Here’s Brunch, a pop-up, weekend email about the 2026 Legislative Session — 3.1.26

Good Sunday morning, and welcome back to “Brunch,” a pop-up newsletter about the 2026 Legislative Session and more.

There is a horrifying and tragic volume of disturbing news taking place as I punch out this newsletter, but it’s also snowing in New York City during our trip here for Michelle’s birthday and, so, while I deeply pray for peace and the safety of others, I am not going to hesitate to grab my wife by the hand and run through Central Park. 

I hope you, too, can find some sort of comfort and solace in this difficult moment.

Anyway, with two weeks left to THIS Legislative Session (I’m putting the over/under on the number of Special Sessions — with a caveat that an extended Session for the budget counts to the total — in 2026 at 2.5), here’s Brunch, which is purposefully filled with lighter fare this morning.

Enjoy!

— Bombs away —

February ended with fireworks in the form of an American-Israeli attack on Iran, followed by retaliatory strikes against Israel and regional allies of the United States. Legislators, particularly Republicans, had their say in support of the offensive that had been building for a long time.

— Fine with it: Among the most emphatic was Atlantic Coast Congressman Randy Fine: “Bombs away. The Muslim terrorists that run Iran have just indiscriminately fired rockets not just at the Jews of Israel, but 700,000 Americans who live there, 180,000 Christians who live there, at the ‘Dome of the Rock,’  the third holiest site in Islam, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, site of Jesus’s crucifixion. We are fighting back against this evil. To save Western Civilization. We will win.”

— Stakes are high: Rep. Carlos Gimenez takes the long view, saying the “collapse of the regime in #Iran would be one of the greatest geopolitical victories of our time,” one that “would entirely shift the balance of power on the global stage & turn a longtime foe into an ally & friend of the West.”

— Both sides now: Arguably, the most nuanced statement came from Rep. Anna Paulina Luna. She urged people to “hold our country … service members and their families in prayer right now” and to “hold the innocent people of Iran in prayer right now.”

— Not ambiguous: Rep. John Rutherford isn’t shedding tears for Iran, meanwhile. “Tens of thousands of Iranian people have been violently murdered by the Iranian regime for seeking freedom and basic human rights. It’s clear: this evil regime seeks to kill and must be obliterated. The President, and many before him, have given Iran every opportunity to make a deal for peace to end this long conflict, but the Iranian regime has time and time again refused. Now, the hour of freedom is at hand,” he said.

— Senate surge —

Byron Donalds picked up endorsements from nine Republican Senators, adding to what his campaign calls growing momentum in the GOP Primary for Governor.

— Who’s backing him: Sens. Bryan Ávila, Alexis Calatayud, Nick DiCeglie, Erin Grall, Joe Gruters, Gayle Harrell, Jonathan Martin, Debbie Mayfield and Ana Maria Rodriguez signed on, joining former President Donald Trump and a slate of other major Republican supporters.

— Trump lane: The Senators said they stand with Trump’s endorsement and described Donalds as a fighter for the “America First” agenda.

— Conservative creds: Martin pointed to Donalds’ vote against the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act as proof of his willingness to withstand pressure and defend constitutional rights.

— Ask Me Anything —

Donalds is also heading to Miami on Monday for an “Ask Byron Anything” meet-and-greet at Versailles.

— Café politics: The March 2 event begins at 10:30 a.m., with media gathering beforehand outside the iconic Little Havana restaurant.

— On the trail: The Q&A stop comes after Donalds spent Saturday in Dade City touring Bear Hill Cattle Company and meeting with agricultural producers and industry leaders.

— The strategy: Retail politics in South Florida paired with outreach to rural stakeholders as Donalds continues building his statewide coalition.

ESE funding cliff

The Senate’s proposed budget includes a significant shift in how Florida funds students with the most intensive disabilities — one that could mean a roughly $241 million reduction in the Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Guaranteed Allocation.

— Under SB 2500, the allocation would drop from approximately $1.37 billion this year to about $1.13 billion next year — an estimated 18% decrease in the funding stream designed to support Level 3 students, including those requiring smaller class sizes, paraprofessional support, behavioral interventions and specialized services.

— The reduction comes as districts report rising costs tied to staffing, contracted therapies, transportation, insurance and compliance requirements. Large districts such as Miami-Dade, Broward, Hillsborough and Orange County rely heavily on the Guaranteed Allocation to operate specialized ESE centers and maintain intensive classroom ratios.

