Good Tuesday morning.

Carlos San Jose has joined Corcoran Partners as Deputy General Counsel.

Based in Miami, San Jose brings his extensive experience in legislative advocacy, municipal operations, and legal consulting to the firm’s expanding client base across their five Florida offices and in Washington, D.C.

“We are thrilled to welcome Carlos to Corcoran Partners,” said Michael Corcoran, Founding Partner and CEO. “Carlos is a skilled communicator who takes a strategic, results-driven approach to law, government affairs and public policy. We are confident he will quickly become an integral part of our team and a trusted advocate for our clients.”

Managing Partner Matthew Blair added, “Carlos’s addition will strengthen our local and statewide capabilities for our growing client base. His background in government affairs, coupled with his legal expertise, positions him to help our clients navigate complex policy and regulatory challenges.”

Before joining Corcoran Partners, San Jose served as the Director of Intergovernmental Affairs/Assistant State Attorney for the City of Hialeah, where he formulated the City’s legislative initiatives at the federal and state levels. From 2021 to 2024, he served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Hialeah Mayor Esteban Bovo.

“Carlos has worked for me since 2018, dating back to my time as Chair of the Miami-Dade County Commission,” Bovo said. “During his time with me, I have been able to witness Carlos flourish in a variety of roles … I am excited to see Carlos embrace this new chapter in his professional life and congratulate Corcoran Partners for this valued addition to their team.”

___

The latest Florida survey experiments out of Sachs Media show a dramatic increase in political discrimination against job applicants from a different party than the person making the hiring decisions. This type of bias by Democrats has tripled, and by Republicans has doubled in just five years. And, it turns out, the higher a person goes in the political chain, the lower their chances of scoring the next job – if the hirer isn’t on the same side of the aisle. Want to know how your background may be perceived or what these dynamics might mean for your workplace? Read more in Decyphered.

— SITUATIONAL AWARENESS —

Tweet, tweet:

—@MarcACaputo: “We are on the 10-yard line of peace,” @PressSec says of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine ahead of the (Donald) Trump-(Vladimir) Putin talks tomorrow (3/18/25)

Tweet, tweet:

—@ShelbyTalcott: Trump tells us at the Kennedy Center that they will be releasing the JFK files tomorrow afternoon. He says he “doesn’t believe” they’ll redact anything

Tweet, tweet:

—@Fineout: TFW Fla House leaders say it’s a member-driven process and they have no priority bills, yet a House GOP legislator says he heard from the House GOP whip on bill pitting a Canadian gambling co vs the horse industry

Tweet, tweet:

— DAYS UNTIL —

10th annual Red Dog Blue Dog charity event — 1; ‘The Studio’ premieres on Apple TV+ — 8; Tampa Bay Rays Opening Day — 10; Special Election for CD one and Senate District 19 Special Primary — 14; Final season of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ premieres — 21; ‘Your Friends and Neighbors’ with Jon Hamm premieres on Apple+ — 24; ‘The Last of Us’ season two premieres — 26; ‘Andor’ season two premieres — 35; ‘Carlos Alcaraz: My Way’ premieres on Netflix — 36; ‘The Accountant 2’ premieres — 38; Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter’ Tour begins in Los Angeles — 41; ‘Thunderbolts’ premieres – 45; Florida TaxWatch Spring Meeting — 56; Florida Chamber 2025 Leadership Conference on Safety; Health + Sustainability — 58; Epic Universe grand opening — 65; Disney’s ‘Lilo & Stitch’ premieres — 66; ‘Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning’ premieres — 66; Florida Chamber 2025 Florida Prosperity & Economic Opportunity Solution Summit — 72; ‘Karate Kid: Legends’ premieres — 73; 2025 Tony Awards — 82; Special Election for SD 19 — 84; Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet will meet — 85; Florida Chamber 2025 Florida Learners to Earners Workforce Solution Summit — 98; ‘Squid Game’ season three premieres — 101; James Gunn’s ‘Superman’ premieres — 115; ‘Happy Gilmore 2’ premieres on Netflix — 129; ‘Fantastic Four – First Steps’ premieres – 129; ‘Eyes of Wakanda’ premieres on Disney+ — 141; Florida Chamber 2025 Florida Technology & Innovation Solution Summit — 147; 2025 Emmys — 180; DeSantis and the Cabinet will meet — 183; 2025 Future of Florida Forum (F3) & Florida Chamber Annual Meeting — 223; ‘Wicked: Part 2’ premieres — 248; 2025 Florida Transportation, Growth & Infrastructure Solution Summit — 260; 2025 Florida Chamber Annual Insurance Summit — 260; DeSantis and the Cabinet will meet — 274; ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ premieres – 276; Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic & Paralympic Games begin — 325; ‘Avengers 5’ premieres – 413; Untitled ‘Star Wars’ movie premieres – 430; FIFA World Cup 26™ final – 451; Another untitled ‘Star Wars’ movie premieres – 641; ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ premieres – 781; ‘The Batman 2’ premieres – 927; 2028 Los Angeles Olympics Opening Ceremony — 1,214; 2028 U.S. Presidential Election — 1,330; ‘Avatar 4’ premieres – 1,730; ‘Avatar 5’ premieres – 2,461.

— TOP STORY —

“Rick Scott siding with Byron Donalds over Casey DeSantis for Florida Governor” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — Former Gov. Scott is throwing his support behind U.S. Rep. Donalds for the 2026 Florida Gubernatorial Race, signaling a potential shift in the Republican landscape. In a recent interview, now-U.S. Sen. Scott explicitly stated his preference for Donalds over First Lady DeSantis, highlighting their close relationship and Donalds’ “phenomenal” qualities.

Scott emphasized Donalds’ strong track record, work ethic, and alignment with conservative values. He also underscored the significance of President Trump’s endorsement, describing it as “golden” in Florida. This endorsement could prove pivotal in the Republican Primary, particularly given Scott’s close ties to Trump.

The endorsement is notable considering Scott’s historically strained relationship with Gov. Ron DeSantis. The two have clashed on various policy issues, including the state’s unemployment system and the handling of COVID-19 stimulus funds. Their lack of cooperation has been evident throughout DeSantis’ tenure.

While Gov. DeSantis has yet to respond to Scott’s endorsement of Donalds, it’s worth recalling his criticism when Scott endorsed Trump in the 2024 Republican Primary, accusing the Senator of trying to bypass voters. Scott’s endorsement of Donalds marks a significant development in the lead-up to the 2026 Election, potentially reshaping the dynamics of the Republican Primary and positioning Donalds as a front-runner. The race is shaping up to test Trump’s influence, candidate experience, and intraparty relationships.

