Sunburn — The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics — 3.16.26

Good Monday morning.

Florida closed the books on its 2026 Legislative Session on Friday, with the Florida Chamber of Commerce pointing to measured progress for businesses without any backsliding on competitiveness.

“Florida continues to outpace much of the nation because of a united business community that is focused on the right things happening in Florida,” said Mark Wilson, president & CEO of the Florida Chamber. “This year, lawmakers took incremental steps in strengthening Florida’s business climate without backtracking on policies that have led to Florida’s nationally recognized pro-business environment, ensuring job creators and families can continue to thrive.”

Among the measures highlighted by the Chamber were legislation expanding workforce housing opportunities under the state’s Live Local framework, reforms to how local governments calculate impact fees, efforts to streamline building permits and investments aimed at addressing health care workforce shortages.

The group also pointed to policies intended to support emerging industries, including advanced air mobility and large-scale data centers, while promoting infrastructure resilience and public-private partnerships. Likewise, the Florida Chamber worked tirelessly to defeat legislation that would have reversed the 2023 lawsuit abuse reforms.

“Florida cannot rest on its laurels but must continue focusing on our economic competitiveness and pro-business environment,” said Frank Walker, executive vice president of Government & Political Relations at the Chamber.

“As we continue to compete with other states and nations, Florida can send a signal that investment and innovation are welcome in Florida by easing administrative and economic burdens through the adoption of additional pro-business policies that stimulate job creation and unleash pathways to prosperity for all Floridians.”

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For followers of Florida’s political landscape, this tool is a game-changer, ensuring they receive timely, in-depth reporting on the Governor’s office, the Legislature, and high-stakes campaigns.

By selecting Florida Politics as a preferred source, readers can prioritize its indispensable coverage, ensuring they see the latest headlines on key issues, such as property insurance and the state budget, first. Here is a simple, step-by-step guide to enable the feature. Don’t forget about other ways to connect, such as through our breaking news text messages, following @Fla_Pol on X, and signing up for newsletters like Last Call, Takeaways from Tallahassee and The Delegation.

— SITUATIONAL AWARENESS —

—@RealDonaldTrump: Many Countries, especially those who are affected by Iran’s attempted closure of the Hormuz Strait, will be sending War Ships, in conjunction with the United States of America, to keep the Strait open and safe. We have already destroyed 100% of Iran’s Military capability, but it’s easy for them to send a drone or two, drop a mine, or deliver a close-range missile somewhere along or in this Waterway, no matter how badly defeated they are. Hopefully China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and others, that are affected by this artificial constraint, will send Ships to the area so that the Hormuz Strait will no longer be a threat by a Nation that has been totally decapitated. In the meantime, the United States will be bombing the hell out of the shoreline and continually shooting Iranian Boats and Ships out of the water. One way or the other, we will soon get the Hormuz Strait OPEN, SAFE, and FREE!

—@AaronBlake: The (Donald) Trump administration is now threatening the licenses of broadcasters whose news coverage — apparently about the war — it deems to be “fake.”

Tweet, tweet:

Tweet, tweet:

—@TPFabricio: As a lawyer, I’ve always appreciated the Ides of March. It’s the original example of why you should never ignore warning signs in writing. “Beware the Ides of March.” — ignored Outcome: catastrophic.

—@Aglorios: The post-Session comedown is real.

Tweet, tweet:

Tweet, tweet:

— DAYS UNTIL —

March Madness Opening Weekend — 3; ‘Peaky Blinders’ movie premieres on Netflix — 4; Special Election for SD 14, HD 87, HD 51 and HD 52 — 8; Yankees-Giants Opening Day matchup / Netflix’s first exclusive MLB stream — 9; MLB 14-game Opening Day slate — 9; new season of ‘Your Friends And Neighbors’ premieres on Apple+ — 18; NCAA Final Four begins — 19; Tampa Bay Rays first game at the newly repaired Tropicana Field — 21; ‘Handmaid’s Tale’ sequel series ‘The Testaments’ premieres — 23; The Masters begin — 24; Florida TaxWatch Spring Meeting begins — 30; MLB Jackie Robinson Day — 30; First Qualifying Period begins (U.S. Senate) — 35; 2026 Florida Housings Solutions Summit — 37; NFL Draft — 38; Federal Qualifying Period ends — 39; F1 Miami begins — 46; ‘Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu’ premieres — 67; new mission for ‘Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run’ premieres at Disney World — 67; Marvel’s ‘Spider-Noir’ live-action series with Nicolas Cage arrives on Amazon Prime — 72; MLB Lou Gehrig Day — 78; Second Qualifying Period begins (State) — 84; South Africa in the FIFA World Cup opener in Mexico City — 87; Steven Spielberg’s ‘Disclosure Day’ premieres — 88; Qualifying Period ends for Federal (U.S. Reps. in Congress), Governor, Cabinet Offices (Attorney General, Commissioner of Agriculture & Chief Financial Officer), State Sens. (even numbered districts), State Reps., County Offices and Special District Offices — 88; the Octagon® on the White House South Lawn: UFC will hold the Freedom 250 (building to America’s 250th birthday) — 90; Flag Day — 90; President Trump’s 80th birthday — 90; ‘Toy Story 5’ premieres in theaters — 95; Florida GOP’s statewide debates for the Primary in its ‘Sunshine State Showdown’ — 102; Mexico will face live-action ‘Moana’ premieres — 107; Primary Election: Deadline to send vote-by-mail ballots to UOCAVA voters — 110; Primary Election: Deadline to send vote-by-mail ballots to domestic voters — 115; MLB All-Star Game — 120; Domestic Primary Election VBM Ballots Mailed deadline — 122; Primary Election: Deadline to register to vote or change party affiliation — 126; Primary Election: Deadline to request that ballot be mailed — 143; Primary Election: Early voting period begins (mandatory period) — 145; Primary Election Day — 155; Yankees host the Mets to mark the anniversary of 9/11 — 179; MLB Roberto Clemente Day — 183; General Election: Deadline to send vote-by-mail ballots to UOCAVA voters — 187; General Election: Deadline to send vote-by-mail ballots to domestic voters — 192; Domestic General Election VBM Ballots Mailed deadline — 199; General Election: Deadline to register to vote — 203; Early Voting General Election mandatory period begins — 222; General Election — 232; ‘Godzilla Minus Zero’ premieres — 235; ‘Dune: Part 3’ premieres — 277; ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ premieres — 277; untitled ‘Star Wars’ movie premieres — 277; College Football Playoff national title game in Las Vegas — 315; Super Bowl LXI — 335; Tampa Mayoral Election — 351; Jacksonville First Election — 372; Jacksonville General Election — 428; ‘Spider-Man: Beyond The Spider-Verse’ premieres — 446; ‘MIAMI VICE’ reboot premiers — 508; ‘Bluey The Movie’ premieres — 508; ‘The Batman 2’ premieres — 564; ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ premieres — 641; College Football Playoff national title game in New Orleans — 679; Los Angeles Olympics Opening Ceremony — 851; U.S. Presidential Election — 967; College Football Playoff national title game in Tampa — 1,043; ‘Avatar 4’ premieres — 1,367; College Football Playoff national title games in Miami — 1,407; ‘Avatar 5’ premieres — 2,098.

— STATEWIDE —

“Can Florida save Donald Trump’s plan to keep GOP in power?” via Kadia Goba and Hannah Knowles of The Washington Post — Democrats are moving to counter Trump’s push for aggressive congressional redistricting ahead of the November Midterm Elections, potentially blunting Republican efforts to expand their House majority. GOP leaders have looked to Florida as a key opportunity to gain seats, but some Republicans are lowering expectations about how much the state can deliver. Rep. Kat Cammack said adding five new GOP seats is unrealistic and could endanger existing districts, estimating two or three gains as more plausible. Trump has encouraged mid-cycle redistricting nationwide to protect Republicans’ narrow House advantage, but Democratic countermeasures and strong performances in recent elections could offset those efforts. Gov. Ron DeSantis has delayed action pending a possible Supreme Court ruling on the Voting Rights Act.

“FEMA lifts environmental hold on $608M grant for ‘Alligator Alcatraz,’ ‘Deportation Depot’” via Liv Caputo of Florida Phoenix — Florida is finally eligible for a $608 million federal grant to help pay for the state’s migrant lockups after the Trump administration lifted an environmental funding hold that had stalled the dollars for months. State emergency managers still can’t request the FEMA money until the federal government shutdown ends. But newly obtained documents show that Florida no longer must clear a federally required Environmental and Historic Preservation (EHP) review before seeking reimbursement. The state has spent over $412 million in the past seven months on immigration enforcement activities, Florida’s government accountability website shows. Some $390 million of that was shelled out between June and October on “Alligator Alcatraz” alone.

“If Cuba regime falls, lawmakers say state is open for business” via Alexandra Glorioso of the Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald — Amid diplomatic talks between the United States and Cuba, lawmakers passed a bill that contains a free trade provision with the island nation should the regime fall. The amendment had first appeared in February in the House, where Cuban American House Speaker Daniel Perez, a Miami Republican, oversees the chamber. “My hope is that the people of Cuba will finally get the freedom they’ve craved for so long, and I’m thankful to President Trump and Secretary (Marco) Rubio for their bold leadership and commitment to the people of Cuba and the principles of liberty and justice for all,” Perez told the Times in a statement.

“UF disbands College Republican chapter, citing antisemitic activity” via Chelsea Long of The Gainesville Sun — The University of Florida deactivated its College Republicans chapter after the Florida Federation of College Republicans alerted the university to a photo showing a student leader performing a Nazi salute. UF wrote in a March 14 statement on X that the gesture violated its policies. The photo, circulated on X by North Carolina–based journalist Sloan Rachmuth, was a screenshot showing two students performing a Nazi salute in a Guilded chatroom. The group chat platform was designed for gaming communities and was shut down in December 2025. The Florida Federation of College Republicans requested UF disband the chapter while it looked to reorganize the club after it engaged in “a pattern of conduct that violated [FFCR’s] rules and values,” but it’s unclear what authority the FFCR has over UFCR.

