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‘You ain’t seen nothing yet’: Gov. DeSantis lays out vision for 2023 Session

Gov. Ron DeSantis kicked off his fifth Legislative Session as Governor by touting his record while laying out an aggressive agenda ahead of an expected run for President.

DeSantis enters this Session arguably more powerful than ever after his resounding re-election victory last November — something he said “vindicates” his approach to governing — and Republican legislative leaders are poised to deliver him a string of wins in the next two months that is guaranteed to keep his name in the headlines.

“We will stand strong, we will hold the line, we won’t back down and I can promise you this: you ain’t seen nothing yet,” DeSantis told lawmakers in his State of the State speech.

DeSantis urged lawmakers to pass an expansive agenda to ban transgender care for minors, impose lawsuit restrictions for businesses, crack down on illegal immigrants and grant protections to teachers while preventing union dues from being automatically deducted from their paychecks.

Kathleen Passidomo kicks off 2023 Session, tells Senators to ‘show America how it’s done’

Senate President Kathleen Passidomo opened up the 2023 Legislative Session by declaring that the “eyes of the nation are on Florida this year.”

In her brief opening day remarks, Passidomo touched on top priorities for the next 60 days, while also taking time to praise Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Passidomo predicted long hours and working weekends for the next 60 days as Senators tackle a spate of high-profile issues, such as permitless carry, expansion of school choice and limiting lawsuits against businesses.

Given the backdrop, Passidomo quoted British Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s “Never Give In” speech, which he delivered in 1941 to reinforce the belief that Great Britain was stronger than ever despite World War II.

“These are not dark days — these are great days,” Passidomo said, her voice slightly cracking with emotion. “The greatest days our country has ever lived. And we must all thank God that we have been allowed, each of us according to our stations, to play a part in making these days memorable in the history of our race. Senators, the eyes of the nation are on Florida this year. Let’s show America how it’s done.”

As Florida’s legislative session begins today, here are the water bills we’re watching

There’s no shortage of water issues Florida lawmakers could attempt to tackle as the state’s legislative session kicks off today.

Seagrass is declining across the state, from Tampa Bay to the Indian River Lagoon; manatees have died recently in record numbers as their ecosystem degrades; an ongoing red tide is leaving tons of dead fish scattered on popular Southwest Florida beaches; and polluted Lake Okeechobee freshwater discharges threaten coastal estuaries.

The legislative session is slated to run through May 5. Here’s a list of some of the water-specific bills proposed by Florida legislators this year that we’ll be watching.

One of the most controversial water bills of the 2023 session, this measure would prohibit counties and municipalities from adopting laws about water quality or quantity, pollution control and wetlands. It would preempt those measures exclusively to the state, and could withhold state funds to local governments if they violate the rule. It has been largely decried by Florida environmental groups who claim the bill would “inevitably lead to dirtier water.” The sponsors are Sen. Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrhills, and Rep. Randy Maggard, R-Dade City.

Lawmakers propose state control of the FHSAA as a way to allow pregame prayer

A proposal that would give Gov. Ron DeSantis power to shape the Florida High School Athletic Association Board of Directors and allow schools to offer pre-game prayers over stadium public-address systems got backing Monday in the Senate.

The Senate Education PreK-12 Committee voted 9-3 along party lines to approve the bill (SB 308).

The measure would revamp oversight of the FHSAA, including shrinking its board from 16 to nine members. DeSantis would get authority to appoint eight of the nine members. The state education commissioner or a designee would serve as the ninth member.

Bill sponsor Jay Collins, R-Tampa, said the bill is intended to provide state “oversight” of the athletics board.

“It just makes sure that we as a state have oversight over this board, how it’s going, and it’s in the best interest of our students,” Collins said.