Florida News – Highlights from around the state – March 12th
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the some of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida.
- Governor DeSantis provided a coronavirus update citing restricted access to all nursing home and senior care facilities from anyone who has traveled internationally within the previous 14 days or is showing any signs of any illness. He also announced Lab Corp and Quest Diagnostics are now online assisting the state with COVID-19 testing. Additionally, polling stations are being adjusted for senior care facilities as needed in advance of Florida’s March 17th elections.
- Florida’s University system has advised all colleges to move towards online classes amid coronavirus fears. Many private grade schools are looking towards implementing virtual education as well. Florida’s prison system has also temporarily halted all personal visits.
- Florida’s state session is set to enter overtime. The House and the Senate stated a budget deal is close and could be ready as soon as Friday, however Florida law requires a 72-hour cooling off period before a vote can be taken. Tuesday’s elections would bump the final vote to next Wednesday.
- Movers in Wednesday’s state session included legislation designed at overhauling wastewater treatment, septic systems and the abuse of contaminants in Florida’s waterways. This bill was one of Governor DeSantis’s central issues outlined in his State of the State address and it now heads to his desk.
- Other bills passed to Governor DeSantis included...The legislation that increases penalties for bear poachers, the bill banning discrimination of special needs individuals for organ transplants and the legislation which expands the ability for pharmacists to diagnose and treat minor medical needs.
- Other movers that haven’t yet passed in both bodies include E-Verify, the bill that’d ban the use of DNA info by insurance companies, the regulation of advertising signs by ridesharing drivers.