— LEGISLATIVE —

“Ron DeSantis criticizes House for not passing ‘medical freedom’ bill” via the News Service of Florida — DeSantis criticized the House for failing to expand vaccine exemptions for public K-12 students. “It seems to me you’re fumbling right on the goal line here,” DeSantis said. “Punch it in for the touchdown and get it done. I know a lot of people in Florida really want to see these protections written into law.” But DeSantis praised Senate President Ben Albritton for successfully getting the bill through the Senate and said there would be more “opportunities” to tackle the issue. The bill (SB 1756) is dead, but efforts to expand vaccine exemptions could resurface during budget talks. “That is a decision the Legislature will make, and we’ll see,” Albritton said. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Clay Yarborough, would have expanded vaccine exemptions for public K-12 schools and created a new “conscience” category for parents to opt out of immunizations.

“Lawmakers curtail Governor’s emergency powers after ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ spending spree” via Kate Payne of Florida Trib — Lawmakers approved new oversight rules for the emergency fund used by DeSantis’ administration to finance immigration enforcement, including the Everglades detention site dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz.” The measure, SB 7040, requires regular spending reports and legislative approval for certain expenses after revelations that the facility was costing more than $1 million a day. Sen. Ed Hooper said the goal is greater transparency, telling colleagues, “We expect, and we’re demanding that we have more knowledge, more reporting, more transparency.” Rep. Griff Griffitts said emergency spending must balance urgency with accountability, noting, “Emergencies demand speed … they also demand discipline.” Democrats remained skeptical. Sen. LaVon Bracy Davis argued lawmakers should tighten oversight further, saying, “We shouldn’t be giving more money and more latitude when we were led astray.”

—“Legislature renews disaster emergency fund, but attaches legislative oversight to clawback misspent money” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics

“Senate sends data centers bill to Governor despite secrecy concerns” via Bruce Ritchie of POLITICO — The Senate voted 31-6 to send a data center regulatory bill to DeSantis, though concerns remain that the measure allows too much secrecy around large development projects. The House rewrote the Senate bill earlier this week, removing a provision that would have banned nondisclosure agreements between local governments and data center developers. Sen. Gayle Harrell said lawmakers should revisit confidentiality rules in future Sessions to ensure transparency for residents. The bill requires large data centers to pay the full cost of their electric service and bars utilities from shifting those costs to other customers. Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith warned that without the legislation, Florida would have no regulation at all.

“Small private schools could open in commercially zoned buildings under late-Session bill” via Jaay Waagmeester of Florida Phoenix — Legislators added a provision eliminating zoning requirements for small private schools into a Democratic-led bill in the waning hours of the 2026 Legislative Session. Both GOP-led chambers of the Florida Legislature passed SB 182 on Thursday, allowing private schools with 150 or fewer students to operate in commercially zoned buildings. The bill was introduced by Sen. Shevrin Jones from Miami Gardens and the House version by Rep. Yvonne Hinson from Gainesville. The bills, at introduction, addressed only the creation of a teacher mentorship program. The provision remains, but some House Democratic colleagues stopped supporting the bill after the Senate unanimously added the zoning piece. It passed the House, 91-11, with only Democrats (but not all) voting in opposition. In the Senate, it passed unanimously.

“Election-law changes include a key Trump demand — and may stop some Florida citizens from voting” via Anthony Man of the Orlando Sentinel — The selling point, from Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, was simple and direct. The Fort Myers Republican told colleagues they needed to pass a suite of election-law changes — including verifying the citizenship of registered voters and reducing the kinds of ID voters could use to verify themselves at the polls — to ensure that “Florida continues to lead the nation in election integrity.” There is another reason for the legislation — which DeSantis said Friday he’s enthusiastically ready to sign into law — and which is guaranteed to face immediate court challenges. Hovering, figuratively, in the background was Florida’s most prominent resident and, perhaps, most outspoken critic of the way elections are run: Trump. Trump’s wishes were periodically invoked during the weeks of deliberations and debate about the legislation, including by Persons-Mulicka. She cited his State of the Union address the day after. And she’s described the state bill as the Florida version of Trump’s proposed election law, the SAVE America Act.

“Legislature passes utility bills, with Gainesville Regional Utility pre-emption included” via Kylie Williams of POLITICO — The Legislature has approved a bill creating new requirements for Florida municipal utilities, sending the measure to DeSantis after days of negotiations between chambers. The Senate voted 30-6 to adopt the House version of HB 1451, which would cut in half the surcharge municipal utilities can charge customers outside city limits for water or sewer services, lowering it from 50% to 25%. The bill also expands public meeting and reporting requirements. Democrats objected to language that would effectively shift control of Gainesville Regional Utilities to the state amid an ongoing legal dispute. Rep. Yvonne Hayes Hinson said the provision targets Gainesville without local input, while Sen. Jonathan Martin said complaints from outside-city ratepayers prompted the change.

