently of physicians — one of the top priorities of exiting House Speaker José Oliva.
Coronavirus Numbers
Positive cases:
— 149,781 FL residents (+5,976 since Monday)
— 2,653 Non-FL residents (+117 since Monday)
Origin:
— 2,504 Travel related
— 52,063 Contact with a confirmed case
— 2,459 Both
— 92,755 Under investigation
Hospitalizations:
— 14,580 in FL
Deaths:
— 3,604 in FL
Unemployment numbers
As of Monday:
Total claims: 2,757,967
— Confirmed unique claims: 2,545,605
— Claim verification queue: 175,228
— Claims processed: 2,370,377
— Claims paid: 1,584,575 (+3 since Sunday)
Total paid out: $8.26 billion (+$60 million since Sunday)
Evening Reads
“White House aware of Russian bounties in 2019” via James LaPorta of The Associated Press
“Florida coronavirus cases pass 150,000 with over 6,000 new infections” via Tiffany Theissen of the Orlando Sentinel
“Florida coronavirus unemployment claims up 100,000 in a week” via Drew Dixon of Florida Politics
“Second day of fewer new COVID-19 cases in Central Florida” via Scott Powers of Florida Politics
“Future Florida Republican House leader attacked by PAC funded by current House Speaker” via David Smiley of the Miami Herald
“Ron DeSantis kills online learning program amid virus resurgence” via Andrew Atterbury of POLITICO Florida
“State budget transparency? How bringing home the bacon can become a sneaky legislative maneuver” via Danielle Brown of Florida Phoenix
“Behavioral health budget preserved amid budget vetoes” via Renzo Downey of Florida Politics
“UF Lastinger Center funds vetoed from budget” via Drew Wilson of Florida Politics
“New law requires sea-level impact study for publicly-funded coastal projects” via Ryan Nicol of Florida Politics
“Automated pill kiosks now permitted at pharmacies after Governor’s signature” via Ryan Nicol of Florida Politics
“Governor lights path for organ transplant discrimination remedies” via Renzo Downey of Florida Politics
“If COVID-19 taught anything, it’s not to hold graduation ceremonies” via Joe Henderson of Florida Politics
“Nikki Fried worries Jacksonville mask order won’t last until RNC” via AG Gancarski of Florida Politics
“Disney ruling could save hotel companies millions in taxes” via Jason Garcia of the Orlando Sentinel
Quote of the Day
“We’re not going back, closing things. I don’t think that really is what’s driving it. People going into business is not what’s driving it.” — Gov. Ron DeSantis, on reversing the state’s reopening.
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