Remember that DOGE meme that “messed with stuff?”

Two Florida lawmakers are trying something similar to shake up the state government.

Top of the list: Eliminate the Lieutenant Governor’s job.

Majority Leader Tyler Sirois and Rep. John Snyder think the Lt. Gov. job can be split up and given to others. They believe HJR 1325 would improve how the government functions.

“Florida taxpayers are entitled to a government that is small, efficient, and well run,” said Majority Leader Sirois. “As President (Donald) Trump works to rein in the vast federal bureaucracy, Florida has an opportunity to evaluate the value and effectiveness of government in our own state. While Florida has already established the standard for fiscally conservative governance, there is always room for improvement. Floridians deserve nothing less.”

If this happens, it changes how things work in Florida politics.

Like what Elon Musk is doing with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) on Capitol Hill, they want to make the government more efficient and change how some jobs are done.

“As elected officials, we have a fiduciary responsibility to be good stewards of public funds, recognizing that Florida families work hard and must carefully manage their own household budgets,” Snyder added. “Just as they balance their checkbooks, it is critical that government also lives within its means. It requires us to be lean, efficient, and transparent while also planning for the future by setting aside reserves for emergencies.”

They also want to eliminate a group called the Government Efficiency Task Force, which tried to find ways to make the government cheaper and work better.

Instead of the Lt. Gov. and that task force, they want to create a new job: Commissioner of Government Efficiency.

This Cabinet-level position would act as a watchdog over the state government. They’d have the power to check for fraud, waste, and other problems in the Capitol. The goal is to ensure that the government is open and works well.

The plan also has new rules about who will take over if the Governor can’t do their job anymore. This ensures a clear strategy so the government doesn’t get stuck.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the changes:

— Tallahassee stays the capital: No change there.

— New rules for laws and impeachment: Some changes to how the state government works.

— New Commissioner of Government Efficiency will replace the Lt. Gov.

— Voting rules: Addresses who are qualified to vote.

Lawmakers will pick the first Commissioner of Government Efficiency by March 2, 2027, who will stay until the 2028 Election. After that, Floridians will vote for who they want for the job.

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A legal battle is brewing in Florida over HB 3, the law aimed at protecting young people from the perceived dangers of social media.

The Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) is challenging the law in court, arguing that it violates minors’ and adults’ First Amendment rights.

Oral arguments are scheduled for Friday.

HB3, signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis in March 2024, effective Jan. 1, 2025, is one of the strictest social media bans in the country. It prohibits children under 14 from having social media accounts and requires parental permission for 14- and 15-year-olds.

The law was a key priority for former House Speaker Paul Renner.

“A child in their brain development doesn’t have the ability to know that they’re being sucked into these addictive technologies and to see the harm and step away from it, and because of that, we have to step in for them,” Renner said at the bill-signing ceremony.

Several states have considered similar legislation.

Kara Gross, legislative director of the ACLU of Florida, said of HB 3: “HB 3 is a government censorship law aimed at ensuring that youth do not have access to information and resources that the Governor does not want them to access. HB 3 raises significant constitutional concerns because it intrudes on the free speech rights of adults and minors.”

The CCIA and co-Plaintiff NetChoice filed a lawsuit in October 2024, claiming that HB 3 is an unconstitutional restriction on free speech. They argue that the law prevents minors, and potentially adults, from accessing lawful content online. The CCIA sought a preliminary injunction to prevent the law from taking effect.

Stephanie Joyce, senior vice president, Chief of Staff and director of CCIA’s Litigation Center, emphasizes the importance of protecting First Amendment rights. She describes HB3 as an “internet rationing” law that “blocks access to lawful content” and represents an “unlawful attempt to police free speech.” The CCIA believes the court should subject the law to stringent review, which it argues Florida has failed to satisfy.

The CCIA is an international trade association representing various communications and technology companies. With a history of over 50 years, the organization advocates for open markets, open systems, and open networks.

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Material from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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The 2025 Legislative Session may bring significant positive changes for individuals with autism spectrum disorder and their families.

Under the leadership of Senate President Ben Albritton and House Speaker Danny Perez, the Florida Legislature is considering a comprehensive package of bills to improve education, workforce opportunities, safety measures, and health care coverage for individuals with autism.

As of March 2023, 1 in 36 (2.8%) of 8-year-olds in the U.S. have autism spectrum disorder, up from 1 in 44 five years ago. ASD affects all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups and is nearly 4 times more common in boys than girls. Additionally, 26.7% of children with ASD have profound autism, which often requires intensive, lifelong support. The growing prevalence of ASD underscores the need for early diagnosis and personalized interventions.

As a parent of a child with profound autism, I understand the challenges faced by autism families. It can be daunting for parents seeking help. Thankfully, Florida has the Center for Autism-Related Disabilities (CARD), a network of regional sites supporting individuals, families, schools and communities. The Florida Legislature funds CARD through the Department of Education. For over 30 years, CARD has been a vital resource for those with autism and their families. When our son was diagnosed 13 years ago, CARD was one of the few available resources.

The promising news is that additional support is forthcoming. Senate Bill 112, sponsored by Sen. Gayle Harrell, and House Bill 591, sponsored by Rep. Randy Maggard, aim to enhance existing programs and establish new opportunities for individuals with autism. Notable provisions include expanding free screening and early detection services, increasing school choice options for children with autism, developing more education personnel specifically trained to support children with autism, and creating specialized summer programs for students with autism.

This comprehensive legislation will be a game-changer for families of children with autism. Outside of the major metropolitan areas of Florida, there is a lack of options for autism families. Many parents must travel long distances to receive services or access specialized autism programs. Some families, such as mine, end up moving to communities where their children can attend a public autism charter school.

Six years ago, my family moved from Tallahassee, where there were no autism schools or specialized summer camps for children with autism. We moved to Jupiter so our son could attend an autism charter school, The Learning Academy, on the campus of the Els for Autism Center of Excellence. In addition to being with his peers in an autism charter school, he participates in after-school programs, recreational activities, and spring and summer camps offered by the Els for Autism Foundation. He also receives speech therapy at the Els Foundation.

We are thankful every day for the opportunity to have our son in such a nurturing and supportive environment. However, not every family can uproot their family and move to another town 400 miles away like we did. This is why SB 112 and HB 591 are so important. Every Florida autism family should have access to public autism charter schools and specialized summer camps

Safety is also a major concern for parents of individuals with autism, many of whom are non-verbal or have other significant communication issues. Elopement, where an individual with ASD leaves a supervised area without considering potential safety risks, is a common concern for families and caregivers of children with ASD.

Moreover, elopement and wandering behaviors notably elevate the risk of accidental drowning. Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit an inclination toward the water and are statistically 160 times more likely to suffer fatal drowning accidents compared to their neurotypical counterparts. The prevalence of such incidents has substantially increased, rendering drowning the primary cause of death among children with autism.

To address these concerns, SB 500, sponsored by Sen. Bryan Avila, and HB 711, sponsored by Rep. David Borrero, establishes the Spectrum Alert, a statewide system designed to locate missing autistic children more effectively.

This legislation directs the Department of Law Enforcement, in collaboration with local and state agencies, to develop a specialized alert system and training program; requires crisis intervention training for law enforcement, focusing on ASD recognition, de-escalation techniques, and proper response to missing child cases; and implements public awareness campaigns on autism-related elopement and community safety initiatives.

Additionally, SB 568, sponsored by Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez, and HB 413, sponsored by Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman, improve water safety for children, especially those with autism. This bill strengthens safety measures in public swimming areas.

Parents of children with autism express concerns about potential bullying at school. According to Autism Speaks, evidence indicates that over 60% of children and young adults with autism encounter bullying. SB 540, sponsored by Sen. Jay Collins, and HB 447, sponsored by Rep. Michelle Salzman, make disability history and awareness instruction mandatory in schools under the Evin B. Hartsell Act.

Key elements include a two-week instructional period on disability history, disability rights, and inclusion; anti-bullying discussions and activities centered on physical disabilities; and autism awareness education.

People with autism experience higher unemployment and underemployment rates than the general population. However, many individuals with autism want to work and possess valuable workplace skills.

SB 102, sponsored by Sen. Don Gaetz, and HB 127, sponsored by Rep. Kim Kendall, aim to improve employment prospects for students with autism. This legislation mandates that the Department of Education create a workforce credential program by Jan. 31, 2026.

Another key initiative that will improve the lives of people with autism is SB 756, sponsored by Sen. Collen Burton, and HB 377, sponsored by Rep. Allison Tant. This legislation updates insurance definitions and coverage for individuals with developmental disabilities, with an emphasis on Medicaid services and law enforcement training.

If these bills pass, the landscape in Florida for people with autism will improve significantly. Although there is still much to do considering the life span of a person with autism, these initiatives represent progress.

The leadership of the Florida Legislature and the state Senators and Representatives who have introduced these bills are to be commended for addressing the needs of our most innocent and vulnerable population.

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Tim Stapleton is a senior adviser and health care policy leader of The Arrow Group.

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