“Split decision: Legislature’s claims bill choices leave some compensated, others empty-handed” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — The 2026 Session proved somewhat successful for claims bills, a niche but often emotionally charged class of legislation that asks lawmakers to approve payments to people harmed by government negligence when legal limits prevent full compensation. More than a third of the 14 such measures filed for consideration this year cleared both chambers. In 2025, the success rate was 41%. In the year prior, just 10% reached DeSantis’ desk. Claims bills are a special classification of legislation intended to compensate a person or entity for injury or loss due to the negligence or error of a public officer or agency. They arise when the damages a claimant seeks are above the thresholds set in Florida’s sovereign immunity law, which today caps payouts at $200,000 per person and $300,000 per incident. Lawmakers passed legislation by Sen. Jason Brodeur and Rep. Fiona McFarland to increase those caps to $350,000 per person and $500,000 per incident.

—SINE DIDN’T—

“Rancor among Republicans doomed property tax plan” via Jeffrey Schweers of the Orlando Sentinel — With only 60 days to pass a full plate of bills and a balanced budget, the Legislature’s grand plans to add property tax cuts to their crowded calendar never had a chance…. Asking voters to cut property taxes — first proposed last year by DeSantis — was the one solution to the state’s affordability crisis that Republican leaders latched onto. But so far, they haven’t delivered. “I don’t think they were ever going to get a property tax bill out,” said former state Sen. Jeff Brandes.

“Democrats’ broad ‘Affordability Agenda’ bill slate shut out by GOP-led Legislature” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — Democrats’ “Affordability Agenda” targeting insurance costs, housing and government spending failed to gain traction during the Legislative Session, with none of the nine highlighted bills passing either chamber. Only two proposals received hearings, and just one reached the chamber floor without a vote. Senate Democratic Leader Lori Berman said the lack of debate was frustrating, arguing that lawmakers ignored pressing economic issues. “We had an entire 60-day Session, and not only were our affordability bills not heard, but hardly any discussion took place,” Berman said. House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell said Republicans focused on internal fights instead of solutions. “We’re watching as Florida is literally becoming too expensive for too many Floridians,” she said, adding the Session featured “a lot of talk and not a lot of action.”

“Education zingers die on the vine this Legislative Session” via Gabrielle Russon of Florida Politics — Several high-profile education bills failed to advance during the Legislative Session, including proposals targeting school library materials, requiring cursive instruction, mandating a teacher oath, renaming campus roads after conservative activist Charlie Kirk and limiting international student enrollment. Rep. Doug Bankson’s bill on “materials harmful to minors” passed the House but stalled in the Senate. Driskell opposed the measure, saying, “Book banning is something that I cannot be a part of.” Supporters argued the bills addressed academic priorities. Rep. Toby Overdorf said cursive instruction matters because “if our students can’t read cursive, they can’t read the Declaration of Independence.” Another proposal to cap international students drew debate, with Rep. Berny Jacques saying universities should prioritize educating Americans.

“Cap out-of-state enrollment at Florida’s top universities? Senate says no” via Camila Gomez and Steven Walker of the Orlando Sentinel — Florida’s top universities won’t have to sharply limit the number of out-of-state students they admit, a move that could have cost them millions of dollars. A legislative plan to curtail non-resident enrollment at the state’s most selective universities died when the Senate cut the language from the bill. The House bill (HB 1279) would have capped out-of-state enrollment at 5% of the first-year, undergraduate student body at the state’s “preeminent” universities, a state designation for top-performing schools. The most selective of those schools now have out-of-state enrollments above that, with Florida State University and the University of Florida at nearly 15% and 20%, respectively, for their first-year classes.

“For sixth Session, ‘Jaime’s Law’ stalls unheard” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — For the sixth consecutive Session, legislation to mandate background checks for ammunition sales has failed to garner a single Committee hearing. Companion bills (SB 88, HB 41) again remained inert this year as lawmakers crossed the Session midpoint, with neither proposal scheduled for debate. The measures, filed by Sen. Tina Scott Polsky and Rep. Dan Daley — both Democrats — are now all but certain to fail in the GOP-dominated Legislature. The bills would require the same background checks now mandated for firearm purchases to also apply to ammunition sales in Florida. Current law provides that buyers must pass a background screening to purchase a gun. No such check is required for bullets. Daley, a graduate of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, has filed the proposal — dubbed “Jaime’s Law” after 14-year-old Jaime Guttenberg, one of 17 people killed in the 2018 school shooting — every year since 2019.

“Ocklawaha River restoration project sinks” via Gabrielle Russon of Florida Politics — The bill to restore the Ocklawaha River’s natural flow is dead in the water. The long-awaited environment project that’s been debated for decades passed in the House but failed to move through the Senate. Friday is Sine Die, although the House and Senate will return for a Special Session to finish negotiations on the spending plan. With a 107-3 vote, the House passed legislation (HB 981) from Rep. Wyman Duggan on March 4. The companion bill filed by Sen. Jason Brodeur sailed through the Committee process and has been ready to go to the full Senate floor since mid-February, but was never called to a final vote.

“House bill protecting gun manufacturers from lawsuits came close, but Senate didn’t pull the trigger” via Janelle Irwin Taylor of Florida Politics — The House cleared a bill that would make it harder to sue gun makers for liability in certain accidents, but the Senate never took it up on the floor. The measure (HB 1551), carried by Rep.Duggan, would have shielded gun manufacturers from liability by barring lawsuits against them based on the absence of optional features, such as a safety feature, if they are not required under federal law. Under the bill, a product liability lawsuit could not be based on the absence of an optional feature, such as a safety-loaded chamber indicator, magazine disconnect mechanism, or any mechanism that would perform similarly.

“Heated tobacco tax change snubbed again” via Janelle Irwin Taylor of Florida Politics — A measure that would differentiate heated tobacco products (HTPs) from traditional cigarettes and instead classify them as tobacco products, setting up a different taxing structure, has been snubbed again. That’s despite efforts by Sen. Nick DiCeglie and Rep. Chase Tramont to revive it this year. Twin bills in the House and Senate (HB 377, SB 754) sponsored by Tramont and DiCeglie, respectively, lingered in Committee and never saw either chamber’s floor. The change would allow HTPs to be taxed at a lower rate than traditional cigarettes, which are taxed at about $1.34 per pack of common-sized cigarettes.

“Despite House blessing, Senate’s lack of appetite kills thoroughbred horse racing ‘decoupling’” via Janelle Irwin Taylor of Florida Politics — A bill that would have leveled the playing field among pari-mutuel activities while decoupling thoroughbred horse racing from other gambling activities cleared the House last month, but failed to gain traction in the Senate. House lawmakers last month passed a Committee substitute for the measure (HB 881) from Rep. Adam Anderson on a 77-34 vote, largely along party lines, with Democrats mostly in opposition. The vote sent the measure to the Senate, where a similar bill never even received a Committee hearing, indicating the upper chamber had no appetite to offer its seal of approval. And even if the Senate had taken up the matter, its fate was murky. DeSantis’ veto pen likely posed a fatal threat to the yearslong effort. Anderson’s bill is like a 2025 measure that cleared the House and one Senate Committee.

“ACLU, FIRE say a dead bill is good news in book banning fight” via Gabrielle Russon of Florida Politics — First Amendment advocates fighting Florida’s book bans are celebrating a dead bill in the 2026 Session. HB 1119 sought to ban public schools from considering a book’s literary, artistic, political or scientific value when deciding whether to remove books. “The bill’s failure to pass during the Regular Legislative Session is great news for students’ First Amendment rights,” said Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) Director of Public Advocacy Aaron Terr in a statement. “If passed, it would have significantly expanded the government’s power to ban books from school libraries, likely resulting in the removal of many books with literary and educational value. For the second year in a row, HB 1119 passed the House but died in the Senate. Friday was Sine Die, although lawmakers will return for a Special Session to finish the budget.

—“Retailers applaud passage of ‘cents and sensibility’ penny-rounding measure” via Janelle Irwin Taylor of Florida Politics

— ELECTIONS —

“Veterans for Responsible Leaders supports Alex Vindman in his mission to unseat Ashley Moody,” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics — VFRL focuses on supporting “pro-democracy” leadership. Vindman launched his campaign in January and emerged as the only major candidate for the seat who served in the military. The Iran war combat veteran retired from the Army as a Lieutenant Colonel. He also held positions at the Pentagon and in the White House, including as director of the National Security Council. “There are not many candidates that represent the VFRL values of integrity, selfless service, and moral courage more than Alex,” said VFRL Executive Director Scott Peoples.

“Darryl Rouson is still considering a House bid, despite report to the contrary” via Janelle Irwin Taylor of Florida Politics — Sen. Rouson has confirmed that he is still considering running for House, despite a report circulating on the last day of Legislative Session to the contrary. The Tampa Bay Bugle reported that Rouson had said during remarks at Mount Zion Progressive Missionary Baptist Church that the longtime Pinellas County politician was “retiring from political life,” a statement that seemed to end months of speculation that Rouson could shift back to the House, where he previously served. Speaking to Florida Politics shortly after Sine Die on Friday, Rouson said what he meant was that he was retiring from Senate politics, but that he had still not landed on a decision about whether to run for the House. “I’ve had a lot of people asking me to bring my experience and expertise to the House,” he said.

“Desmond Meade to retire as head of voting rights group” via Silas Morgan of the Orlando Sentinel — The Orlando activist who spearheaded the movement to restore voting rights to formerly incarcerated Floridians is retiring from the civil rights group he founded and led for more than 14 years. Meade will step down Sunday as executive director of the Orlando-based Florida Rights Restoration Coalition. The group’s Chief of Staff will serve in his place until a search Committee selects a permanent successor. Meade, himself an ex-felon, was among the most prominent voices that led to the successful passage of Amendment 4 in 2018 by Florida voters, which affected more than 1.4 million people in the state. Meade said it was time for the FRRC to have new leadership and for him to spend more time with his family, including his first grandchild, a boy who is about five months old. He said his older self wouldn’t have imagined in his “wildest dreams” the impact the coalition has had since its founding in 2011.

— LOCAL: S. FL —

“ICE detains embattled former North Miami Mayor’s partner, mother of his children” via Raisa Habersham, Syra Ortiz Blanes and Jacqueline Charles of the Miami Herald — Sarahjane Ternier, the longtime partner of former North Miami Mayor Philippe Bien-Aime and mother of three of his children, has been detained by federal immigration officials amid an ongoing effort to strip the Haiti-born politician of his U.S. citizenship. An Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesperson confirmed Friday to the Miami Herald that Ternier was arrested by agents on Wednesday in Miami in relation to a final deportation order issued on July 31, 2000. Ternier entered the U.S. on June 12, 1994; the Board of Immigration Appeals dismissed her appeal of the deportation order on Oct. 23, 2002. She will remain in ICE custody pending her removal from the United States. ICE’s detainee locator showed on Saturday morning that she was being held at the Broward Transitional Center.

“Lawmakers clear path for Fontainebleau water park despite opposition” via Alexandra Glorioso and Aaron Leibowitz of the Herald/Times Tallahassee Bureau — Lawmakers approved legislation that could allow the Fontainebleau Hotel on Miami Beach to move forward with plans for a rooftop water park, a project supporters say will modernize one of South Florida’s most iconic resorts. The measure requires the city to administratively approve design changes needed for the water slide attraction, clearing a key regulatory hurdle. Rep. David Borrero, who added the provision, previously questioned why local regulators were “stalling progress.” Fontainebleau Development said the project represents “thoughtful upgrades to existing outdoor amenities” consistent with current zoning rules. Albritton said the bill evolved through negotiations, noting it “had its ups and downs” before lawmakers produced a final version. The legislation now heads to DeSantis for consideration.

“Andy Thomson wins Boca Raton Mayor’s race after recount” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — Boca Raton City Council member Thomson has been declared the winner of the city’s razor-thin Mayoral race after a recount confirmed he defeated political newcomer Mike Liebelson by only five votes. Thomson finished with 7,572 votes to Liebelson’s 7,567. The Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections (SOE) confirmed the outcome of Tuesday’s election after a machine recount and a subsequent manual review of ballots. Ahead of the recount’s conclusion, Liebelson signaled the possibility of legal action, raising concerns in a letter to the SOE about vote-by-mail ballots added after polls closed and warning that a formal challenge could follow if the final results confirm his loss. The ultra-close race drew attention throughout the week as successive vote counts narrowed the margin between the candidates.

“Inappropriate past emails from top Miami Beach cops surfaced ahead of vote on chief” via Aaron Leibowitz of the Miami Herald — Days before they were set to vote on granting a two-year extension to Police Chief Wayne Jones last month, elected officials in Miami Beach received packets at their homes containing copies of inappropriate emails sent more than a decade ago by Jones and other officers. The documents, sent anonymously, show officers sending and forwarding inappropriate and offensive content, including nude images and disparaging jokes and comments about women, Muslims and Black people, between 2010 and 2012. Several of those officers later rose to the top ranks of the department, including Jones and the chief he succeeded.

— LOCAL: C. FL —

“Florida without Kennedy Space Center? Director sounds alarm over relationship” via Katelyn Ferral of the Tampa Bay Times — The Kennedy Space Center director didn’t mince words. “We stand at a pivotal moment,” Janet Petro told lawmakers in Tallahassee last Fall. The future of one of Florida’s signature assets, what Petro called the “jewel” of America’s space program, was in jeopardy. Kennedy needs more money, she said. It needs state funding for roads, utilities and facilities to support its surge in space traffic. It needs research dollars to advance the aerospace industry. Yet Space Florida, the state’s aerospace finance and development authority, hasn’t been particularly willing, Petro said. As Texas and Alabama vie for space business and close collaboration with NASA, Space Florida’s relationship with the agency is strained by disagreements over funding and control.

“JPMorgan Chase, others sued in alleged Orlando crypto Ponzi scheme case” via Silas Morgan of the Orlando Sentinel — Three class-action lawsuits, including one against banking giant JPMorgan Chase, have been filed in connection with the massive cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme prosecutors say Christopher Delgado ran from his Orlando headquarters. The recently filed lawsuits come on the heels of the Feb. 24 arrest of Delgado, 34, the founder and former CEO of Goliath Ventures. Federal authorities say Goliath Ventures defrauded investors of at least $328 million. All lawsuits were filed as class actions, as attorneys say there are more victims than those named in the lawsuits. Prosecutors say Delgado lived the high life on other people’s money, misappropriating investors’ funds to buy million-dollar homes, luxury cars and fancy watches, among other items. He’s now free on bond but must mostly remain at his Isleworth home, a seven-bedroom, golf course mansion he bought for $8.5 million last Summer.