— LEGISLATIVE —

“‘Pro-consumer’ insurance bill flies through first Senate stop with unanimous support” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — Legislation to more tightly constrain insurers and their executives in Florida while safeguarding consumers from judgments based solely on artificial information is advancing in the Legislature’s upper chamber. Members of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee just voted 7-0 for SB 1740, which Sen. Kathleen Passidomo described as a “pro-consumer insurance bill” designed to reduce premiums, decrease insurer insolvency and “hold insurers accountable for (their) prior, poor decisions.” Sen. Blaise Ingoglia filed the measure but left the Banking and Insurance Committee meeting, which he chairs, before the bill was heard. Passidomo presented the measure in his absence. SB 1740 would prohibit an insurance executive whose company went insolvent from holding an executive position in another insurance company for five years. The current prohibition is only for two years.

“Proposals giving voters new term-limit powers clear first Senate hurdle” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — Two Ingoglia-backed proposals to cap legislator and local official terms cleared a Senate Committee Monday. SJR 536 would limit legislators to 16 years combined in the House and Senate, triggering a 2026 ballot amendment. An attempt to extend the cap to 24 years failed. SJR 802 proposes eight-year term limits for County Commissioners and School Board members via a constitutional amendment. Local stakeholders opposed a “one-size-fits-all” approach. Despite bipartisan concerns, Ingoglia cited polling supporting eight-year limits. Both Senate measures advance with two Committee stops remaining. House counterparts have yet to be heard.

“Senate Appropriations Committee backs bills to promote government efficiency” via Gabrielle Russon of Florida Politics — The Senate Appropriations Committee is pushing a pair of bills that are part of the Senate’s government efficiency and accountability package. The lawmakers said that the bills, which are being shepherded by President Pro Tempore Jason Brodeur and Sen. Gayle Harrell, would modernize the government’s accountability measures and add more cybersecurity protection and information technology oversight. “Our state has been well served by the performance metrics, planning requirements, and accountability standards Gov. Bush and legislative leaders put in place nearly 30 years ago,” said Senate President Ben Albritton.

“Lawmakers: Drop rule that high schoolers pass algebra, English exams to get diplomas” via Steven Walker of the Orlando Sentinel — For more than 40 years, Florida’s public high school students must pass state language arts and math exams to graduate. As more students struggle to pass the tests and the bar is set to get higher, some lawmakers want to scrap that requirement. Nearly 43% of the class of 2024 graduated from high school without passing one or both of Florida’s high-stakes graduation exams that test algebra one and 10th-grade language arts knowledge, state data shows. Instead, they got diplomas by substituting failing scores on those state tests with passing marks on other exams. Sen. Corey Simon, a Tallahassee Republican, is pushing the change — as he did unsuccessfully last year.

“Some lawmakers pushing to restore 3% cost-of-living adjustment for state retirees” via James Call of the USA Today Network-Florida — Two Republican lawmakers want to restore a 3% cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, to the Florida Retirement System, the pension system for more than 600,000 people who work for Florida cities, counties, school districts, and state government. The bill (HB 945) by Miami Republican Rep. Omar Blanco and its counterpart by Miami Republican Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez (SB 1126) would reverse a cut to benefits imposed in 2011 during the financial crisis to balance budgets for Florida’s governments. That move created a two-tier pension system for firefighters, teachers, and other public sector workers.

— MORE LEGISLATIVE —

“Doral-inspired blocking new waste-to-energy plants a half-mile from populated areas advances in Senate” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — Two years after Miami-Dade County’s waste-to-energy plant burned to a crisp, there may be new safeguards in place to protect residents from another such blaze. Members of the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee voted 8-0 to advance a bill (SB 1008) that would block any future waste incineration facility from being built within a half-mile of population centers. Effective July 1, the bill would apply the restriction to sites a half-mile (2,640 feet) from any residential property, school or commercial property. Republican Sen. Bryan Ávila, the measure’s sponsor, said the proposed change wouldn’t apply to existing facilities. He’s also considering amending the bill to allow more allowances near commercial properties. Florida has 10 waste-to-energy facilities statewide.

“Cheers: Vanessa Oliver measure to loosen wine keg regulations headed to House floor” via Drew Dixon of Florida Politics — A bill to nix current law requiring “reusable” kegs for wine producers is now heading to the full House for a vote. The House Commerce Committee heard the proposal (HB 6015) to remove some limits for wineries in Florida. The Committee voted unanimously in favor of the measure with little discussion. Rep. Oliver filed the measure to end the requirements for wine producers to use “reusable” kegs. “It is unlawful for a person to sell within this state wine in an individual container holding more than 1 gallon of such wine unless such wine is in a reusable container holding 5.16 gallons or a glass container holding 4.5 liters, 6 liters, 17.9 liters, 12 liters, or 15 liters,” the current law reads. Oliver’s measure seeks to remove that one word, “reusable,” from the statute that was enacted about a decade ago.

“GOP bill seeks to undo Orange’s rural boundary, development amendments” via Ryan Gillespie and Stephen Hudak of the Orlando Sentinel — A state legislative effort is underway to overturn regulations on land development resoundingly approved by Orange County voters just last year. The proposed Senate Bill 1118 from a powerful GOP legislator would undo two amendments to Orange County’s charter, one which created a rural boundary and another which added limitations to developer-initiated annexations. It shifts a high-stakes battle between environmentalists and developers from the ballot boxes of Central Florida to the halls of the state Capitol, where pro-growth forces are more likely to get their way. Orange voters last year embraced the added rules to restrict suburban sprawl and direct dense development to cities throughout the county where the infrastructure is more suitable to handle the growth. They were approved with 73% and 65% support.

“Senate panel advances Clay Yarborough’s swat at local DEI laws” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — The Florida Senate Community Affairs Committee advanced SB 420, a bill to eliminate local DEI initiatives, along party lines. Sponsored by Sen. Yarborough, the bill prohibits municipalities from enacting DEI policies, deeming existing ones illegal. Citizens can sue local governments for perceived DEI-related discrimination. Democratic Sens. Jason Pizzo and Shevrin Jones raised concerns about minority set-asides and potential removal of local leaders. Jones criticized the bill as “nasty” and “authoritarian,” confusing for local governments. Former Senate President Passidomo questioned language on “preferential treatment.” With heavy public opposition, the bill faces two more Senate Committees; the House version awaits its first hearing.

“Adam Anderson’s thoroughbred horse racing bill advances despite industry opposition” via Andrew Powell of Florida Politics — The House Commerce Committee advanced legislation Monday to align the thoroughbred horse racing industry with all other live gaming in Florida. Republican Adam Anderson introduced the bill (HB 105) and said the legislation was designed to support the horse racing community by decoupling racing from other gambling like slots and cards. “Members, at the last Committee stop for this bill, I presented the bill as a solution to help align the thoroughbred racing industry with all other live gaming in the state of Florida and to better support the thoroughbred community by decoupling racing with other games like slots and cards,” Anderson said. “In 2021, this body decoupled all other parimutuels operating in the state from their live events, all others except for thoroughbred racing. Simply put, the bill applies the core principles that we value here in the free state of Florida to the thoroughbred community.”

