Last Call for 1.28.26 – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida

Last Call – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.

First Shot

House lawmakers are advancing bail bond legislation that supporters describe as an exercise in addition by subtraction, aimed at tightening accountability while simplifying Florida’s bail statutes.

HB 1017, sponsored by Rep. Jessica Baker, would streamline Florida’s bail system by trimming dense statutory language, increasing oversight of bail bond agents, and clarifying how courts respond when defendants fail to appear. Backers say the proposal addresses years of confusion caused by layered mitigating-factor language that has produced inconsistent outcomes across counties.

“My approach to this bill is informed by my experience as a prosecutor, where ensuring a defendant’s appearance in court is foundational to public safety and the integrity of the justice system,” Baker said. “Bail bond agents play a critical role in that process, and sound public policy requires that they retain real incentives to ensure defendants appear as required and to locate and return them when they do not. The state is not the surety’s surety.”

The legislation focuses heavily on setting clearer expectations for both courts and the bail bond industry when defendants miss court dates or violate release conditions. Baker emphasized that prosecutors cannot move cases forward without defendants present, arguing that bail statutes must meaningfully support accountability and court appearance.

One major component of HB 1017 increases regulation of bail bond agents, a move the industry supports. The bill would require in-person education, ban virtual offices, clearly define allowable fees, and prohibit solicitation of defendants during overnight hours.

“The bail bond industry is highly regulated, and it should be,” said Shawn Foster of Sunrise Consulting Group. “Florida regulates the bail bond industry so tightly because bail bonds sit at the intersection of public safety, the court system, and consumer protection.”

On the judicial side, the bill narrows discretion in favor of predictability by replacing lengthy case-by-case analyses with defined timelines and standards, particularly in bond forfeiture and remission cases. It also removes eligibility for non-monetary bail when defendants miss court dates.

HB 1017 advanced unanimously from the Criminal Justice Subcommittee and now heads to the Judiciary Committee. The Senate companion, SB 600 by Keith Truenow, is scheduled for a Criminal Justice Committee hearing Feb. 2.

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A new study examining Florida’s higher education landscape says independent colleges and universities are delivering an enviable ROI.

The ICUF and EASE Efficiency Study, released Wednesday by the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida, evaluates tuition costs, student access, operational efficiency and taxpayer return across Florida’s higher education system.

Conducted by the Regional Economic Consulting Group, the analysis measures how efficiently the state’s private, not-for-profit universities convert public funds into economic growth.

“With less than 2% of the state’s higher education budget, ICUF institutions produce 20% of all undergraduate degrees awarded in Florida,” ICUF President and CEO Bob Boydsaid. “That includes 28% of nursing degrees, 25% of teaching degrees and more than half of Florida’s professional and graduate degrees. That’s an extraordinary return for Florida taxpayers.”

The study also highlights the Effective Access to Student Education program, a state-funded voucher that provides $3,500 per student for Florida residents attending independent universities, including ICUF’s 30-member institutions. The research showed that institutions receiving EASE funding are punching above their weight.

“Florida’s higher education success story is built on a diverse ecosystem,” Boyd said. “This study shows that independent, nonprofit colleges are an essential part of that system. We are delivering results, maximizing taxpayer dollars and expanding opportunity for Florida students.”

Evening Reads

—“Nervous allies and Fox News: How Donald Trump realized he had a big problem in Minneapolis” via Tyler Pager, Katie Rogers, Zolan Kanno-Youngs and Hamed Aleaziz of The New York Times

—”Timeline: How the Trump administration lost the narrative in Minnesota” via Sarah Ellison, JM Rieger and Clara Ence Morse

—”How legacy media fell for Trump’s fake ‘pivot’ in Minnesota” via Judd Legum and Noel Sims of Popular Information

—”The 38 most absurd lines from Trump’s ‘affordability’ speech in Iowa” via Chris Cillizza of So What

—”Bruce Springsteen releases ICE protest song about ‘state terror’ in Minneapolis” via Ethan Millman of The Hollywood Reporter

—”The Supreme Court will soon decide if only Republicans are allowed to gerrymander” via Ian Millhiser of Vox

—”America’s convenience-store conundrum” via Nicholas Florko of The Atlantic

—“Ron DeSantis has ‘no regrets’ about 2024 run, says he was urged to run by those who didn’t think Donald Trump could win” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics

—”‘Next question’: Byron Donalds brushes off rival Republicans, takes on Minneapolis shooting” via Liv Caputo of the Florida Phoenix

—”Bill Belichick’s baffling Hall of Fame snub” via Jason Gay of The Wall Street Journal

3 Questions

Sen. Joe Gruters is carrying legislation this Session aimed at reshaping how Florida licenses Certified Public Accountants — a topic that rarely breaks out of professional circles but has real downstream effects on businesses, workers, and consumers across the state. Florida Politics spoke with Shelly Weir, President and CEO of the Florida Institute of CPAs, about what the legislation does and how it would impact everyday Floridians.