— More than 400,000 students with disabilities are served statewide. Federal funding under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act has historically fallen short of its original 40% promise, leaving states and districts to absorb the balance.

With the House and Senate still far apart on overall spending levels, the ESE allocation could become a focal point in budget negotiations.

— Dental therapists —

After the House cleared a bill earlier this month that would create a new “dental therapist” position to fill gaps in oral health care access, the Senate is now taking up the matter. The measure (HB 363) seeks to address dentist shortages in some areas, and is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Rules Committee on Tuesday, its only referred Committee before the Senate floor.

— Bridging the gap: The measure would address what supporters of the bill say is an oral health crisis in Florida, with all but one Florida county designated as facing a dental health professional shortage, according to Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) data. HRSA data show more than 1,250 dentists would be needed. Nearly 6 million Floridians live in 274 health professional shortage areas. The shortages are most pronounced in Dixie and Gilchrist counties, where there aren’t any licensed dentists.

— An expensive shortage: Poor oral health care costs an estimated $45 billion in lost work productivity across the U.S. as a result of untreated oral disease, according to HRSA data. Moreover, Florida hospitals charged nearly $1 billion for emergency room and hospital admissions in 2024 to provide pain relief for preventable dental issues.

— Lives are on the line: Untreated dental and oral health issues can have lasting and potentially fatal impacts to the rest of the body, with poor oral health associated with chronic conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney disease. Meanwhile, approximately 11 Floridians are admitted to hospitals each day for life-threatening conditions caused by untreated dental disease.

— Not everyone is on board: Some critics, primarily Democrats, have expressed concern that the bill’s passage would allow very young adults — as young as just 18 years old — to perform extractions and deliver anesthesia in dental offices. One Democrat suggested that students who earn only a GED would be permitted to perform procedures allowed under the bill.

Supporters refute such claims, noting that dental therapists would have to complete four years of higher education, including a year of science-based prerequisites and three years in an accredited dental therapy school. More complex procedures, such as root canal therapy, would still be performed by licensed dentists, not dental therapists.

— Campus carry clash —

Gun safety advocates are blasting the House’s passage of HB 757, warning the measure would expand the Guardian Program to public colleges and universities and bring more firearms onto campuses.

— Advocates object: Florida chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action argue the move shifts safety responsibilities onto educators and students while ignoring opposition from campus communities.

— Training gap: Critics say Guardians receive 144 hours of training compared to 770 hours for law enforcement and point to past disciplinary reports involving program participants.

— The backdrop: Florida averages more than 3,000 gun deaths a year, and opponents say lawmakers should focus on prevention measures rather than expanding armed presence in schools.

— STEM Day —

This week in Tallahassee brought some moments of levity and learning during STEM Day in the Capitol Rotunda, as several organizations brought hands-on science experiments and challenges for lawmakers and staff.

— Hands-on learning: The crowd used digital microscopes, watched high schoolers show off their robotics and attempted simple tasks, like tying knots, while wearing astronaut gloves. The glove exercise displayed the manual dexterity skills astronauts must master to go to space.

— Beyond the experiments: Underneath the activities were deeper lessons. The museums, science centers, and educators across Florida used Thursday’s STEM Day as part of their advocacy to ask for more state funding and support for promoting STEM.

— The pitch: Teaching young people about STEM can build 21st century skills that can lead to good careers, STEM advocates said. The Orlando Science Center noted that science literacy helps individuals better understand problems and develop the skills to address them.

— Who participated: Exhibitors included the Challenger Learning Center, Dinosaurs Will Always Be Awesome, FIRST Robotics, Museum of Discovery and Science, Phillip & Patricia Frost Museum of Science, River City Science Academy and Tallahassee Museum.

— The ask: The Orlando Science Center is seeking $494,000 to build a weather hall “to explore forces of nature and how science and engineering help us prepare, respond, and adapt to extreme weather.”

— Healthy handouts —

During Florida Children’s Week at the Capitol, Aetna Better Health of Florida showed up with more than just smiles.

— What they brought: The team handed out bags to children and parents filled with dental and physical health materials aimed at encouraging healthy habits.

— The goal: The push aimed to promote preventive care and good health practices while connecting with families during a week dedicated to Florida’s youngest residents.