— FOR YOUR RADAR —

Happening today — The Florida Farm Bureau Legislative Office is hosting the annual Farm Bureau Day events. The day will begin with a Legislative Briefing Breakfast: 7:30 to 9 a.m., Donald L. Tucker Civic Center. Following the breakfast, members will have time throughout the day to meet with legislators and staff. The day will wrap up with the Taste of Florida Agriculture Reception: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Capitol Courtyard.

Happening today — HCAF Home Care Day at the Capitol organized by the Home Care Association of Florida (HCAF): 8 a.m., Capitol Complex.

Happening today — Sen. Stan McClain and Rep. Danny Alvarez will host a joint news conference to announce the production of a miniseries adaptation of “A Land Remembered.” The series, based on Patrick D. Smith’s beloved novel, will be filmed entirely in Florida, showcasing the state’s diverse landscapes and deep-rooted agricultural history: 11:30 a.m., 4th Floor Rotunda.

Happening today — 2025 Broward Days in Tallahassee: 4 p.m., DoubleTree by Hilton, 101 South Adams Street. Registration is at 4 p.m.; reception at 5:30 p.m. and the Welcome Dinner begins at 6 p.m.

Happening today — Taste of Florida Agriculture Reception hosted by the Florida Farm Bureau Federation & Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: 5:30 p.m. Capitol Courtyard. Free and open to the public.

Happening today: PRIDE Enterprises Day at the Florida Capitol — PRIDE Enterprises, a nonprofit focused on reducing recidivism through inmate job training, will be stationed on the third-floor Rotunda for PRIDE Enterprises Day at the Capitol. Representatives at PRIDE Enterprises will offer educational information “on how they make communities safer and reduce the cost of state government for Florida’s taxpayers by millions of dollars every year.” PRIDE is the only private program of its type in the U.S. that operates as a nonprofit without state-appropriated or taxpayer money. The organization is funded exclusively through the net proceeds from selling products and services manufactured by its inmate training programs. PRIDE offers more than three dozen job training programs in 17 state facilities, offering hundreds of certifications that prepare inmates for re-entry. Inmates participating in PRIDE Enterprise training programs have an annual recidivism rate of 13.5%.

Leg sked

9 a.m.

House Higher Education Budget Subcommittee, Room 102, House Office Building.

— HB 1145 — Workforce Education (Shoaf).

House Human Services Subcommittee, Room 314, House Office Building.

— HB 0127 — Exceptional Student Education (Kendall).

— HB 0633 — Behavioral Health Managing Entities (Koster).

— HB 0989 — Licensure of Family Foster Homes (Franklin II).

— HB 1567 — Insulin Administration by Direct Support Professionals and Relatives (Tuck).

— HB 1091 — Substance Abuse and Mental Health Care (Gonzalez Pittman).

— HB 1103 — Agency for Persons with Disabilities (Kincart Jonsson).

— HB 0645 — Distributed Wastewater Treatment System Permits (Conerly).

— HB 0673 — Recreational Fishing Vessel Licenses (Cobb).

— HB 0691 — Spring Restoration (Conerly).

— HB 0733 — Brownfields (Anderson).

— HB 0995 — Areas of Critical State Concern (Mooney, Jr.).

— HB 1175 — Mitigation Banks (Duggan).

— HB 1535 — Emergencies (McFarland).

— HB 7005 — OGSR/Disaster Recovery Assistance (Government Operations Subcommittee).

House PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee, Room 17, House Office Building.

9:30 a.m.

Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services, Room 412, Knott Building.

— SB 0398 — Awareness Program for Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia-related Disorders (Burgess).

— SB 0714 — Nonopioid Advance Directives (Burton).

— SB 0734 — Actions for Recovery of Damages for Wrongful Death (Yarborough).

— SB 0756 — Health Insurance Coverage for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities (Burton).

Senate Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism and Economic Development, Room 110, Senate Office Building.

— SB 0620 — Specialty License Plates/Miami-Dade College (Rodriguez).

— SB 0654 — Transportation Facility Designations/Heroes Memorial Overpass (Bradley).

12:30 p.m.

House Security & Threat Assessment Committee, Room 12, House Office Building.

1 p.m.

Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment and General Government, Room 412, Knott Building.

— SB 0056 — Geoengineering and Weather Modification Activities (García).

— SB 0086 — Peer Support for First Responders (Burgess).

— SB 0092 — Motor Vehicle Repair Work (Gruters).

— SB 0164 — Vessel Accountability (Rodriguez).

— SB 0344 — Telecommunications Access System Act of 1991 (Rodriguez).

— SB 0388 — Trust Funds for Wildlife Management (Rodriguez).

— SB 1320 — Resilient Florida Trust Fund/Department of Environmental Protection (Rodriguez).

Senate Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice, Room 37, Senate Office Building.

— SB 0048 — Alternative Judicial Procedures (García).

— SB 0472 — Education in Correctional Facilities for Licensed Professions (Truenow).

— SB 0538 — State Courts System (Bradley).

— SB 0878 — Probation for Misdemeanor Offenses (Martin).

Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education, Room 110, Senate Office Building.

— SB 0270 — Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program (Burgess).

Senate Finance and Tax, Room 301, Senate Office Building.

— SB 0182 — Tax Credits for Charitable Contributions (Calatayud).

3 p.m.

House Government Operations Subcommittee, Room 404, House Office Building.

— HB 0251 — Holocaust Remembrance Day (Tendrich).

— HB 0433 — Administrative Procedures (Overdorf).

— HB 0583 — Registration of Agents and Organizations Associated with Foreign Nations (Owen).

— HB 0699 — Noncriminal Traffic Infractions Causing Vehicle Crashes (Melo).

— HB 0711 — Spectrum Alert (Borrero).

— HB 0749 — Benefits for Firefighters Injured During Training Exercises (Sapp).

— HB 4023 — Officers and Employees of North Springs Improvement District, Broward County (Hunschofsky).

— HB 4045 — City Pension Fund for Firefighters and Police Officers in the City of Tampa, Hillsborough County (Alvarez D),

— GOS4 — OGSR/Public Safety Communication Systems (Government Operations Subcommittee).

— GOS5 — OGSR/Cybersecurity (Government Operations Subcommittee).

— GOS6 — OGSR/Records of Insurers/Department of Financial Services (Government Operations Subcommittee).

House Housing, Agriculture & Tourism Subcommittee, Room 17, House Office Building.

— HB 0365 — Rent of Affordable Housing Dwelling Units (Tendrich).

— HB 0381 — Issuance of Address and Individual Parcel Identification Numbers (Holcomb).