What is SB 364 by Sen. Joe Gruters?

SB 364 (and HB 333 by Rep. Omar Blanco) seeks to modernize and strengthen the CPA licensure process in Florida. The bill streamlines and increases efficiencies in the licensure process, ensuring that CPAs can continue to support Florida’s ever-growing economy and its workforce. Specifically, the bill enhances inbound mobility, or “practice privileges,” for CPAs to work across state lines, and it streamlines the licensure-by-endorsement process so that CPAs from other states can become licensed in Florida and begin work as quickly as possible. The bill also introduces new, innovative pathways to CPA licensure without lowering professional standards. This landmark change has been developed in coordination with nearly 30 other states. 

The proposed changes in SB 364/HB 333 will help make Florida a leader in pro-business CPA licensing, enabling individuals to enter the workforce and engage in business more efficiently. 

Why are these new CPA licensure pathways important?

As is the case in many other areas of business, there are currently more CPAs retiring than there are new entrants to the profession. We need more students to enter the CPA profession, and not every student’s journey is the same. This bill opens a new pathway to licensure via a bachelor’s degree plus two years of work experience. We’re raising the number of potential CPA candidates without lowering standards. By modernizing the requirements in this way, Florida can continue to set the standard for a vibrant, business-friendly licensure process that supports both growth and professional excellence.

Why is the passage of this legislation important for Floridians?

Florida’s economy continues to grow. Every day, more people and businesses are relocating to our state. Our business community needs more CPAs to reinforce our strong, growing economy. Florida must lead the way and have the most efficient and effective licensure structure in the nation to get people licensed and to work fast. Removing unnecessary barriers, red tape and bureaucracy — while maintaining rigor and protecting the public — is good for the profession and good for Florida. 

Quote of the Day

“My rivals would all love to be in my position, and they’re not.”

— U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, on his competition in the 2026 Governor race.

Put it on the Tab

Look to your left, then look to your right. If you see one of these people at your happy hour haunt, flag down the bartender and put one of these on your tab. Recipes included, just in case the Cocktail Codex fell into the well.

Pour U.S. Sen. Rick Scott a Whiskey Business for his new video series spotlighting Florida entrepreneurs.

Send a tray of Mango Meltdowns to the House Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee, which OK’d legislation signaling Florida is open to new nuclear plants.

Sen. Joe Gruters gets a Crypto Nugget for getting his digital currency reserve bill through its first Committee, but he still needs to clear a couple more hurdles to earn the full Crypto Token.

Breakthrough Insights

Tune In

Heat, Magic tip off in Miami

Florida’s two NBA teams meet tonight as the Miami Heat host the Orlando Magic (7:30 p.m. ET, Fanduel Sports Network – Sun, Fanduel Sports Network – Florida).

Both teams sit just outside of automatic playoff spots with Miami (25-22) in seventh place in the Eastern Conference Standings and Orlando (23-22) one game behind in eighth. If the season ended today, both teams would be in the play-in tournament to earn a spot in the full playoff bracket.

Miami has won consecutive games while the Magic have lost four straight.

The Heat are coming off a five-game road trip that included wins over the Utah Jazz and Phoenix Suns. Miami went 3-1 on the road trip. The Magic lost home games to the Memphis Grizzlies, Charlotte Hornets, and Cleveland Cavaliers before falling at Cleveland on Monday despite 37 points and 10 rebounds from Paolo Banchero.

After tonight’s game, the Heat will face the Chicago Bulls in three consecutive games—a rarity in the NBA. The first game tomorrow is scheduled for Chicago, with games Saturday and Sunday in Miami.

The Magic return to Orlando to face Toronto on Friday before a brief two-game road trip starting Sunday.

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Last Call is published by Peter Schorsch, assembled and edited by Phil Ammann and Drew Wilson, with contributions from the staff of Florida Politics.