— Week Ahead —

If you’re looking for rally days and matching T-shirts, this isn’t that week.

— Monday kicks off with Senate Appropriations and Fiscal Policy running noon-to-evening agendas packed with budget conforming bills, relief claims, cybersecurity measures, foreign influence proposals and health care issues. With amendment deadlines already passed, this is where positions harden. House Rules will also meet at 3 p.m. to relax a rule to block member fundraising during extended and Special Sessions.

— Tuesday is the Senate’s 50th Day Rule — the last day for regularly scheduled committee meetings — effectively closing the committee funnel on most remaining bills. The Senate Rules Committee meets all day Tuesday, while both chambers continue daily floor Sessions through the week.

— From then on, it’s on you to check the daily calendars to see which bills are popping up, whereas the 2026 Legislative Session (maybe) ramps toward a conclusion.

— Ruth’s List picks —

Ruth’s List Florida is rolling out its latest endorsements for 2026, backing a new slate of pro-choice Democratic women running for state and local offices.

— Who’s in: The group is endorsing Gloria Romero Roses in House District 113, Heather Kahoun for Osceola County School Board, India Palencia for Lee County School Board, Jennifer Webb for Gulfport City Council, and Flo Entler for Sarasota City Commission.

— Strategic focus: The organization says it’s targeting key pickup opportunities while defending an incumbent in Kahoun, with early investment aimed at building strong, competitive campaigns.

— On deck: Webb faces a March 10 election in Gulfport, one of the first tests of the cycle for the group’s 2026 push.

— The pitch: “These women represent exactly the kind of leadership Florida needs right now,” said Christina Diamond, CEO of Ruth’s List Florida. “They are problem-solvers, community advocates, and leaders who understand that good governance starts with listening and delivering for the people they serve. From protecting public education to strengthening local communities, each of these candidates is stepping up at a critical moment for our state.”

— Triple threat —

The Catch a Florida Memory program from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is launching Season 4 of its Triple Threat Throwdown, part of the initiative’s 10-year “Catch-a-versary” celebration.

— Challenge window: The saltwater angler competition runs March 1 through Sept. 13 and is open to members of the Triple Threat Club.

— What’s at stake: One randomly selected participant will win a kayak fishing bundle valued at more than $4,500, including a Bonafide kayak, Mustad gear, YakAttack accessories and a Power-Pole Micro Spike Driver.

— The hook: “As we continue to celebrate Catch a Florida Memory’s 10-year anniversary, we are proud to launch the fourth season of Triple Threat Throwdown to further recognize Florida’s accomplished saltwater anglers,” said Jessica McCawley, Director of FWC’s Division of Marine Fisheries Management. “This challenge highlights anglers who truly know what it means to Catch a Florida Memory.”

— Brunching Out —

Fans of The Egg Cafe & Eatery were dismayed when the restaurant closed its seven-year, downtown, Kleman Plaza branch in early January. The good news: The Egg’s longtime location in the Evening Rose location off Capital Circle remains in business.

— Backstory: The local, family-owned Egg Cafe has been open for more than 25 years. Owner Mike Schmidt has built up a following for the restaurant’s hearty breakfast and brunch fare and morning cocktails.

— Setting: The original Egg Cafe is traditional and homey, with several small dining areas and outdoor seating.

— The menu: Customers have myriad choices at The Egg. You can start with bagels and lox, fried green tomatoes or a Brie and apple delight. On our visit, we had the delectable combo potato skillet nearly overflowing with mushrooms, chopped ham, spinach and two eggs over medium (your preference), topped with melted cheese. Country potatoes are usually lacking, but these were crisp on the outside yet fluffy inside. A veggie potato skillet is another option. Eggs Benedict is a prime attraction at The Egg, and you have a bunch of possibilities. We picked the crabcake Benny with a classic hollandaise sauce, always a hit. The list includes a surf-n-turf Benny, Garden Benny and Irish Benny made with corned beef hash. The menu also features omelets, sandwiches, pancakes and waffles, as well as more brunchy items such as a croque madame, shrimp and grits, bayou cakes and breakfast burrito, along with burgers, salads, sandwiches and veggie wrap.

— Details: The Egg Cafe & Eatery is located at 3740 Austin Davis Ave.; 850-765-0703. Open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday.