Capitol Buzz | On the clock

Plus: ESG, kids' health insurance, the death penalty and more

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View this on the Web Go to our home page Subscribe to the Times Saturday, April 1, 2023 Forward this to a friend Subscribe to more newsletters To our readers: Welcome to the Capitol Buzz. You're receiving this email because you've subscribed to the Buzz newsletter. Every Saturday morning, members of the Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau will round up the biggest stories from the 60-day legislative session until it's over. [PHIL SEARS | Associated Press] Fast-paced session, fast-paced comment By the end of the fourth week of session, some of the most high-profile bills are already passed or on the brink of final approval. That includes a massive tort reform package, a bill allowing people to carry guns without permits or training, a six-week abortion ban and a prohibition on gender-affirming health care for transgender kids.   Most of those bills have been fast-tracked and faced only two committee meetings, instead of three, in both the House and Senate.    At each stop, dozens of speakers from across the state drove up to Tallahassee to share their thoughts. But members of the public were often limited to just 30 seconds or a minute of testimony.   Advocacy group Accountable Florida posted a video showing awkward confrontations between speakers and lawmakers over the time limits in discussions about sweeping legislation that limits lawsuits against insurance companies. The unlisted YouTube video has been viewed 50,000 times.   When Farrah Fox went to speak against the bill on March 7, she asked for more time because of a traumatic brain injury she suffered when an off-duty Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputy slammed into her car in 2018.   “I do ask that I have more than 30 seconds just because I am disabled and it’s hard for me to articulate,” Fox said.   “I understand. I’m so sorry, but your 30 seconds can begin now,” said Sen. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton.   At Thursday’s Health & Human Services Committee in the House, the last opportunity for the public to weigh in a bill that would bar most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, the committee chairperson warned speakers there could be consequences if they went on too long.   Rep. Randy Fine, R-Brevard County, said he would be fine having speakers go until the end of the meeting, but that could mean another bill on the agenda, about expanding health care for low-income kids, may not get heard and could be killed. Near the end of that meeting, the last batch of people who had signed up to speak ended up just having their names read out into the record. There was a notable exception to the public commenting time constraints. At the Senate’s last committee stop for the six-week abortion ban, Fiscal Policy chairperson Travis Hutson, R-Palm Coast, had public comment go on for nearly four hours, with members of the public constantly adding their names to the list and speaking freely.    Fellow senators thanked Hutson for how he ran the meeting, but he said the “president was the one that wanted everybody to be heard.” Other headlines you may have missed Death penalty standard: The Florida Senate voted to lower the standard for how many jurors are required to vote in favor of putting someone to death, making it the lowest in the nation.   "Human trafficking": That’s how a Florida statewide grand jury described federal immigration authorities’ oversight of unaccompanied migrant children.   Part-time call line: Florida’s insurance regulators are so short-staffed — and getting so many complaints — that they cut the state’s insurance helpline to three hours a day.   Affordable housing plan: Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law the state’s most meaningful housing legislation in decades.   New FAU president?: DeSantis asked conservative firebrand Randy Fine if he was interested in being the new president of Florida Atlantic University.   Kids’ health insurance: Florida lawmakers aren’t expanding Medicaid, but they are looking to expand health care for more children in low-income families.   Right-wing pushback: A bill to make it easier to sue journalists will be amended after conservative media and talk radio hosts spoke out against it.   23,000 cases in 3 days: The tort reform legislation designed to quell lawsuits has triggered a surge in cases that has overwhelmed judges and court clerks.    ‘ESG’ consequences: Lawmakers want to penalize companies that consider social and environmental issues in investments, but it could make taxpayers pay more for government bonds. What you need to know for next week On Monday, the Senate is expected to pass a six-week abortion ban. It will also take up amendments and questions on a bill banning health care treatments for gender dysphoria in children.    On Tuesday, a Senate committee will take up an election bill that Passidomo said is “pretty robust.”   Lawmakers will be off from Wednesday to Friday in advance of Easter Sunday. This week's newsletter was compiled by Romy Ellenbogen and Lawrence Mower. Did someone forward this to you? Get The Buzz in your own inbox next time. It's free to subscribe. Sign up here. Contact us Privacy policy Terms, Conditions & Copyright Standard of accuracy © 2023 • All Rights Reserved Tampa Bay Times • 490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111   To ensure this email is delivered to your inbox, add custserv@elist.tampabay.com to your address book. You are receiving this email because you signed up for "The Buzz" newsletter from the Tampa Bay Times. If you’d prefer not to receive updates, you can unsubscribe from this email.