—”Spring Break travel chaos: Long waits at Orlando International Airport” via WFTV

— LOCAL: TB —

—”These are the Tampa Bay lawmakers leaving office” via Lawrence Mower of the Tampa Bay Times

“Hillsborough stadium talks with Rays center on $467M sales tax ask” via Nicolas Villamil of the Tampa Bay Times — The latest Tampa Bay Rays ballpark proposal is built around using $467 million from a sales tax most Hillsborough County Commissioners have said should be off-limits to new sports stadiums. Money from the Community Investment Tax, the county’s half-cent sales tax that pays for roads, public buildings and upgrades to existing professional stadiums, represents the biggest share of public money the team is seeking, according to two Commissioner briefed on a proposed term sheet. Voters approved extending the Community Investment Tax by a narrow margin two years ago after a fierce public debate in Commission chambers over its potential uses. The tax renews in December 2026 and runs into 2041.

“Developer withdraws lawsuit over St. Petersburg project, The Central” via Rebecca Liebson of the Tampa Bay Times — A lawsuit over construction delays at a multi-million-dollar St. Petersburg redevelopment project was pulled from Pinellas County Circuit Court on Friday. Backstreets Capital withdrew a lawsuit it had filed against Ellison Development and its CEO, Casey Ellison, over The Central, a mixed-use project being built on the site of the former St. Petersburg Police Department headquarters. Ellison is the lead developer, and Backstreets is one of several minority partners. In the initial complaint, Backstreets accused Ellison of delaying construction at the project, potentially putting them in violation of their development agreement with the City of St. Petersburg. Will Conroy, founder and CEO of Backstreets, said in a statement that he learned via media coverage of the case that the agreement with the city had been amended to extend construction timelines.

“The USF Health Morsani College of Medicine doubles nutrition training hours for med students” via Tyler O’Neill of Bay News 9 — The USF Health Morsani College of Medicine is nearly doubling the number of hours students will spend learning about nutrition. This comes as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Education received voluntary commitments from schools around the country to provide at least 40 hours of nutrition education or to require an exam equivalent. Medical students are working hard, but second-year student Gabriela Sanchez says the work is worth the reward. “Especially when you go out and use what you’ve learned in the community, and you do kind of like that volunteer aspect, you can really apply what you learned,” said Sanchez, a medical student at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. Part of being a medical student is learning nutrition. Students at the Morsani College of Medicine learn about food-related illnesses through 36 hours of nutrition training.

— LOCAL: N. FL —

“Changes for Duval School Board and Cecil Airport head to Governor” via David Bauerlein of The Florida Times-Union — Charter changes for the Duval County School District’s ability to hire its own lawyer and the Jacksonville Aviation Authority’s mission at Cecil Airport are headed to DeSantis after winning unanimous support by the Legislature. They still face review by DeSantis, but Governors typically don’t oppose legislation that is focused on one particular part of the state after it clears the Legislature. Here is what the changes will do. The Duval County School Board will hire its own General Counsel, as Boards for Florida’s 66 other counties do, rather than have an attorney from the city’s Office of General Counsel advise the Board on education matters.

“Lawmakers share heartfelt tributes to Bobby Bowden in airport naming” via Jim Rosica of USA Today Network — There was rare bipartisan agreement in the House when it came to a Tallahassee legend: the late Florida State Seminoles football coach Bowden. Lawmakers on March 12 debated an amendment to a road and facility naming bill that would create a roadside memorial designation outside the Tallahassee International Airport to add Bowden’s name ceremonially. A brown sign with gold letters would read, “Bobby Bowden Tallahassee International Airport.” The proposal passed unanimously on a voice vote, but not before Republicans and one Democratic member offered impromptu testimonials on the man who is still revered nearly five years after his death at 91 for building FSU’s football program into a national powerhouse.

— LOCAL: SW. FL —

“Manatee County agrees to help protect over 1,400 acres from development” via Ryan Ballogg of the Tampa Bay Times — Over 1,400 acres of Manatee County land are set to be protected from development after county leaders agreed to contribute $2 million for their conservation. Manatee County Government is partnering with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) to buy conservation easements on 438 acres of Mossy Island Ranch and 1,045 acres of Thundercloud Ranch, two privately held ranches in East Manatee. In a conservation easement, a landowner voluntarily sells a property’s development rights. Going forward, current and future landowners may continue to use the land for agriculture, but large-scale development is permanently prohibited. State officials identified both ranches as high priorities for conservation based on their agricultural and environmental value, proximity to other conserved lands, and high development pressure in the Manatee-Sarasota area.

— TOP OPINION —

“The 2026 Legislative Session was bad. It could have been worse,” via the Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial boards — Floridians entered the Legislative Session with a clear concern: the rising cost of living. Housing, insurance and everyday expenses continue to squeeze household budgets. Yet when lawmakers set their agenda in Tallahassee, the priorities often looked vastly different from the ones people talk about around their kitchen tables.

When the Legislature finally adjourned Friday afternoon, the end of voting was almost a relief. The Session had become defined less by solutions to everyday problems and more by a string of contentious proposals that critics say threatened fundamental rights.

