5 big session questions asked and answered

Hello and welcome to Thursday.

The 2023 regular session is coming to close and legislators are poised to Sine Die on Friday when the sun is still shining brightly. Legislative leaders — in a change from years past — grinded through a 60-day marathon pushing through major bills from the opening moments of the session until the final week.

So, with a day to go, here are the answers to five big questions posed nearly two months ago:

Will Ron DeSantis get everything he wants? — Almost. DeSantis came with a robust agenda ahead of an expected presidential run and legislators gave him most of it on issues ranging from death penalty, guns, abortion, immigration, Covid-19 and higher education.

His push to change libel laws against media companies died and legislators did not embrace everything he asked for in a tax cut package. A push to repeal a law that guarantees in-state tuition rates to undocumented students who were Florida residents never surfaced. The fate of the governor’s “digital bill of rights” aimed at tech companies remains a mystery. A ban on gender-affirming care is expected to pass but differences between the House and Senate remain.

Will legislators pass additional abortion restrictions? — Yes, they will, and they did. On the opening day of session, legislative leaders unveiled a bill to change Florida’s current ban on abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy to six weeks while adding exceptions for rape, incest and human trafficking (but require proof). The six-week law, however, will not take effect until after a legal challenge to Florida’s existing law is resolved.

What gun measures will actually pass? — Florida legislators agreed to scrap permits for concealed weapons, but a push by gun rights supporters to authorize open carry never materialized. The House late last week passed a bill to lower the age to buy a rifle from 21 to 18, reversing a restriction that was enacted after the Parkland massacre. Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, however, told reporters on Wednesday that she remains opposed to this change.

Are Republicans just trolling? — Yes, but …. Several attention-grabbing bills including a measure to outlaw the Democratic Party and one to force “bloggers” to register with the state never went anywhere. But the GOP still managed to pass measures that drew the ire of Democrats, such as naming a road after the late conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh and coming up with another round of legislation aimed at DeSantis foe Disney, such as a bill requiring monorail inspections.

Can Democrats change anything? — Not really. Democrats, at their smallest margins in the Legislature in more than a decade, have debated vigorously and offered loads of amendments to stall controversial bills. But it’s been an exercise in futility. They won’t go home completely empty-handed. House Speaker Paul Renner this week pointed to Democratic legislators getting some of their bills passed and their projects funded in the budget (which is true). Expect both Democrats and Republicans to vote on the $117 billion spending plan Friday. But will they survive DeSantis’ veto pen?

— WHERE’S RON? — Nothing official announced for Gov. DeSantis.

Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch: [email protected]

... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ...

SCALED BACK FROM ORIGINAL BILL — Florida Republicans pass bill targeting transgender bathroom use, by POLITICO’s Andrew Atterbury: Florida Republicans passed legislation Wednesday that would make it a misdemeanor trespassing offense for someone to use certain bathrooms that don’t align with their sex at birth. The bill, now headed to Gov. Ron DeSantis for his signature, is limited to people using restrooms and changing facilities in state and local government buildings, schools, colleges and detention centers. But, in a major change approved with two days left of session, lawmakers significantly scaled the measure back so it no longer applies to bathrooms in restaurants, gas stations and other businesses as it did previously.

ROUND 2 — Florida lawmakers restrict pronouns and tackle book objections in sweeping education bill, by POLITICO’s Andrew Atterbury: Republican senators in Florida gave final approval Wednesday to a sweeping education bill targeting how teachers and students can use their pronouns in schools, sending to Gov. Ron DeSantis a proposal meant to strengthen state’s parental rights law panned by critics as “Don’t Say Gay.” The expansions to one of the most controversial bills of 2022, which lawmakers passed on a 27-12 party-line vote, are set to widen a ban on school lessons about sexual identity and gender orientation that GOP lawmakers argue should take place at home — not in the classroom.

SIT-IN — “Arrests made as dozens stage sit-in protest in Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office in Capitol,” by Miami Herald’s Ana Ceballos: “An hours-long protest on Wednesday that blocked the entrance to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office in the Capitol building in Tallahassee culminated with the arrest of about a dozen demonstrators who refused to leave after warnings from police. The protest started at 1 p.m., with a few dozen protesters crowding the lobby of the governor’s office. They were broadly protesting DeSantis’ policies and his approach to governing. Around 7 p.m., Capitol police gave protesters a 20-minute warning to clear the building. Most of the protesters left, but about a dozen stayed.”

MOUSE TRAP — “Lawmakers approve Disney World monorail inspections,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Skyler Swisher: “Florida lawmakers late Wednesday gave final approval to a bill giving the state the power to inspect the monorail at Disney World, the latest salvo in the feud between Gov. Ron DeSantis and the theme park giant. DeSantis vowed to end Disney’s power to self-inspect its monorail system as part of his push to end what he calls the corporation’s ‘special privileges’ in Florida.”