— HB 0615 — Electronic Delivery of Notices to Tenants (Esposito).

— HB 0651 — Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (Tuck).

— HB 0665 — Local Government Impact Fees and Development Permits and Orders (Steele).

— HB 1157 — Verification of Reemployment Assistance Benefit Eligibility (Abbott).

House Justice Budget Subcommittee, Room 314, House Office Building.

— HB 0057 — Regulation of Xylazine (Plakon).

— HB 0813 — Courts (Tuck).

House Student Academic Success Subcommittee, Room 102, House Office Building.

— HB 0591 — Children with Developmental Disabilities (Maggard).

— HB 1113 — Mathematics Education Requirements (Valdés).

— HB 1135 — Electrocardiograms for Student Athletes (Shoaf).

— HB 1223 — Student Online Personal Information Protection (Michael).

— HB 1255 — Education (Trabulsy).

— HB 1309 — Reading Interventions and Instruction (Snyder).

3:30 p.m.

Senate Criminal Justice, Room 37, Senate Office Building.

— SB 0776 — Aggravating Factors for Capital Felonies (Ingoglia).

— SB 0984 — Aggravating Factors (Gruters).

— SB 1084 — Sexual Cyberharassment (Martin).

— SB 1268 — Department of Law Enforcement (Simon).

— SB 1360 — Controlled Substances (Leek).

— SB 1422 — Unmanned Aircraft or Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Truenow).

— SB 1640 — Public Records/Lethality Assessment Forms (Grall).

— SB 1654 — Registration of Sexual Predators and Sexual Offenders (Martin).

— SB 1692 — Material That is Harmful to Minors (McClain).

— SB 1732 — Animal Cruelty (Arrington).

— SB 1774 — Rebuttable Presumption for Certain Deaths (Martin).

— SB 1838 — Tampering With, Harassing, or Retaliating Against Court Officials (Martin).

Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability, Room 110, Senate Office Building.

— SB 0440 — Gender Identity Employment Practices (McClain).

— SB 1328 — Public Employee Collective Bargaining (Fine).

— SB 1678 — Entities That Boycott Israel (Leek).

— SB 1694 — Prohibited Preferences in Government Contracting (Fine).

— SB 1710 — Prohibitions and Limitations on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Requirements for Medical Institutions of Higher Education (DiCeglie).

— SB 1756 — Succession to Office of Governor, Auditing, and Government Efficiency (Fine).

— SB 7008 — OGSR/Financial Technology Sandbox (Banking and Insurance).

— SB 7020 — OGSR/Agency Cybersecurity Information (Governmental Oversight and Accountability).

— SB 7022 — Employer Contributions to Fund Retiree Benefits (Governmental Oversight and Accountability).

Senate Health Policy, Room 412, Knott Building.

— SB 1060 — Medicaid Oversight (Brodeur).

— SB 1546 — Background Screening of Athletic Coaches (Grall).

— SB 0958 — Type one Diabetes Early Detection (Bernard).

— SB 1070 — Electrocardiograms for Student Athletes (Simon).

— SB 1544 — Opticianry (Rodriguez).

— SB 0944 — Insurance Overpayment Claims Submitted to Psychologists (Davis).

— SB 0768 — Controlling Business Interests by Persons with Ties to Foreign Countries of Concern (Calatayud).

— SB 1370 — Ambulatory Surgical Centers (Trumbull).

— SB 1808 — Refund of Overpayments Made by Patients (Burton).

Senate Military and Veterans Affairs, Space and Domestic Security, Room 301, Senate Office Building.

— SB 0684 — Credit for Military Service (Ávila).

— SB 0910 — Veterans’ Benefits Assistance (Collins).

— SB 1528 — Educational Opportunities for Military Children (Collins).

— SB 1464 — Veterans’ Assistance (Wright).

— SB 1516 — Aerospace Industry (Wright).

— LOBBY REGS —

Teye Carmichael, Jeff Hartley, Jonathan Rees, SBM Partners: Prime Pediatric Dental Group, Florida Chamber of Commerce

Mike Grissom, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney: Marsy’s Law for All

—100 DAYS —

“White House says it didn’t defy court order on deportations as judge calls hearing” via David Catanese of the Miami Herald — The Trump administration says it did not defy a weekend court order to halt the use of wartime powers to fast-track deportations of alleged Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador and is vowing to secure victory in court. “We are wholly confident that we are going to win this case in court,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg has scheduled an emergency hearing Monday afternoon in Washington following his weekend order directing the Trump administration to stop removals through the Alien Enemies Act. Trump cited the rarely utilized wartime law in a new executive order allowing the federal government to quickly expel alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, which has been classified as a terrorist organization. Hours after Boasberg’s order, El Salvador’s President announced that hundreds of alleged gang members had been flown to the Central American country, where they would be kept in a maximum-security prison for up to a year.

—“Donald Trump’s border czar: ‘I don’t care what the judges think’” via Ivana Saric of Axios

“With arrival of Dan Bongino, Trump loyalists take command of the FBI” via Adam Goldman of The New York Times — Bongino, a right-wing commentator, is set to become the FBI’s deputy director under Director Kash Patel. This appointment, effective Monday, raises concerns about the agency’s independence. Both Patel and Bongino are staunch Trump supporters with limited leadership experience. Patel has already reversed course on appointments, worked out with a personal trainer, and restructured the FBI, reassigning personnel and decentralizing command. He has also aggressively used social media. Bongino, a former police officer, lacks FBI experience; past deputy directors averaged 20+ years in the bureau. Both Patel and Bongino criticized the FBI while praising Trump. Many ousted executives have led to questions. This move has sparked debate about the FBI’s future direction.

“Trump axes $15 contractor wage, infrastructure project orders” via Rebecca Rainey of Bloomberg — Trump rescinded Joe Biden’s executive orders raising the minimum wage for federal contractors and incentivizing union neutrality in infrastructure projects. The $15 minimum wage, now $17.75 with inflation adjustments, faced legal challenges but largely remained in place. Trump also nixed an order favoring companies with equitable pay, apprenticeships, and union-friendly policies. Business groups argued Biden’s order unfairly favored unions. This move ends Biden’s “good jobs” initiative, which promotes better pay and benefits. Trump also canceled an order prioritizing registered apprenticeship participants in federal contracting and grant decisions despite the administration touting it as a path to the middle class.

“The collateral damage of Trump’s firing spree” via Lindsay Ellis of The Wall Street Journal — At Veterans Affairs facilities in Detroit and Denver, staff reductions have led to canceled health programs and left homeless veterans without their dedicated coordinator to help them find an apartment and line up a deposit. In Alabama, job cuts at the Education Department have slowed efforts to get disabled children access to classrooms. Managers say essential staff have been cut, and the administration hasn’t followed detailed rules on enacting widespread layoffs. Staff cuts have reduced or slowed services for health, education and even operations like weather forecasting. After facing years of bipartisan criticism from Congress, the Department of Health and Human Services hired a transplant surgeon late last year to help implement fixes to the system that regulates organ transplants.

