Florida News – Highlights from around the state – January 30th
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the some of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida.
- Governor DeSantis announced a new program that will specifically train law enforcement to spot potential mass shooters before they attack. The threat assessment plan which will be rolled out this summer will be the first of its kind nationally and will become part of the police academy training - with specific training on the new curriculum for all current members of law enforcement.
- A proposed Constitutional Amendment calling for term limits for all school board members statewide cleared another committee in Florida’s House yesterday. The proposal calls for eight-year limits for school board seats. It stalled during the session last year but is on track for possible passage this year. If it passes & is signed by the Governor, it’d go on our ballot this fall and would require 60% support.
- The bill aimed at curbing the proliferation of proposed constitutional amendments by raising the threshold for voter signatures to be reviewed by Florida’s Supreme Court from 10% of the needed signatures to 50% passed another key committee in the House it’s on track in both the House and Senate.
- Speaking of Florida’s Constitution... The Florida Constitution Revision Commission is on the verge of being voted down by the state legislature. Having already passed in the House, the bill has now cleared its final committee in the Senate and is set to pass in a full vote. Governor DeSantis has called for the end of the Commission.
- The bill eliminating Florida’s Best and Brightest bonus program for teachers and applying the funds directly to teacher salaries passed unanimously in a Senate committee and looks to serve as a piece of the funding puzzle as the state looks to address Governors DeSantis’s teacher pay plan. The state legislature is poised to move forward without bonus plans including the framework provided by the governor.
- The bill banning local governments from banning sunscreens passed in the full Senate. It’s tracking in the House as well and will face it’s next House committee hearing today.