The Senate unanimously approved a bill that criminalizes anyone in the state who falsely uses or exploits military insignias, medals or uniforms.

Port Orange Republican Sen. Tom Wright sponsored the “stolen valor” bill (SB 402). The intent of the measure is to consolidate all military branches into one single classification as a “military uniform.”

A Senate staff background report said the measure ensures that all branches of armed forces are listed in each provision of statutes. A person could already be charged with a third-degree felony if found guilty of committing “stolen valor.”

As the proposed measure worked its way through the Senate committee process before going to the floor, Wright had said the instances of “stolen valor” have been increasing in Florida in recent years.

Wright even recounted incidents in the area around Port Orange where he had business owners complain to him where people falsely dressed up as military veterans in order to conduct bogus charitable fundraisers. Wright said some store managers have chased the fake veterans off business grounds on several occasions.

Ultimately, Wright said serving in the military is a distinguished accomplishment. He said that should not be taken advantage of by anyone who has not served.

“We have to protect the sanctity of the uniform and make sure they are represented correctly,” Wright said.

While Senators did not hesitate to back the bill, the issue is not quite done with the legislative process yet.

Wright’s bill is similar to another Senate bill (SB 348) that would specifically target public officials from using stolen valor in their official capacity if elected or while running a campaign.

Sens. Jay Collins, a Tampa Republican, and Don Gaetz, a Pensacola Republican, cosponsored the bill, which institutes ethics violations for candidates or elected officials who engage in stolen valor. Violation of that measure, if approved, could include censure by the Florida Board of Ethics, a $25,000 fine and possible removal from office by the Governor. That measure has also received preliminary approval by several Senate committees.

In the House, Rep. Patt Maney, a Fort Walton Beach Republican, has sponsored a bill (HB 399) which is similar to that Senate measure. It hasn’t gone to the House floor yet.

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With a slender majority in the House of Representatives hanging in the balance, President Donald Trump spent part of Major League Baseball’s opening day as the closer in two Special Elections on April Fool’s Day.

And while Democrats Gay Valimont and Josh Weil were lightly regarded as the General Elections began, the President made it clear that they were no joke, as he rallied Republicans to turn out for CFO Jimmy Patronis and state Sen. Randy Fine, the Republican candidates in Congressional Districts 1 and 6 respectively.

While Mike Waltz and Matt Gaetz won the seats handily in November, the landscape has changed since they resigned after last year’s elections.

Democrats have poured millions of dollars behind their candidates, and two Republicans accustomed to resource advantages from bell to bell ended up tagging Trump in at the end Thursday night.

On behalf of Patronis, Trump noted the “all-important Special Election” is “five days away on April Fools’ Day, and the fool will be the Democratic candidate … a radical-left gun grabber (who) will vote with Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, and AOC+3.”

“The whole country’s actually watching this one,” Trump said. “Jimmy’s got a big lead in the polls, but we’ve got to make it too big to rig.”

“If you’re not fired up hearing President Trump, you need to get your pulse checked,” Patronis said, before lamenting more than $6 million behind Valimont from out-of-state supporters who think people on the Florida Panhandle are “racist” and “sexist.”

“They hate our American flag, and they hate President Donald Trump,” he added, before asking the “100,000 people on the call” to give him a follow on X.

Fine, who polling says holds a margin of error lead over Weil, thanked the “tens of thousands of voters” on the tele-rally and Trump for his “unwavering support.”

“It will be the greatest honor of my life to be one of your foot soldiers,” Fine said.

Trump noted he won CD 6 big.

“I love you and you love me, and that’s good … but I’m asking you to get out and vote for a true American patriot, someone I know very well, Randy Fine.”

Trump said Fine endorsed him “early” in the 2024 cycle, and will “be there whenever I need him.”

The President promised to “slash the costs of insurance in Florida,” though it’s uncertain how that will happen.

Trump then painted Weil as a “radical left lunatic” who “wanted men playing in women’s sports.”

“Randy’s running against the radical socialist who wants the government to run your healthcare. Randy’s Democrat opponent supports the transgender for everybody, the mutilation included, mutilation of children. He wants to spend $20 trillion on so-called reparations. You’re not gonna get any, but a lot of people, he wants to give them reparations. He wants to remove all of the sanctions on communist Cuba and socialist Venezuela and he wants to decriminalized heroin, fentanyl and cocaine and we have enough problems with drugs without having to do that,” he said.

Trump said he’d seen Fine in “pressure situations,” and contended “he’s done well under pressure.”

Fine then put his closing argument on the President, saying Trump’s “legacy is on the ballot.”

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On another busy day of politics in Tallahassee, lawmakers could catch an unexpected break with an illusionist’s tricks, robots, a flight simulator, Legos and more on the Capitol’s third-floor rotunda.

This was part of the annual STEM day as educators lobbying for more state funding showed off their technology and exhibits that make learning fun.

“Orlando Science Center has joined with other science museums and STEM advocates to connect with legislators about the critical role that science centers and museums play in creating prosperity for our state,” said OSC marketing vice president Jeff Stanford.

“Displays at STEM Day encourage hands-on learning and reinforce how science museums light the spark of curiosity, promote future careers and build essential 21st century skills.”

“As our world continues to grow more complex and competitive, we are reminded that science matters now more than ever,” Stanford added.

STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and math.

OSC, known for its dinosaurs and hands-on play areas, first organized STEM Day in 2014, but this year’s event comes after an unprecedented time of funding cuts for museums and science centers.

OSC was among a long list of organizations losing funding after Gov. Ron DeSantis’ unprecedented $32 million in line-item vetoes last year.

In Tallahassee, OSC brought in magician and science educator Jason Latimer, who has appeared on the Discovery Channel. OSC organized a “Legislative Record Breaker Challenge” using tennis balls and domino stacking. In addition, lawmakers, staff and interns could play with hands-on displays and learn about the life cycle of coral in between Thursday’s committee hearings and floor votes.

Stanford said this year’s event was presented by the Environmental Defense Fund. The other partnering science centers and STEM supporters joining included: Challenger Learning Center, For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), Phillip & Patricia Frost Museum of Science, Museum of Discovery and Science, National MagLab, Science is US/American Association for the Advancement of Science, and Tallahassee Museum.

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