— STATEWIDE —

“Florida demands patient names, prescriptions from drug middlemen” via Lawrence Mower of the Tampa Bay Times — Florida regulators’ demand for detailed prescription drug data, including patient names and dates of birth, has ignited privacy concerns. The Office of Insurance Regulation seeks data from pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to investigate their practices, following a 2023 law giving the state more oversight. Industry groups, like the American Benefits Council, argue the request violates privacy. The state defends the request as “in the best interest to protect consumers,” while critics speculate about potential motives, including identifying abortion or transgender treatment providers. PBMs claim processing began in the 1960s, aiming to lower drug costs. Now, the three largest control 80% of prescriptions and are accused of anticompetitive practices that increase drug prices. Some experts question the need for patient names.

“Unemployment rate in January shows first increase in months” via Drew Dixon of Florida Politics — FloridaCommerce released the January figures showing that the unemployment rate came in at 3.5%. That’s the first increase in about a half year. The rate held steady at 3.4% for the back half of 2024. Before that, the rate remained at 3.3% for most of early last year. There were 390,000 people out of work in January in Florida out of a total labor force of 11,188,000. That total labor force figure is the highest number Florida has ever seen. “Florida continues to prove that leadership and conservative fiscal policies drive success,” said DeSantis. “We will keep the momentum going by insisting on reducing government spending, continuing to eliminate bureaucracy, and finding more tax reductions for Floridians.”

— MORE D.C. MATTERS —

“Cory Mills reiterates alleged incident and pending divorce are politicized” via Grayson Bakich of The Floridian — Republican U.S. Rep. Mills spoke about the recent allegations against him and his personal life, reiterating that the issue was a “personal matter.” Near the end of February, Washington Metropolitan Police responded to an alleged incident involving Mills and Sarah Raviani, who both denied the claims that he had been physically abusive toward her in the midst of a heated argument. In a statement, Raviani told The Floridian that she was “severely jet-lagged and sleep-deprived” after a 14-hour flight and had been drinking. Bruises and marks on her arms believed to be evidence of alleged violence were related to her trip to Dubai from which she had flown in and eczema.

Neal Dunn talks TCJA with Americans for Prosperity — U.S. Rep. Dunn will participate in a 2 p.m. roundtable on the push to renew the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, many provisions of which face expiry in the coming tax year. The roundtable, coordinated by Americans for Prosperity-Florida, will be held at The Assembly on Adams and include local business owners and AFP-FL State Director Skylar Zander. This event is a part of AFP’s “Protect Prosperity” initiative, which advocates renewing the TCJA and supporting Trump’s tax policy agenda. AFP Florida claims that due to inflation and other factors, allowing TCJA to sunset would result in the average Floridian paying $3,505 more in taxes. Conversely, an analysis last year by the Tax Policy Center found that extending key provisions of the legislation would disproportionately help America’s more affluent households, with those making $450,000 or more receiving more than 45% of the benefits.

“Top broadband official exits Commerce Department with sharp Elon Musk warning” via John Hendel of POLITICO — Evan Feinman, former broadband program director, warns the Trump administration’s changes to the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program (BEAD) will unduly benefit Musk’s Starlink. In a departing email, Feinman criticized prioritizing Starlink’s “inferior” technology, calling it a “betrayal” of rural America. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick plans to review BEAD, potentially favoring technologies like Starlink. Feinman urges that the program’s flexibility be maintained so states can choose the best connections. He expressed concern that three states ready for project implementation may be stalled due to the National Institute of Standards and Technology review.

— ELECTIONS —

“‘A true patriot’: Donalds adds endorsement from Miami Young Republicans” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — An organization of young conservatives from Florida’s most famous city is getting behind U.S. Rep. Donalds’ bid for Governor. Miami Young Republicans, self-described as comprising the city’s “next-gen business and political leaders,” is endorsing Donalds to succeed DeSantis as the state’s next top elected executive. The group cited Donalds’ support of school choice and parental empowerment, his anti-abortion views and his environmental stewardship as key to clinching its support. “Since starting his political career as a Young Republican, Congressman Donalds has exemplified a strong work ethic and conservative values that reflect the best in our club,” Miami Young Republicans President Tony Figueroa said in a statement.

— LOCAL: S. FL —

“‘We need to scale back’: After a flush first term, Miami-Dade Mayor warns of lean times” via Douglas Hanks of the Miami Herald — In her first term, Miami-Dade’s Mayor used federal COVID dollars and extra revenue from a real estate boom to fund tax breaks and spending increases. Now preparing the debut budget of her second term, Mayor Daniella Levine Cava is warning of leaner times ahead as revenue growth cools and the higher spending from recent years threatens a fiscal squeeze. “I fully recognize the hard work and difficult decisions ahead,” she wrote in a March 7 memo to department heads announcing austerity measures and asking for potential spending cuts. “We must be proactive as we wisely manage our resources to avoid even harder decisions in the future.”

“Miami-Dade Mayor recruits new transportation director from Ron DeSantis administration” via Douglas Hanks of the Miami Herald — The head of state transportation projects in the Miami area will take over Miami-Dade’s transit system under an appointment announced by the county’s Mayor, Cava. Stacy Miller, who holds the title of district secretary in the Florida Department of Transportation, will take over as transportation and public works director in Miami-Dade. She replaces Eulois Cleckley, the former Denver public works chief Levine Cava hired shortly after winning office in 2020. Cleckley left his $298,000-a-year county post last year to lead the fundraising operation of the Underline, a privately run bike and pedestrian trail under the county’s Metrorail system.

“Palm Beach County schools reviewing DEI programs as DeSantis, Trump call to eliminate them” via Wayne Washington of the Palm Beach Post — The Palm Beach County School District is reviewing its diversity, equity and inclusion policies to “ensure compliance with evolving state and federal guidelines,” Superintendent Mike Burke said. When that review began, it is unclear what it will cover and when it will end. But the review is a nod to the increasing hostility Republicans have expressed toward DEI policies, which they have castigated as a form of reverse racism against White people that puts unqualified minorities in positions of authority. DeSantis has led a campaign to root out DEI policies at public universities in the Sunshine State.

“Miami-Dade Tax Collector says he’s cracking down on DMV ‘appointment scalpers’” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — Miami-Dade Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez says the long lines and wait times that have plagued Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) sites in the county for years aren’t exactly happening naturally. His office said it has uncovered a “network of appointment scalpers profiting from driver’s license scheduling.” They use the DMV’s free appointment-scheduling online portal to hoard appointments, the office said, and then resell them for a profit, creating false demand and a headache for those truly seeking services. Fernandez said he’ll work with Miami-Dade officials and law enforcement to crack down on the “fraudulent and exploitive activity.” “We know who they are and how they operate. We will not accept any appointment obtained through system abuse,” Fernandez said. “Our office is committed to ensuring that all residents have fair and equal access to services without interference from those seeking to exploit the system.”

