To support Cell Phones for Soldiers and in collaboration with the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs (FDVA), Deloitte hosted its first Device Day at the Florida State Capitol on March 20.

As part of the event, legislators and staff, state employees, community members and Deloitte employees donated cell phones and other electronic devices to active-duty military members and veterans.

Cell Phones for Soldiers is a nonprofit organization committed to bridging the communication gap for military families. Since its founding in 2004, the organization has provided more than 400 million minutes of free talk time.

“As a veteran and a public servant, I know firsthand the power of a simple phone call to lift spirits and strengthen resolve. In hard times, a familiar voice is priceless,” said Sen. Jay Collins, United States Army Special Forces combat veteran, Green Beret and Purple Heart recipient.

“This program ensures that no service member has to go without that lifeline. Many thanks to Deloitte for the excellent work they do through the Cell Phones for Soldiers program.”

Devices collected during Deloitte Device Day will be shipped to Cell Phones for Soldiers where they will be refurbished for resale or responsibly recycled. The proceeds will fund free cell phones and 12 months of free talk and text service for veterans and active-duty military members.

Rep. Yvette Benarroch, a United States Air Force veteran who served during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm and received the National Defense Service Medal, reflected on her own experiences.

“During my time in the service, being separated from my loved ones was one of the most challenging aspects of deployment. Deloitte Device Day is a crucial initiative that helps service members and veterans stay connected with their families, no matter the distance.”

“As a proud veteran of the U.S. Air Force, I know firsthand the dedication and sacrifice it takes to serve,” said Sen. Keith Truenow. “Keeping deployed personnel and veterans connected with their loved ones is an incredible cause. I hope we see Deloitte Device Day become an annual tradition at the Capitol.”

“Initiatives like this are crucial in ensuring that our veterans stay connected with their families and loved ones,” said Bob Asztalos, Deputy Executive Director of the FDVA. “We are grateful to Deloitte and Cell Phones for Soldiers for their partnership in supporting our veterans, and we look forward to continued collaboration to enhance the services we provide to those who have served our country.”

“What started as an idea by a couple of kids has since evolved into a nationwide effort to keep military families connected,” said Rob Bergquist, founder and director of Cell Phones for Soldiers. “We are grateful to Deloitte and FDVA for their collaboration in expanding our mission here in Florida.”

“Deloitte is proud to be part of this important initiative because it enables us to show our appreciation to those who answered the call to serve and those who have sacrificed so much for our country,” said David Friedman, principal, Deloitte Consulting, LLP, and the leader of Deloitte’s work with the State of Florida.

To learn more about how the donation process works or to find additional ways to support Cell Phones for Soldiers, visit www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com/how-it-works.

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Perfect penmanship for Florida students is closer than ever, as the Florida House passes a bill requiring instruction and evaluations of cursive writing skills.

Republican Rep. Toby Overdorf’s HB 921 would mandate instruction in cursive from second through fifth grades. Students would take a written exam showing their skills in writing uppercase and lowercase letters in cursive, along with legible words and sentences. They would also have to be able to read and apply cursive to essays and other assignments.

Cursive writing is currently taught in grades 3 through 5, but the Florida curriculum doesn’t require educators to evaluate the skill.

In support of the bill, Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka talked of her son Charlie, a 21-year-old with autism, and how learning cursive helped him.

“One of the beautiful things that I’ve had the privilege to witness was when he learned to write in cursive. His grandmother taught him how to write in cursive, and when he takes that pen and gets down and focuses on that piece of paper, he is so focused, he takes his time and it is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever witnessed,” she said. “The handwriting needs to be improved, but the cursive writing is perfect.”

In his close, Overdorf argued for cursive’s importance and timelessness.

“In a world glued to screens, cursive just isn’t handwriting. It’s a master key to our past, a rocket boost for sharp minds and a ticket to adult independence. Without it, kids can’t read the Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution, a grandparent’s note, or even sign their name on a mortgage with pride. Members, this isn’t nostalgia. It’s about empowering them to claim their heritage, unleash their potential, and step into life’s big moments with a signature that’s all their own.

While the future of the House bill appears to be written in clear, indelible ink, the script for the Senate version has yet to be penned. Sen. Erin Grall’s bill has three committee references ahead, but has yet to be scheduled for a hearing.

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The Senate’s proposed budget is out, providing plenty of green that the citrus industry will like.

Amid a promise by Senate President Ben Albritton to lead a “Rural Renaissance” this Session, the proposed budget would allocate $200 million to help the industry increase production levels.

The bulk of those funds, $190 million, would go toward “large-scale field trials that demonstrate the impact of utilizing a combination of grove management, therapeutic tools, and disease-resistant varieties for new plantings and the rehabilitation of existing trees,” according to a release announcing the initiative.

That includes “grove design, planting preparation, pest management, disease management, pest and disease exclusion structures, and post-planting production practices that promote increased production of citrus.”

Those efforts could help combat citrus greening, which, along with devastation from several severe storms, has been a primary driver in disappointing production levels in recent years.

“Mark my words, Florida citrus is not going down on my watch. This heritage industry is not only vital to our state’s economy, but it is truly a part of the DNA of Florida. To those growers who are left in the business, hear me when I say, you are not forgotten, you are not alone, and the Florida Senate is running to this fight,” said Albritton, a Wauchula Republican.

“Research and new technologies offer a renewed hope for the future of citrus. Florida will lead the way in pursuing these opportunities. We’re on the edge of something special. Florida Citrus is making a comeback, one tree at a time.”

According to the proposed budget, at least $125 million of that $190 million must go toward acquiring trees.

To begin with, 60% of funds would go to growers who maintain groves between five and 2,500 acres. The money would then be available to the remaining growers.

Wednesday’s Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget proposal comes from the Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment and General Government, which Senate President Pro Tempore Jason Brodeur chairs. It’s the opening salvo in a process that will likely run until near the end of the 60-day Session.

“Preserving and expanding our iconic citrus industry is key to Florida’s overall economy,” said Brodeur, a Sanford Republican.

“Citrus production, harvesting, packing and shipping creates steady, good-paying jobs in rural, heritage communities across Florida’s Heartland. These are small, family-run operations that have a generational impact on local economies. We won’t stand by as these jobs are lost to foreign countries. Our citrus industry will adapt and overcome the current obstacles and challenges and come back better and stronger.”

The remaining $10 million slotted for the citrus industry will help the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services offer cost-sharing so citrus packinghouses can buy or refurbish equipment and acquire new technology. Only Florida packinghouses willing to cover the remaining 20% would be eligible.

Finally, the Senate proposes additional meetings and reporting on research to aid the citrus industry.

“The Citrus Research and Development Foundation must hold quarterly meetings at locations that best represent all geographic regions of the state with an emphasis on citrus production,” adds Wednesday’s release.

“The public meetings must include reporting on the results of non-confidential completed research projects, current research and planned research projects on citrus disease, including but not limited to citrus canker and citrus greening. Scientists, growers, industry representatives, and Citrus Research and Development Foundation administrators must be represented at the public meetings. Public meetings must provide the opportunity for public input, questions and comments.”

The proposed spending surge adds to “Rural Renaissance” legislation already moving through The Process. Last week, the Senate unanimously approved a bill from Tallahassee Republican Sen. Corey Simon (SB 110) as a cornerstone of Albritton’s “Rural Renaissance” push.

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