Coronavirus Update
Through October 3, the Florida Department of Health COVID-19 Data and Surveillance Dashboard reported 14,674 resident deaths and 174 non-resident deaths; 5.4 million people tested of whom 13.26 percent tested positive.
- DeSantis lifts all statewide coronavirus-related restrictions on businesses as Florida moves to phase 3. Tampa Bay Times, 9/25/20; Executive Order 20-244
- Fauci says it’s ‘very concerning’ that Florida is re-opening bars and restaurants at full capacity. NBCnews.com, 9/28/20
- Local rules still can apply under DeSantis’ order reopening Florida restaurants, bars. The Center Square | Florida, 9/28/20
- Florida reports spike in new coronavirus cases days after restrictions relaxed. CNN, 9/29/20
- Without DeSantis’ coronavirus rules, businesses left to decide what is safe. Tampa Bay Times, 9/30/20
- Desantis banned localities from collecting mask fines. Local officials say they’ll keep issuing fines anyway. Reason, 10/1/20
- Florida governor says closing schools to stop spread of COVID-19 was a mistake. News Service of Florida, 10/2/20
- Florida forges ahead in lifting curbs amid virus concerns. Washington Post, 10/4/20
Effects on Workers
As of September 30, Florida had paid out $17.0 billion in unemployment claims to 2.0 million claimants, and 97.3 percent of eligible claimants had been paid, according to the state’s Reemployment Assistance Claims Dashboard. By comparison, as of August 28, Florida had paid out $14.6 billion to 1.9 million claimants, and 93 percent of eligible claimants had been paid.
While almost all of the claims backlog has been cleared, the system itself is still struggling. Just 47 percent of claims received were filed through the troubled unemployment system; 53 percent were filed through paper and a “mobile friendly site.”
Meanwhile:
- Some help for Florida’s unemployed: Job search requirement suspended for much longer. Miami Herald, 9/4/20
- Governor says Floridians already getting unemployment benefits will get more this week. Miami Herald, 9/8/20
- DeSantis: We can’t afford Trump’s jobless aid anymore. Politico Florida, 9/15/20
- Some Floridians waiting months for unemployment back pay. NBCMiami.com. 9/15/20
- Florida’s unemployment troubles persist months later despite fixes. MyNews13.com, 9/18/20
- Florida’s unemployment claims hit a pandemic low, but big layoffs loom for airlines and hospitality. Sun Sentinel, 10/1/20
Effects on the Economy
- Florida businesses could get break on workers’ comp insurance. Miami Herald, 9/1/20
- Florida launches $13m tourism ad campaign aimed at residents to ‘enjoy everything our beautiful state has to offer’. CBS Miami, 9/2/20
- Florida tourism will take up to three years to recover from COVID-19, state economist predicts. Orlando Sentinel, 9/10/20
- Florida utilities object to halt in disconnections. News Service of Florida via WLRN.org, 9/29/20
- DeSantis will let Florida’s eviction and foreclosure moratorium expire. Tampa Bay Times, 9/30/20
Effects on Schools
- Florida’s largest teachers union pressing Gov. Ron DeSantis to release schools COVID data. CBSMiami.com, 9/15/20
- Florida school opening lawsuit gets nudge forward. Tampa Bay Times, 9/29/20
- Florida publishes coronavirus data tracker for schools across the state. wfla.com, 9/30/20
- COVID-19 school data in Florida leaves questions unanswered. The Center Square | Florida, 10/1/20
Effects on Nursing Homes, Prisons
- Some confusion, challenges as Florida nursing homes reopen to visitors. NBC Miami, 9/2/20
- Florida cuts back on some nursing home safeguards that protected sites from COVID. Sun Sentinel, 9/16/20
- Florida prisons chief calls pandemic response ‘effective’ (after 15,983 inmate infections). Tampa Bay Times, 9/16/20
- Florida prisons will allow no-contact visitations to resume this week. wtsp.com, 9/27/20
Testing & Vaccines
- DeSantis, DOH sever ties with Quest Diagnostics over COVID-19 testing backlog. Tallahassee Democrat via Naples Daily News, 9/1/20
- Florida is privatizing state-run COVID testing sites, starting with Broward County. Miami Herald, 9/4/20
- State says it’s preparing for 5 million doses of COVID vaccine. Who gets it and how? Miami Herald, 9/4/20
- Florida to receive 6.4 million rapid coronavirus tests, DeSantis says. Orlando Sentinel, 9/29/20
Voting Rights Restoration
- Federal appeals court blocks Florida’s felons from voting until fees and fines are paid. USA Today, 9/11/20
- Forcing fees to be paid not an issue for some wealthy felons. Palm Beach Post, 9/29/20
- Battle over voting rights of felons intensifies in Florida. The Hill, 9/30/20
- Despite change in Florida’s constitution, felons face costly hurdle to voting in November. Herald-Tribune, 10/2/20
M-CORES Toll Road Project
- New study refutes benefits of 3 proposed toll roads in Florida. Naples Daily News, 9/16/20
- Environmentalists say new toll road would threaten Florida panthers. Tampa Bay Times, 9/22/20
- Still no answers from task forces looking into proposed Florida toll roads. Tallahassee Democrat, 9/23/20
- Task forces: Florida’s $10B toll-road plan is a ‘want,’ not a ‘need’. The Center Square | Florida, 10/1/20
