Mediaboss Marketing

The 60-day legislative session kicks off Tuesday, and while whats known as the process has evolved over the years, some things remain the same.Lawmakers, lobbyists and aides will scoop up shrimp and swill cocktails at Associated Industries of Floridas Monday evening gala.Flowers will festoon the House and Senate chambers, as part of Tuesdays opening-day pageantry.The governor will deliver the State of the State address, as a rapt audience looks on.Keeping with tradition, a cast of thousands over the next two months will flood the Capitol and its courtyard in an attempt to curry favor with the 120 House members, 40 senators, Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet --- all before the session wraps up on March 13.The Florida Education Association is ushering in the session with a march and rally on Monday, with the crowd including parents, teachers, students and national leaders, including the Rev. Al Sharpton.People searching for sustenance will encounter some transformations inside the hallowed halls of state government.After a decade, Sharkeys Capitol Cafs on the 10th floor and the lower level of the Capitol are no longer.Lobbyist Jeff Sharkey last month announced on Twitter that he was shuttering his eateries because the state had chosen a new vendor --- Earleys Kitchen, a local soul-food spot.In his tweet, Sharkey thanked his great customers and workers.Proud of our great staff and honored to have met, fed and caffeinated the fabulous capitol employees and visitors from every corner of Florida, he said.LAWYERS, GUNS AND MONEYLegislators technically only have one job to complete during the 60-day session: passing a state spending plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1.Gov. Ron DeSantis has proposed a $91.4 billion budget, touting plans to set minimum teacher salaries at $47,500 a year and to continue addressing environmental issues.The governors proposal is a starting point for the House and Senate, which will make changes as they negotiate a final version. Lawmakers also will consider potential election-year tax cuts, with DeSantis proposing sales-tax holidays for back-to-school shoppers and for hurricane preparations.But the Republican-dominated Legislature will also debate myriad other issues.For example, lawmakers are considering a controversial proposal that would require parental consent before minors could get abortions.The state already requires parents to be notified if their daughters plan to have abortions, but a consent requirement would be more far-reaching. The full House could vote early in the session to approve the proposal, which also is moving forward in Senate committees.Education will also be a major focus --- DeSantis has dubbed 2020 the year of the teacher.The governor is pushing the $602 million plan to set minimum teacher salaries at $47,500, and he wants to establish a new $300 million bonus program for teachers and principals.But legislative leaders have expressed concerns about the costs of the proposals and what Senate President Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, has described as practical issues. Those issues include the longstanding practice of teacher salaries being set at the local level rather than at the direction of the Legislature.Meanwhile, House Speaker Jos Oliva, R-Miami Lakes, will continue his drive to revamp the states health-care industry. As an example, the House this year will pursue a measure that would allow advanced practice registered nurses to provide care independently of physicians, though the Senate has opposed such proposals in the past.And the always-thorny issue of guns is also on the horizon, along with immigration, insurance and Visit Florida, the states tourism agency that Oliva and other GOP House leaders continue to target.

The 60-day legislative session kicks off Tuesday, and while whats known as the process has evolved over the years, some things remain the same.

Lawmakers, lobbyists and aides will scoop up shrimp and swill cocktails at Associated Industries of Floridas Monday evening gala.

Flowers will festoon the House and Senate chambers, as part of Tuesdays opening-day pageantry.

The governor will deliver the State of the State address, as a rapt audience looks on.

Keeping with tradition, a cast of thousands over the next two months will flood the Capitol and its courtyard in an attempt to curry favor with the 120 House members, 40 senators, Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet --- all before the session wraps up on March 13.

The Florida Education Association is ushering in the session with a march and rally on Monday, with the crowd including parents, teachers, students and national leaders, including the Rev. Al Sharpton.

People searching for sustenance will encounter some transformations inside the hallowed halls of state government.

After a decade, Sharkeys Capitol Cafs on the 10th floor and the lower level of the Capitol are no longer.

Lobbyist Jeff Sharkey last month announced on Twitter that he was shuttering his eateries because the state had chosen a new vendor --- Earleys Kitchen, a local soul-food spot.

In his tweet, Sharkey thanked his great customers and workers.

Proud of our great staff and honored to have met, fed and caffeinated the fabulous capitol employees and visitors from every corner of Florida, he said.

LAWYERS, GUNS AND MONEY

Legislators technically only have one job to complete during the 60-day session: passing a state spending plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has proposed a $91.4 billion budget, touting plans to set minimum teacher salaries at $47,500 a year and to continue addressing environmental issues.

The governors proposal is a starting point for the House and Senate, which will make changes as they negotiate a final version. Lawmakers also will consider potential election-year tax cuts, with DeSantis proposing sales-tax holidays for back-to-school shoppers and for hurricane preparations.

But the Republican-dominated Legislature will also debate myriad other issues.

For example, lawmakers are considering a controversial proposal that would require parental consent before minors could get abortions.

The state already requires parents to be notified if their daughters plan to have abortions, but a consent requirement would be more far-reaching. The full House could vote early in the session to approve the proposal, which also is moving forward in Senate committees.

Education will also be a major focus --- DeSantis has dubbed 2020 the year of the teacher.

The governor is pushing the $602 million plan to set minimum teacher salaries at $47,500, and he wants to establish a new $300 million bonus program for teachers and principals.

But legislative leaders have expressed concerns about the costs of the proposals and what Senate President Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, has described as practical issues. Those issues include the longstanding practice of teacher salaries being set at the local level rather than at the direction of the Legislature.

Meanwhile, House Speaker Jos Oliva, R-Miami Lakes, will continue his drive to revamp the states health-care industry. As an example, the House this year will pursue a measure that would allow advanced practice registered nurses to provide care independently of physicians, though the Senate has opposed such proposals in the past.

And the always-thorny issue of guns is also on the horizon, along with immigration, insurance and Visit Florida, the states tourism agency that Oliva and other GOP House leaders continue to target.

Read more:
Education, abortion, sports betting on 2020 Florida legislative agenda - WESH 2 Orlando