Mike Pence addresses Forum Club of the Palm Beaches — Former VP Pence addressed a sold-out crowd in West Palm Beach Friday, hosted by the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches. Moderated by WPTV’s Hollani Davis, Pence discussed his relationship with Trump, both past and present. He underscored the crucial need for sustained U.S. aid to Ukraine, emphasizing the nation’s fight against Russian aggression. Pence also voiced concerns over potential new tariffs, warning of negative impacts on American businesses and consumers. The event held at the Kravis Center marks a key moment for the Forum Club, nearing its 50th anniversary of hosting influential figures for South Florida’s leadership.

“Broward man pleads guilty to voting illegally, identity theft of nearly two decades” via Angie DiMichele of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel — A Broward County resident living in the country illegally has pleaded guilty to federal charges after he voted in two elections by assuming the identity of a U.S. citizen. Carlos Abreu, 46, of Sunrise, after entering the country without inspection, took the identity of a Puerto Rican citizen, according to federal prosecutors. For nearly two decades until his arrest in August, Abreu identified himself as that person, who is identified only by the initials “C.R.V.,” to local, state and federal government agencies. A citizen of the Dominican Republic, Abreu has not had legal immigration status since he entered the U.S., according to a factual proffer, the facts agreed on by the defense and prosecution.

“Army Corps: Lake Okeechobee discharges to St. Lucie River could end before oysters spawn” via Timothy O’Hara of Treasure Coast Newspapers — Lake Okeechobee discharges to the St. Lucie River could end by the last week of March or the first week of April, after a significant reduction in the coming weeks, the Army Corps of Engineers told TCPalm. The agency will continue to discharge an average of 905 million gallons daily starting March 16. Still, it could reduce the amount of polluted freshwater it’s releasing into the estuary after that, Maj. Cory Bell said. Nearly 75 billion gallons of water have flowed through the St. Lucie Lock & Dam in Stuart since discharges began Dec. 7, which has lowered the lake level from 16 feet to 13.29 feet as of March 13.

— LOCAL: C. FL —

“Taylor Yarkosky says Anthony Sabatini fraudulently included names on Lake Co. GOP petition” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics — Lake County Republican Party activists claimed last week they had needed signatures to force a meeting to install new members. But Lake County Republican Party Chair Yarkosky now says many names wrongly appeared on a petition, and no meeting will occur before April. “Over the past week, multiple LCREC (Lake County Republican Executive Committee) members reached out stating their names were fraudulently added to a petition calling for a special meeting in March without their consent,” Yarkosky wrote in an email blast. “Let me be absolutely clear — this is a serious violation of election integrity, and it will not be tolerated.” But Lake County Commissioner Sabatini, a former Lake County Republican Party Chair, said that’s a mischaracterization. “66 members asked to have their names listed; two later rescinded after they had travel plans,” Sabatini said.

“Appeals court rules for Orange County in rural-boundary case” via Stephen Hudak of the Orlando Sentinel — Still determined to build houses on cattle lands in rural east Orange, principals with the proposed Sustanee development were dealt a blow last week in their hope to nullify the county’s rural-boundary protections and move forward with an 1,800-home project near Lake Pickett. Land-use lawyer S. Brent Spain, representing Lake Pickett North, LLC, which had proposed Sustanee, said the group is disappointed by the unfavorable ruling by a 6th District Court of Appeals panel but still hopeful. Based in Lakeland, the court issued its decision without explanation or an accompanying opinion.

“Cocoa to consider no longer adding fluoride to drinking water” via Jim Waymer of Florida Today — Cocoa, the largest supplier of drinking water in Brevard County, is proposing to be the next Florida city to say so long, — for good — to adding fluoride to its tap water. If you want to weigh in either way, Cocoa City Council will hold a special meeting Tuesday night to flesh out all the issues about fluoride. It turns out Cocoa hadn’t been adding fluoride for the past two years after the equipment failed. Few may have noticed. However, the levels in the city’s water are nowhere near what some newer science suggests could harm your child’s intelligence or cause other neurological problems.

— LOCAL: TB —

“Six months after hurricanes, beach restaurants are cautiously welcoming people back” via Helen Freund of the Tampa Bay Times — It’s been six months since storms forged a violent path across the region, and Pinellas County beach towns are struggling to come back to life. The local hospitality industry, which relies heavily on tourism, has been kneecapped. Several big hotels — including the iconic Don CeSar — remain closed, and snowbirds have been slow to return, many having lost their part-time homes. But there’s room for cautious optimism. Some restaurants and hotels are reopening, and tourism appears to be making a gradual comeback. There’s a checkerboard effect out here, with patrons sipping margaritas and eating grouper sandwiches next to destroyed buildings and active construction sites. Every day now, it seems another restaurant announces they won’t reopen while a new spot emerges. Everyone agrees: Business is returning to the beaches. But are the beaches ready?

“Hillsborough County tourism shatters records with $123M in January revenue” via Breanne Williams of the Tampa Bay Business Journal — Hillsborough County is off to a strong start in 2025 for tourism with a record set for taxable revenue. In January, Hillsborough had more than $123.72 million in taxable revenue, an 18.9% increase from last year’s $104 million. It also surpassed the previous record set in January 2023 by more than $17 million. It was also the fourth straight month of revenue exceeding $100 million — remarkable considering the devastation from hurricanes Helene and Milton last Fall. “This is only the third time in the history that Hillsborough County has recorded four straight months of $100 million in hotel revenue,” Visit Tampa Bay President and CEO Santiago Corrada said. “And it’s the first time that it’s been this stretch of months, October through January.”

— LOCAL: N. FL —

“Illegal immigration debate erupts over TPD’s role in ICE cooperation agreement” via Elena Barrera of the Tallahassee Democrat — On March 4, TPD signed a memorandum of agreement, a written document outlining a cooperative relationship between two or more parties, detailing its commitment to helping Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) round up illegal immigrants. City Manager Reese Goad defended the city’s decision to City Commissioner Jack Porter. But Porter said it’s her responsibility to understand what is legally required of the city, and it isn’t clear whether this action is. She told the Democrat that in her conversations with the City Attorney, the attorney didn’t agree that TPD was legally required to enter into the agreement. “If you and the City Attorney are not in agreement, then maybe the issue isn’t so clear,” Porter wrote in an email thread Goad provided to the Tallahassee Democrat.