- Residents in path of Florida toll road react to report with fear, acceptance and anticipation. Tallahassee Democrat, 10/2/20
2020 Legislative Session
- DeSantis signs military veteran fraud protections, 9 other bills. News Service of Florida via News4Jax.com, 9/5/20
- DeSantis vetoes vaping bill, calls the practice less dangerous than cigarettes. Orlando Sentinel, 9/9/20
- New Florida law, with its start in Tallahassee, targets outdated race restrictive covenants. Tallahassee Democrat, 9/9/20
- Here are some of the 24 new laws starting October 1 in Florida. Miami Herald, 9/28/20
2021 Legislative Session
- The state of Florida is looking at a $2.7 billion budget hole due to COVID-19. News Service of Florida via Orlando Weekly, 9/11/20
- Florida Legislature’s GOP leaders outline 2021 sea-level-mitigation priorities. The Center Square | Florida, 9/16/20
- Legislator opens door for regulators to weaken rule that helps rooftop solar market. Miami Herald, 9/18/20
- DeSantis calls on lawmakers to pass his crackdown on protests in November. Orlando Sentinel, 9/22/20
- Florida property insurance market is ‘unhealthy,’ Citizens chief warns. News Service of Florida via Orlando Sentinel, 9/23/20
- Florida business group offers plan after DeSantis calls for employer liability protections. The Center Square | Florida, 9/25/20
Executive Branch
- Florida denies full pardon to Amendment 4 advocate Desmond Meade. Tampa Bay Times, 9/23/20
- Last Chance: Florida considers clemency pleas by felons for last time ahead of election. Fresh Take Florida via wuft.org, 9/24/20
Governor
- Gov. Ron DeSantis names Rep. Dane Eagle to head Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. USA Today Network-Florida via Gov. Tallahassee Democrat, 9/2/20
- Florida AHCA Secretary Mary Mayhew to leave post to run industry lobbyist group. Orlando Sentinel, 9/4/20
- Florida to oversee effort at getting 4 million people registered to vote. WFSU via WLRN.org, 9/8/20
- Maskless voters won’t be kept away from polls on Nov. 3, election officials say. Sun Sentinel, 9/22/20
- Florida sends thousands of voter registration invites – to already registered voters. Tallahassee Democrat, 9/22/20
- Audit finds flaws with Florida’s safe schools office. Associated Press, 9/30/20
Florida Supreme Court – Failed Nomination: Renatha Francis
- Florida Supreme Court rejects Francis appointment, orders DeSantis to pick new justice by Monday. Orlando Sentinel, 9/11/20
- Gov. DeSantis recommends Judge Renatha Francis as federal judge to President Trump. Florida Politics, 9/14/20
Florida Supreme Court – Successful Nomination: Jamie Grosshans
- After SCOFLA scuffle, Governor nominates Judge Jamie Grosshans for Florida Supreme Court. Florida Politics, 9/15/20
- Florida’s new justice belongs to Christian group using law to ‘spread the Gospel’. Miami Herald, 9/15/20
- Politicized process sped Jaime Grosshans’ rise to Florida Supreme Court, critics say. Orlando Sentinel, 9/18/20
- Editorial: Florida Supreme Court follies bring out best and worst in constitutional respect. Orlando Sentinel, 9/18/20
Attorney General
- Ashley Moody recovers almost $10 million from LexisNexis after whistleblower investigation. Florida Daily, 9/18/20
- Florida court rules R.J. Reynolds Tobacco must pay millions, win for Ashley Moody. Florida Politics, 9/19/20
- Moody wants investigation into Bloomberg donations to pay off Florida felons’ fines. Orlando Sentinel, 9/23/20
Chief Financial Officer
- Florida CFO mobilizes search and rescue teams as Hurricane Sally crawls toward Gulf Coast. Florida Politics, 9/15/20
- CFO Jimmy Patronis statement on Florida’s AAA bond rating reaffirmed in face of COVID-19. Press Release, 9/18/20
- Jimmy Patronis activates disaster fraud action strike team after Hurricane Sally. Florida Daily, 9/22/20
- Jimmy Patronis issues transparency directive for vendors working with DFS. Florida Daily, 9/28/20
Commissioner of Agriculture
- Nikki Fried unveils de-escalation, inclusivity guidelines for Agriculture, Consumer Services. Florida Politics, 9/10/20
- Nikki Fried releases guidance on safe harvesting in the time of coronavirus. Florida Politics, 9/15/20
- Nikki Fried unveils joint effort to increase farmworker COVID-19 testing. Florida Politics, 10/1/20
Judicial Branch
- Who goes first on Florida’s presidential ballots? Legal fight lingers as appeals court updates its ruling. News Service of Florida via Sun Sentinel, 9/4/20
- Judges refuse to step aside from schools case. News Service of Florida via News4Jax.com, 9/15/20
- Florida Appeals Court eyes armed school ‘guardians’. News Service of Florida via WLRN.org, 9/15/20
- Mass shootings are single incidents, not individual crimes, Florida Supreme Court rules. The Center Square | Florida, 9/25/20
News from Washington
- Sens. Rubio, Scott push to keep daylight saving time. News4Jax.com, 9/16/20
- Scott, Rubio tout bill streamlining reopening guidelines for Florida port, cruise industries. The Center Square | Florida, 9/18/20
That’s it for Florida Politics News for September 2020!