Florida Government News for May – October 2023
With the Legislature out of session and as a result of Gov. Ron DeSantis’s much-publicized “war on woke,” much of Florida’s public policy news since May was about education.
With the Legislature out of session and as a result of Gov. Ron DeSantis’s much-publicized “war on woke,” much of Florida’s public policy news since May was about education.
Up to now, I have written about the candidates running for Collier County Commission, School Board, Florida Attorney General and Commissioner of Agriculture, Collier County judge, and most recently, Congressional Districts 19 and 26….
In this post: an overview of the federal and state government races and candidates that will be on Collier voters’ August primary election ballots.
DeSantis signs congressional map following special session; calls second special session to take up property insurance reform. DeSantis vs. Disney. A new Education Commissioner. Moody wins $600 opioid settlement from Walgreens.
Legislative session recap: Perception and reality. Unanimity vs. party-line bills. Unfinished business: Condo safety, property insurance reform. Record $112 billion budget. Redistricting update.
Florida House and Senate redistricting maps approved. Congressional map unresolved as DeSantis threatens veto. Record $100 billion-plus budget and bills to implement leaders’ priorities likely to pass.
House, Senate approve state redistricting maps. Congressional map on hold after DeSantis issues his own map and seeks Court review. Republican priority bills move ahead as 2022 legislative session nears half-way point.
Special legislative session a DeSantis victory. Proposed congressional and legislative redistricting maps released. State/federal tug-of-war over vaccine rules continues. Troubling UF free speech controversy widens.
DeSantis calls special session to address mask, vaccine mandates. Elections supervisors say democracy under threat. DeSantis wants more election reforms. Redistricting committees won’t hold public hearings before drawing maps.
Fighting mask and vaccine mandates. Slow uptake on federal COVID relief. A more simpatico Surgeon General. Major news media companies sue for access to Florida’s COVID-19 data. Redistricting committees begin meeting with promises of transparency.