“Milton’s requests for state funding all got axed at the last minute. Here’s why.” Via Tom McLaughlin of the Pensacola News Journal — Milton residents may have learned the hard way what it means not to have legislative backing in Tallahassee when, in the absence of a Santa Rosa County state Representative to champion their priorities, three requests for city funding were killed at the last minute without warning. Mayor Heather Lindsay reported to the City Council Tuesday that lobbyists hired to advocate on behalf of Milton had been informed by state Rep. Patt Maney and state Sen. Don Gaetz just ahead of a March 7 filing deadline that the lawmakers would not be completing the paperwork required to have three funding bills introduced for legislative consideration. Lindsay told the Council that city officials turned to Maney when District 3 state Rep. Joel Rudman decided to run for Congress in November, leaving most of Santa Rosa County, including Milton, without representation in the Florida Legislature until a June 10 election.

“Final phase of wall memorializing grads of Black high school in Gainesville unveiled” via Cleveland Tinker of The Gainesville Sun — School pride permeated throughout the atmosphere during the former all-Black Lincoln High School Memorial Wall Final Phase Celebration. Though it took over a decade to come to fruition, the wall will memorialize the legacy of the beloved high school that closed in 1970 by honoring the unity and resilience of its alumni community. The first phase of the wall was installed in March 2024 and features Lincoln High School’s old and new alma mater and the Fighting Terrier, also known as “Big Red.” Beneath the mascot are the names of Albert E. White, founding president and wall visionary, and Clarence Mills, the past president. The wall unveiled Saturday features the names of all 2,868 Lincoln graduates from 1925 to 1970 listed on the Alachua County School Board roster.

— LOCAL: SW FL —

“Long, bizarre path leads to choice of seventh Marco Island Council member” via J. Kyle Foster of Naples Daily News — After more than four months, Marco Island City Council finally chose someone to fill its vacant seat, adding Rene Champagne as its seventh member. It was a long, strange trip to finally get to the 6-0 vote that stretched from November through Monday’s first hour of a special City Council meeting. Accusations of collusion, corruption, plotting, talk of a Special Election, secret voting, public voting, and too many 3-3 votes to count, and hours of talking about “the process” took up the Council’s regular meeting time and then four special meetings. Champagne, from Indianapolis, is a University of Connecticut graduate and was a naval officer during the Vietnam War. He is the former Chair and CEO of ITT Educational Services, Inc. This now-defunct publicly traded company provides technology-focused degree programs for college students in more than 35 states.

“Naples-based Landmark Hospitals files bankruptcy; pandemic partly to blame” via Liz Freeman of Naples Daily News — Naples-based Landmark Hospitals has filed bankruptcy proceedings yet says it has no plans to close its long-term care hospitals in Georgia, South Carolina and Missouri, according to court filings. Landmark is most known in Southwest Florida for building and operating a 50-bed hospital in North Naples on the south side of Immokalee Road off Goodlette-Frank Road, completed in 2015. Since 2021, Physicians Regional Healthcare System has had a long-term lease for the 50-bed property at 1285 Creekside Blvd., converted it to a general acute care hospital, and renamed it Physicians Regional North. The company said the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact … initially with a dramatic increase in patient volume. However, that came with substantial increases in labor costs and other inflationary costs while reimbursement from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid plateaued.

“Traffic relief? Cape resort starts operating water taxi service again.” via Mark H. Bickel of the Fort Myers News-Press — Last week, The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village started operating its Silver King Dolphin & Beach Taxi again, offering a round-trip water taxi experience between The Westin Cape Coral Resort (Tarpon Point Marina) and Fort Myers Beach (Snug Harbor Marina). The water taxi will offer a much-needed alternative to driving based on the various traffic stress points in Southwest Florida, especially during this time of year − the peak of the season (tourists and snowbirds). It’s a complimentary amenity for resort guests and part of their stay. Residents can book passage for a nominal fee.

— TOP OPINION —

“Columbia University’s antisemitism problem” via Franklin Foer of The Atlantic — Columbia University is facing a crisis of community breakdown, exacerbated by anti-Israel protests and a perceived failure of administrators to address antisemitism. A professor teaching a course on Israeli history was recently targeted by keffiyeh-clad protesters who disrupted his class, calling it “Columbia University’s normalization of genocide.” This incident reflects a broader trend of targeting Jewish and Israeli students and faculty, with some facing harassment, ostracism, and accusations of complicity with genocide.

Administrators have been accused of indifference to Jewish students’ complaints, sometimes suggesting mental-health counseling rather than investigating incidents. A task force appointed to assess the school’s antisemitism problem highlighted the influence of Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), an organization that endorses violence and has led to Jewish students being purged from extracurricular activities.

The crisis has drawn the attention of the Trump administration, which has cut off $400 million in federal contracts and grants to the university, demanding sweeping changes, including disciplining protesters and overhauling admissions. Critics argue the administration is exploiting antisemitism to damage the institution. Amid these tensions, the university struggles to balance free expression with the need to protect Jewish students from harassment and intimidation.

— OPINIONS —

“Polls? Trump is in a better place than Democrats, who are fighting each other over how to fight him” via Byron York of the Washington Examiner — Poll numbers reveal contrasting pictures for Trump and the Democrats. While Trump’s job approval is slightly underwater, polls show wide variations, averaging near even. The public’s perception of the country’s direction is historically positive for a Republican President. Conversely, Democratic Party favorability has plummeted to a record low, with a CNN poll showing just 29% favorable. The Democrats lack a clear leader, exemplified by Sen. Chuck Schumer canceling his book tour due to intraparty protests. Despite potential challenges, Trump appears stronger than his fractured opposition. Democrats are fighting each other, leaving Trump in a more advantageous position.

“Are GOP leaders afraid to listen to their own voters?” via Mary Ellen Klas of Bloomberg — Politicians nationwide are canceling town halls and undermining citizen-led ballot initiatives. This hypocritical move stifles the public voice. Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall and Wisconsin Congressman Derrick Van Orden canceled meetings, while House leaders suggested avoiding in-person forums. States like Florida, Arkansas, and Missouri are weakening ballot initiatives, restricting citizen power. Following voter-approved measures on issues like school vouchers and abortion, lawmakers are creating hurdles. Examples include gutting felon voting rights in Florida and refusing Medicaid expansion in Missouri. This disdain for voters, primarily by Republican-controlled Legislatures, erodes trust in government and intensifies partisan conflict, highlighting a need for greater public participation.

“How Florida avoided California’s insurance crisis — and why it must stay the course” via Jeff Brandes for Florida Politics — Florida faces a critical choice on insurance. Reforms enacted between 2019 and 2022 stabilized a market on the brink of collapse by curbing lawsuits and fraud. Policies returning to the private market surged 3000% by 2024. Now, some seek to roll back these measures. A cautionary tale: California’s heavy regulation drove insurers away, raising premiums and burdening the state-run FAIR Plan. Reversing Florida’s reforms risks higher reinsurance rates, which are passed onto homeowners. Experts urge Florida to maintain its current course of competition, stability, and predictability to avoid California’s crisis and sustain a thriving insurance market.

