Senate Proposes State Budget The Senate Committee on Appropriations filed Senate Proposed Bill 2500. This bill is the Senate's proposed budget for the 2019-2020 fiscal year. The total budget comes in at $90.3 billion and includes:
Computer Coding in the Capitol On Monday, I joined Governor Ron Desantis, Senate President Bill Galvano, Senator Manny Diaz, Jr., Representative Chip LaMarca, and Microsoft Vice President of Philanthropies Mary Snapp for Coding Day at the Capitol. Last year, I was proud to sponsor Senate Bill 1056, which increased the availability of computer science courses for K-12 students. This year, computer science students from across the state came to the Capitol to demonstrate their computer coding skills for legislators and Capitol visitors. It was an honor to spend time with these amazing students and the organizations that support these efforts. Citrus Greening Update The Senate Committee on Agriculture was visited by Michael Sparks of Florida Citrus Mutual, who presented on the state of the Florida Citrus industry, including an update on citrus greening. The past decade has been very difficult on Florida citrus growers. Hurricanes and invasive pests and disease have resulted in significant losses in production. Nothing has been more detrimental than citrus greening. This disease attacks a tree’s vascular system and reduces fruit production to unsustainable levels. According to Mr. Sparks, the future of the industry will be found in research. There are currently more than 100 research projects underway around the globe, including some in our own backyard at the IFAS Center in Immokalee. The future plan is to move the research ‘into the field.’ Mr. Sparks indicates that the goal is to provide growers with the confidence to replant and rebuild, which is needed after the diseases and storms. Volunteer Florida I had the pleasure of meeting with Autumn Karlinsky, CEO Clay Ingram, and Cindy O'Connell from Volunteer Florida. Volunteer Florida is the lead agency for volunteerism and national service in Florida. The agency administers $31.7 million in federal, state, and local funding for national service and volunteer programs across the state. The agency is guided by a bipartisan board of Commissioners, who are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Florida Senate. Volunteer Florida’s grantees include schools, educational foundations, nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and other community organizations. The Organization conducts oversight of these grants so that we maximize funds and ensure grantees are accountable for results to give the state the best possible return on investment. Secretary of State Laurel Lee Approved by Government Oversight Committee Secretary of State Laurel M. Lee was appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis as Florida’s 36th Secretary of State and began serving in February 2019. Secretary Lee previously served as the Circuit Court Judge in Florida’s Thirteenth Judicial Circuit in Hillsborough County. Lee's nomination was approved by the Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee. The nomination will still need to be approved by the full Senate. Red Tide Mitigation Bill Passes First Committee Senate Bill 1552, sponsored by Senator Joe Gruters, passed out of the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee on Wednesday. The bill establishes the Florida Red Tide Mitigation and Technology Development Initiative (Initiative) and Initiative Technology Advisory Council to establish an independent and coordinated effort among public and private research entities to develop prevention, control, and mitigation technologies and approaches to address the impacts of red tide on coastal environmental and communities in the state. The bill appropriates $3 million for each fiscal year beginning in the 2019-2020 fiscal year and going through the 2024-2025 fiscal year from the General Revenue Fund to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to provide support for research efforts and the Initiative. Champion of Public Broadcasting I am honored to have received the Champion of Public Broadcasting Award from the Florida Public Media Board. Florida has an excellent network of public radio and television stations, which keeps Floridians informed and educated. Last Week in the Florida Senate Senate Committees Pass Hurricane Preparedness and Recovery Legislation The Senate Committee on Commerce and Tourism passed two bills aimed at hurricane preparedness and recovery. Senate Bill 1412, Sales Tax Holiday for Disaster Preparedness Supplies, by Senator Joe Gruters provides a two week tax-free holiday for disaster preparedness supplies. The tax holiday would begin June 1, and would apply to portable radios, diesel fuel tanks, batteries, portable generators and other necessary items. Senate Bill 1162, Northwest Florida Rural Inland Affected Counties Recovery Fund, by Senator George Gainer, creates a program to assist inland counties hit by Hurricane Michael. The bill would direct five percent of any future settlement money the state receives from the 2010 BP oil spill be given to the Recovery Fund. In the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Senate Bill 1804, Emergency Loans for Agricultural Producers, by Senator Ben Albritton passed unanimously. This bill would provide low-interest loans for farmers who experienced losses due to natural disasters such as hurricanes. In addition to the passage of these critical pieces of legislation, the Florida Senate’s proposed budget includes comprehensive long-term recovery funding that brings the total state investment in Hurricane Michael Recovery to $1.8 Billion. Legislation to Create Statewide Task Force on Opioid Drug Abuse Advances The Committee on Health Policy unanimously voted to advance Senate Bill 1658, Statewide Task Force on Opioid Drug Abuse, by Senator Wilton Simpson. The bill creates a task force to study the opioid epidemic in Florida, measure the financial impact the epidemic has on state and local governments, and identify successful strategies for treatment and decreasing demand. According to Florida’s Attorney General Ashley Moody, the opioid epidemic claims 17 lives a day in Florida. The creation of this task force is a step toward finding solutions to end Florida’s opioid crisis. The Senate voted to approve Senate Bill 82, Vegetable Gardens, by Senator Rob Bradley. The bill largely prohibits counties and municipalities from regulating vegetable gardens on residential properties and further voids and makes unenforceable any such local ordinance or regulation regarding vegetable gardens, but not restrictions set by homeowners associations. Senate Bill 82 still allows local governments to adopt ordinances or regulations of a general nature, without specifically regulating vegetable gardens for instances such as water use during drought Welcome to the Florida Senate The Florida Senate welcomed the following groups to the Capitol:
Constituent Corner The Naples Area Board of Realtors came to Tallahassee for Great American Realtor Days! Local insurance agents from my district came to visit with the Florida Association of Insurance Agents. I was thrilled to spend time with the Bonita Springs Board of Realtors at the Capitol! Thank you to the team from Oakbrooke Health and Rehabilitation Center in Labelle that came to spend time with me in my Capitol office! As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office any time that I can be of assistance. Kathleen C. Passidomo Senate Majority Leader Naples Office: 3299 East Tamiami Trail LaBelle Office: 25 East Hickpochee Avenue Tallahassee Office: 330 Senate Office Building Not paid for at taxpayer expense. |