The Senate passed “Trooper’s Law” — the legislation prompting new reform after a dog was tied up and abandoned during a hurricane last year.

The bill was passed 39-0 on the Senate floor Wednesday with little discussion.

The amended version of SB 150 would make restraining and abandoning a dog outside during a natural disaster, such as a hurricane, a third-degree felony.

The bill, which previously referenced a more general “animal,” was amended to match the House version, said sponsor Sen. Don Gaetz.

No cat-lovers spoke out in protest.

Meanwhile, the House companion (HB 205) is on second reading.

A 5-year-old bull dog terrier was abandoned and tied up along the Interstate near Tampa as Hurricane Milton hit Florida last year. The dog stood in rising waters and caught the attention of Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Orlando Morales, who rescued the animal.

The footage went viral.

“The video is very heartbreaking,” said Rep. Griff Griffitts, who sponsored the House version, during the committee process.

Gov. Ron DeSantis applauded the rescue effort during his State of the State address earlier this month.

The legislation has received support from outside groups including the Florida Smart Justice Alliance, the Humane Society of the United States and Florida Animal Control Association.

The dog, who was renamed Trooper after the person who saved him, has since been adopted and found a new home. The dog has been battling health issues in recent months according to media reports.

The dog’s ex-owner who abandoned him, Giovanny Garcia, was charged with aggravated animal cruelty last year.

Gaetz said the sad situation prompted change in Tallahassee.

“Sometimes we get to do a good thing about a bad thing, and that’s this bill,” Gaetz said earlier this month in a committee hearing.

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The Florida Senate passed a comprehensive package of legislative proposals Wednesday, that seeks to create a modern-day renaissance in rural communities across Florida.

Tallahassee Republican Sen. Corey Simon spearheaded the legislation (SB 110) that would create opportunities for rural communities to expand education, increase health care services, and modernize commerce.

The legislation was also a priority of Senate President Ben Albritton, who said in a press statement at the bill’s Senate passing, that the bill focuses on supporting businesses and improving the lives of Floridians living in rural areas.

“Our rural communities are full of opportunity, and that doesn’t just mean development. Our Rural Renaissance package provides opportunities for rural communities to grow as they see fit, based on decisions made by local families and businesses who call rural Florida home,” the Wauchula Republican said in a statement.

Albritton noted that the legislation is geared towards enhancing and supporting 31 of Florida’s 67 counties and added that it’s now time for rural Florida to enjoy economic growth.

“We are focusing on infrastructure improvements that support existing businesses as they grow, and transition based on the needs of our economy,” Albritton said. “This includes our legacy farm and citrus operations, who will be well-served by improvements to farm-to-market roads essential to keeping fresh food within reach of Florida families. These are critical enhancements and investments to support 31 of our 67 counties and hundreds of rural communities across Florida. We have seen tremendous economic growth in urban areas of Florida, its Rural Florida’s turn.”

Representing 12 rural counties across Florida’s panhandle and big bend, Simon also said Sunshine State rural communities will not be left behind.

“Modern Florida is the envy of the nation, and we won’t leave our rural communities behind. Our small communities are strong, proud, and resilient. When disaster strikes, as it has so often in recent years, they band together, neighbor helping neighbor,” Simon said.

“Quality of life in rural areas can be impacted by access to job opportunities, education and health care. We are combining enhancements to the traditional infrastructure for schools and hospitals with innovations that drastically expand opportunities for education, commerce, and health care in rural Florida. We know commerce and capital are attracted to strong transportation infrastructure and robust public services, which will provide the chance for rural communities to prosper and grow in a manner that maintains a highly sought after and time-honored way of life.”

The bill would direct $200.8 million to the Rural Infrastructure Fund, increase funding for the Rural Revolving Loan program, improve coordination of federal broadband programs, create the Florida Arterial Road Modernization program, expand the Small County Road Assistance program, expand the regional education consortia, create the Rural Incentive for Professional Educators program, and expand rural health care access.

The bill passed the Senate in a 39-0 vote.

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Nigel Farage, a staunch Donald Trump supporter and an architect of the Brexit movement that saw the United Kingdom leave the European Union in 2020, is returning next month to the Sunshine State.

He’s set to headline the Republican Party of Florida’s Disruptors Dinner in Tallahassee, a soiree celebrating efforts to upend the status quo and the GOP’s smashing electoral and legislative successes.

“I’m so incredibly excited to be joining the Republican Party of Florida for the Disruptors Dinner,” Farage said in a statement. “President Trump’s decisive win and return to the White House inspires us all to continue the fight for freedom globally. I’m looking forward to being back in the Free State of Florida to celebrate with all of you.”

Farage, a British Member of Parliament and leader of Reform U.K. — formerly called the Brexit Party — is renowned for his populist, anti-establishment rhetoric and the prominent role he played in successfully advocating for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union.

From 1999 to 2020 as part of the European Parliament, he was a frequent critic of the European Union, which the United Kingdom left shortly before he departed from the European Parliament.

A past political commentator and talk show host, Farage is a dependable defender of sovereignty, restrictive immigration policies and national conservatism.

He’s the highest-profile British supporter of Trump, whom he’s described as the “most resilient and brave person” he’d ever met. When Trump was found guilty last May on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to commit election fraud, Farage doubled down on his support, saying he backed Trump “more than ever.”

“It’s outstanding to have Nigel Farage, the original bad boy of Brexit, coming to Florida,” Republican Party of Florida Executive Director Bill Helmich told Florida Politics. “We look forward to him sharing what he’s trying to do with the Reform party in England and his vision, which is similar to President Trump’s, for moving the world forward.”

Helmich said several other notable guests who qualify as disruptors will be announced soon.

“Like President Trump, we’re disrupting,” Helmich said. “We’re shaking up the system, breaking up the longstanding bureaucracies.”

The RPOF Disruptors Dinner is March 20 at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center at Florida State University.

A VIP reception starts at 6 p.m. General admission is at 6:30 p.m. The Program starts at 7 p.m.

Tickets cost is $450 per seat. There are also several sponsorship options with various perks. The lowest is a $2,500 “Roosevelt Sponsor” tier, which offers sponsor recognition on marketing materials and VIP access for two. The highest is the $25,000 “Trump Sponsor” tier, which bestows for 10 people those other amenities, plus additional signage provisions and individual photos with Farage.

For more information, email [email protected].

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