“Florida’s heartland needs EV infrastructure, not more barriers” via Ali Disarm for Florida Politics — Florida is at a pivotal moment. Our state now has over 400,000 registered electric vehicles (EVs), the second-highest in the country, and consumer demand for clean transportation continues to grow, driving a critical need for charging infrastructure, especially in rural areas and evacuation zones. Unfortunately, proposed efficiency audits threaten to stall progress, discarding millions in federal grant funds while pushing rural communities further behind and exposing them to continued soaring gasoline prices. From Immokalee to the Panhandle, rural communities continue to wait as new and unnecessary bureaucratic barriers slow funding distribution and create uncertainty.

“High-tech science keeps Floridians safe from mosquito-borne disease” via Jorge Rey for Florida Politics — As director of UF’s Florida Medical Entomology Lab, I’m proud to lead our state’s world-renowned mosquito control efforts. The Florida Mosquito Control Association, founded over a century ago, pioneered collaborative approaches that are now internationally recognized. With over 80 mosquito species in Florida, vigilance is key. We use advanced techniques like disease testing, livestock monitoring, and drone surveillance to identify breeding grounds. Innovative strategies like Sterile Insect Technique and Oxitec’s technology combat pesticide resistance. Yet, individual action remains vital; removing standing water and using repellent is crucial. Mosquitoes will evolve, so we must adapt, ensuring Florida remains safe and welcoming through cutting-edge science and public awareness.

— INSTAGRAM OF THE DAY —

— ALOE —

“Apple’s ‘Air’ is a step toward a slimmer, port-free era” via Mark Gurman of Bloomberg — Apple’s upcoming iPhone 17 “Air” will foreshadow a move to slimmer models without charging ports. Also: The company’s AI crisis will be the talk of its “Top 100” off-site meeting this week, and it’s planning some of the most significant iOS and macOS redesigns in its history. In other news, Google is poised to buy an eye-tracking startup for glasses. Apple Inc.’s slimmer smartphone due this Fall is more than an attempt to juice sales with something distinct from the rest of the lineup. It’s really a new beginning for the iPhone.

“Theme-park awards gala coming to Orlando in 2026” via Dewayne Bevil of the Orlando Sentinel — A black-tie awards ceremony that salutes theme parks and their creators will be staged in Orlando next year after a three-decade run in Southern California. The Thea Awards, presented by the Themed Entertainment Association, dole out recognition for outstanding achievement in categories such as theme-park land, immersive technology and spectacular show. “They’re like the Academy Awards for theme parks and attractions and destinations globally,” said TEA’s CEO, Melissa Oviedo. The shift reflects a trend in attraction development. “Orlando really is becoming almost a new epicenter of attraction and entertainment development,” Oviedo said. “We want to be able to celebrate all of the great work that’s being done in that region.”

What Gus Corbella is reading — “Sting’s trio tour strikes Florida three times this November” via Ben Crandell of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel — Sting’s Sting 3.0 Tour returns to Florida this November with three dates. The pop icon will perform at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood (Nov. 7), Seminole Hard Rock Tampa (Nov. 10), and Daily’s Place in Jacksonville (Nov. 11). Tickets, starting at $95+, go on sale Friday after fan club and social media presales. Sting will perform in a trio format with Dominic Miller and Chris Maas, focusing on Police hits like “Every Breath You Take.” His October Miami Beach shows sold out. Sting recently released a new rock track, “I Wrote Your Name (Upon My Heart).” For details, visit Sting.com.

— HAPPY BIRTHDAY —

Celebrating today is Andy Ford, formerly of the Florida Education Association, Chelsea Lunn, Ron Matus of Step Up for Students, Orlando Pryor, and former Rep. Deborah Tamargo.

___

Sunburn is authored and assembled by Peter Schorsch, Phil Ammann, Daniel Dean, Ryan Nicol, Jacob Ogles, and Drew Wilson.

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The Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee passed a measure Monday that seeks to protect employer trade secrets and confidential information from being shared by former employees.

St. Augustine Republican Sen. Tom Leek introduced the bill (SB 922). If passed, it would allow employers to enter into non-compete and Garden Leave agreements to protect their business interests.

“The current law in Florida on restrictive covenants is insufficient to protect industries in which employees’ routinely access sensitive business information,” Leek said. “Under current law, if an employee with access to such information leaves for somewhere employment with another company, an employer can go to court to seek to stop the former employee from using or disclosing the former employer sensitive business information.”

Leek noted that litigation could, however, be protracted, and added that by the time the court rules, the sensitive information may have already been disclosed.

“SB 922 carves out from an existing law … two types of commonly used employee agreements — non-compete agreements and Garden Leave agreements,” Leek said. “[The bill] establishes a more streamlined process than currently exists, designed to protect sensitive business information from disclosure by a current or former employee to another business at least until a court can decide whether the non-compete or Garden leave agreement has been violated.”

Leek noted that the bill would not only enhance protection for sensitive information but also narrows who it would apply to.

“The streamline process in SB 922 provides Florida employers and employees with enhanced protections for sensitive business information and provides greater certainty and transparency for all concerned,” Leek said. “The bill narrowly applies to covered non-compete and covered garden leave agreements. The agreement must be in writing … the employees afforded adequate notice, and the employee is advised in writing of the opportunity to seek counsel.”

Leek added that the bill outlines the mechanism to quickly enforce covered agreements via a preliminary injunction before any potential harm could done.

Jacksonville Democratic Sen. Tracie Davis asked why the agreements had been extended to four years.

“Most states deal with only having the non-competes to exist for one to two years. Why are we seeming like we’re strengthening our agreements to four years?” Davis asked.

In response, Leek said the extension is purely because of the information that needs to be protected.

“In Florida it’s a presumption of six months to two years … States similarly have those types of presumptions, so it’s not limited to a specific period of time,” Leek said. “And in this instance, we’re creating a presumption that the period of time should be four years, because of the type of information that we’re talking about.”

Multiple industries would be affected if the bill was to pass into law, according to Leek, particularly in finance.

“Florida is poised to be one of the finance capitals of the world, and if we want to attract those kinds of clean, high-paying jobs, you have to provide those businesses those protections on the investments they’re making,” Leek said.

Orlando Democratic Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith said he would be voting against the bill and noted that strengthening non-compete clauses would only help employers further restrict employees and stifle innovation.

Leek reiterated that the bill only applies when it comes to trade secrets and confidential information and added that no one would enforce it against a former employee if they had not shared any restricted information specified in the bill.

The bill was passed in a 6-3 vote and will now go to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

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