Last Call for 6.30.26 – 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 —

Scores of new state laws officially take at the stroke of midnight as Florida’s new fiscal year kicks off.

In total, more than 140 measures approved during the 2026 Legislative Session will go into the books on Wednesday. While many deal with narrow policy changes, this Session had its fair share of heavy hitters.

Two of the biggest: the Florida Farm Bill (SB 290), a nearly 40-page package backed by Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson and sponsored by Sen. Keith Truenow that reaches far beyond farming and a comprehensive regulatory framework for hyperscale data centers that could have an outsize impact on Florida’s status in the AI era, although it remains to be seen which way the needle will move under the heavily watched bill (SB 484) Rep. Griff Griffitts and Sen. Bryan Avila carried across the finish line.

Among the Farm Bill’s highest-profile provisions, the law prevents local governments from restricting the use of gasoline-powered farm and landscape equipment, ending efforts by some municipalities to phase out gas-powered leaf blowers and similar tools. But that’s only one piece of the legislation.

The measure also creates a veterinary student loan repayment program aimed at addressing shortages of livestock vets, tightens regulations governing the land application of biosolids, revises conservation land policies to allow certain state-owned parcels to return to agricultural production under conservation easements, strengthens penalties tied to commercial driver’s license testing fraud and includes a host of additional changes affecting land use, forestry and rural development.

The legislation, combined with record-setting appropriations for some of Simpson’s top budget priorities, led the Republican Ag Commish to dub 2026 as “The Year of the Farmer.”

The data center bill, meanwhile, arrives as technology companies race to build AI infrastructure requiring Griswold-level wattage. The measure directs the Florida Public Service Commission to establish tariffs and service requirements for large-load customers while preserving local governments’ authority over land-use decisions involving proposed facilities.

The bill sparked debate during Session after lawmakers added provisions allowing certain economic development negotiations surrounding data center projects to remain confidential for a limited time. Some lawmakers also questioned changes the House made to utility cost protections, though supporters argued the legislation ensures that large projects will shoulder the costs of increased demand rather than shifting expenses onto existing customers.

Among the other notable laws taking effect Tuesday:

— Local governments are barred from adopting “net-zero” greenhouse gas emissions policies.

— Florida recognizes certain gold and silver coins as legal tender for debts incurred on or after July 1.

— The S.S. American Victory replaces the Schooner Western Union as Florida’s official state flagship.

— Pet dealers must provide veterinary records to buyers, while the Florida Department of Law Enforcement will establish a public registry of convicted animal abusers.

— Palm Beach International Airport is officially renamed in honor of President Donald Trump.

— Evening Reads —

—”A Watergate every week” via David A. Graham of The Atlantic

—”The Supreme Court’s trans sports ruling is a cautionary tale for all left-leaning lawyers” via Ian Millhiser of Vox

—”Donald Trump lost the two cases he cared about most — here’s what that really means” via Chris Cillizza of So What

—“They’re in their 60s and their student loans won’t let them retire” via Oyin Adedoyin of The Wall Street Journal

—”A Mamdani-inspired democratic socialist swayed FL unions against a Dem incumbent” via Claire Heddles and Amanda Rosa of The Miami Herald

—”Insider will lead Florida education during search for next Commissioner” via Jeffrey S. Solochek of the Tampa Bay Times

—”Every food stall is a mystery at the Great American State Fair” via Tim Carman, Warren Rojas and Jade Tran of The Washington Post

—”Florida Board votes to ban undocumented students from state colleges” via Natalia Jaramillo of the Orlando Sentinel

—“Central Florida Ponzi schemer Chris Delgado pleads guilty to fraud” via Silas Morgan of the Orlando Sentinel

—”How Hunter Biden won the internet” via Alana Hope Levinson and Makena Kelly of WIRED

— Quote of the Day —

“People are supposed to know a lot about their government, and the government is not supposed to know that much about the people.”

— Keith Gross, calling for a Flock camera ban.

— 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.

DeSantis has touted billions in water quality spending during his tenure, but he still gets a Swamp Water for slashing $23 million worth of South Florida water, stormwater and flood-mitigation projects.

With Florida Poly securing full funding in the budget, the Phoenix better be the happy-hour special at every bar in Lakeland.

Rep. Danny Alvarez gets his pick of Cinco margs after his re-election bid secured endorsements from five county Sheriffs.

— Breakthrough Insights —

— Tune In —

Mexico and Ecuador meet in knockout round

After a wild start to the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup, Mexico tries to avoid the upset bug as they face Ecuador tonight in Mexico City (9 p.m. ET, FOX, Telemundo).

Mexico was one of three teams to win all three group stage matches, along with defending champions Argentina and 2022 finalists France.

Mexico has never lost a World Cup match at Estadio Azteca, where tonight’s match is scheduled. Still, the first Round of 32 in World Cup history has seen upsets and surprises. Paraguay, which finished third in Group D, stunned Germany on Tuesday. And in one of the most compelling matches of the tournament so far, Morocco ousted the Netherlands in a penalty shootout last night.

Mexico and Ecuador last met in a World Cup in 2002 in Japan, with El Tri winning 2-1. The two sides played to a 1-1 draw in a friendly last October. Mexico has twice advanced to the quarterfinals of a World Cup. Ironically, both times came when Mexico hosted, so perhaps history will repeat itself this year.

This is the second time in the nation’s history that Ecuador advanced out of the group stage at a World Cup.

The winner of tonight’s match will face the winner of tomorrow’s England-DR Congo matchup in the Round of 16. 

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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.