Several measures focused on voting and speech. One new law will require voters registering in Florida to prove U.S. citizenship with documents such as a passport or certified birth certificate. Opponents argue that many eligible voters do not have those documents readily available.

Free speech concerns surfaced in legislation creating a new state designation of domestic terrorism. Critics say the law could damage organizations’ reputations before they can defend themselves, raising alarms about potential abuse of power.

Labor rights were also part of the debate. A bill imposing new voting requirements on public-sector unions aims to tighten oversight but drew criticism from opponents who say it weakens workers’ bargaining power.

Another controversial measure targets diversity, equity and inclusion efforts by threatening local officials with removal from office if public funds support such programs.

Environmental policy nearly took an even sharper turn. Several proposals that would have weakened local environmental protections or expanded large-scale development quietly died during the Session.

One small bright spot emerged when lawmakers approved a $31 million stopgap measure to maintain HIV/AIDS medications through the AIDS Drug Assistance Program for roughly 11,000 Floridians.

With the Session over, critics say the political fallout may now shift to voters, who will ultimately decide whether the Legislature’s priorities reflect their own.

— MORE OPINIONS —

“Why Minnesota matters more than Iran for America’s future” via Thomas Friedman of The New York Times — The past year has been a bleak one, marked by the Trump administration’s assault on long-standing alliances and the spineless surrender of elite institutions to raw power. But in Minnesota, something better emerged: a spontaneous wave of civic courage built on a simple creed — neighbors protecting neighbors. As ICE operations swept through the Twin Cities, ordinary people stepped up with rides, shelter, food, cash and quiet acts of solidarity. The movement was not ideological theater. It was community in action. Residents across racial and economic lines defended immigrants not as abstractions, but as friends, workers and family. In the face of cruelty, Minnesota answered with kinship. The lesson was plain: formal safeguards can fail, but solidarity remains a renewable resource when people decide to show up.

“We have reached end-stage polarization” via David French of The New York Times — The return of Trump to the White House reflects a deeper problem in American political culture — a nation increasingly defined by mutual contempt. Survey data from the Pew Research Center show that the United States stands alone among 25 countries in which most citizens believe their fellow citizens lack morality and ethics. Democrats and Republicans alike view each other as dishonest, immoral and dangerous, creating fertile ground for demagogues. This hostility has reached the point where even basic civility is treated as weakness. Yet the health of the constitutional system depends on the willingness to defend the rights of people we dislike. The alternative is a politics of pure vengeance. As Martin Luther King Jr. demonstrated, justice without mercy cannot sustain a democracy.

“Miami asks the right question: Hasn’t former Commissioner cost us enough money?” via the Miami Herald editorial board — Former Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo has been out of office since December, but his actions continue to haunt the city — and have cost taxpayers. Let’s be realistic: Taxpayers will probably never get back the money they forked out to pay for Carollo’s legal fees in a lawsuit he lost in 2023 and that the U.S. Supreme Court last week declined to hear on appeal. The City Commission voted to sue Carollo to recover attorneys’ fees and costs paid by public funds for Carollo’s defense. The Commission’s own attorney said the city probably wouldn’t be able to collect that money even if it prevailed in court. Carollo already faces a $63.5 million federal judgment that would take precedence over anything Carollo may owe taxpayers. Carollo said he doesn’t have the money to pay Miami back. The Commission acted on principle, and that matters. And it should be a warning to any elected official who wishes to use their office or city resources for personal vendettas, as Carollo did, according to the allegations in the lawsuit.

“Let voters approve Trump road marker” via the South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial board — Here’s how the Mayor opened the last town Commission meeting in Little Lauderdale-by-the-Sea (population 6,000). “Continued willful interruptions or disturbances may lead to arrest, pursuant to Section 871.01 of Florida Statutes,” Mayor Edmund Malkoon announced. The town community center, Jarvis Hall, was packed on the night of March 10. Most people were there for one reason: to oppose the town’s approval of the Legislature’s passage of a bill that would co-designate part of Commercial Boulevard, a major east-west highway, as “President Donald J. Trump Boulevard.” Dozens of speakers opposed it. Even in this usually peaceful beach town, where Republicans significantly outnumber Democrats, some have had enough. Many wore stickers that said “resident” — a blunt message to town officials who falsely claimed that most critics of honoring Trump do not live in town. Seeing residents push back respectfully shows democracy at work. “The streets of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea don’t belong to politicians. They don’t belong to political parties. They belong to the people,” said Patrick Ferguson, a lawyer and leader of a residents’ group, “No Politics in Paradise.”

— INSTAGRAM OF THE DAY —

— HAPPY BIRTHDAY —

Belated best wishes to U.S. Rep. Mike Haridopolos. Celebrating today are Reps. Chip LaMarca and Omar Blanco, former Rep. Carey Baker, former Education Commissioner, New College of Florida President Richard Corcoran, John French, Eric Johnson, Jan Gorrie, Alexander Pantinakis, and Joseph Salzverg of GrayRobinson.

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