MOUNT TALLAHASSEE — Legislature votes to send ‘ultimate preemption’ bill to DeSantis, by POLITICO’s Bruce Ritchie: The Legislature on Wednesday approved a bill described by its sponsor as the “the preemption to end all preemption bills” over local governments. The House voted 83-32 to pass the amended bill requiring local governments to halt implementation of local regulations that businesses challenge in court. The Senate also voted Wednesday 28-12 to concur with the language after 11 Democrats flipped after an initial 37-1 vote.

COLLEGE DAZE — Florida lawmakers vote to ban spending on diversity programs, by POLITICO’s Andrew Atterbury: Florida lawmakers this week put the finishing touches on a slate of higher education reforms requested by Gov. Ron DeSantis to reign in what he and other Republicans consider “woke” ideology on college campuses. In two bills that scored final passage on Tuesday and Wednesday, the GOP-leaning Legislature committed to restricting state colleges and universities from spending cash on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts while calling for a review of courses and majors offered across the state.

THE AGENDA — Florida Legislature passes bill extending ban on Covid-19 mandates, by POLITICO’s Arek Sarkissian: The Florida House on Wednesday passed a bill that extends and expands the state’s ban on Covid-19 mandates, furthering Gov. Ron DeSantis’ resistance to Covid-related restrictions. The House approved S.B. 252 on an 84-31 vote while the Senate approved it last week. The measure will extend bans related to Covid-19 indefinitely; they were set expire in June. The new measure defines vaccine mandates and face mask requirements as discriminatory against people who choose not to follow them. Businesses also can’t compel employees to disclose their post-infection recovery status if they were infected.

— “After culture clashes, Florida Legislature’s last act is a state budget. What’s in it?” by USA Today Network-Florida’s John Kennedy

— “After tort restrictions, lawmakers approve insurer ‘accountability’ bill,” by Florida Politics’ Gray Rohrer

— “Trauma session: How this year’s Florida legislative session reopened wounds, left scars,” by USA Today Network-Florida’s Kathryn Varn

— “Bill requiring tax money to pay for charter schools’ capital outlay readied for passage,” by Florida Politics’ Anne Geggis

— “Bill restricting Chinese from buying Florida land passes House,” by Tampa Bay Times’ Lawrence Mower

— “Democrats fume as House votes to name road after Rush Limbaugh,” by Florida Politics’ A.G. Gancarski

— “Legislature unanimously passes bill restricting social media, school phone use in school,” by Florida Politics’ Jesse Scheckner

DESANTISLAND

ON BOARD — “Donors to Ron DeSantis know he’s struggling. They still want him to be president in 2024,” by USA Today’s Erin Mansfield and Sarasota Herald-Tribune’s Zac Anderson: “USA TODAY spoke with a dozen donors who gave $3,000 to $110,000 to DeSantis’s two fundraising accounts in Florida during his 2022 campaign for governor. Though many said he has faced setbacks and that beating Trump would be difficult, they also said they were likely to donate to a DeSantis presidential campaign. Only one said he did not want DeSantis to be president and ruled out donating.”

— “Ron DeSantis again decries ‘anonymous sources’ after anti-defamation bill fails,” by Florida Politics’ A.G. Gancarski

— “DeSantis signs bill aimed at lowering prescription drug prices,” by South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s Cindy Krischer Goodman

— “In blow to DeSantis, Florida bills to limit press protections are shelved,” by The New York Times’ Ken Bensinger

TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP

RESPONSE — “Trump will offer no defense witnesses in rape trial, his lawyer says,” by The New York Times’ Lola Fadulu, Benjamin Weiser and Kate Christobek: “A lawyer defending former President Donald J. Trump against the writer E. Jean Carroll’s lawsuit accusing him of rape said that he would present no witnesses during the trial, which completed its sixth day Wednesday. The lawyer, Joseph Tacopina, had earlier told Judge Lewis A. Kaplan that Mr. Trump would not come to Manhattan federal court to testify in the civil case. … When a reporter asked him why he was in Ireland instead of New York for his civil case, he responded that he had a longstanding agreement to travel there, according to a recording posted on Twitter on Wednesday.”

— “Chris Christie taunts Trump as ‘afraid’ of presidential debates,” by The New York Times’ Katie Glueck

CAMPAIGN MODE

PURPLE OR RED? — “Republicans romped in Florida last year. Biden may try to compete in the state anyway,” by McClatchy D.C.’s Alex Roarty: “Joe Biden isn’t ready to give up on Florida. As part of a broad advertising effort that includes electoral battlegrounds like Michigan and Georgia, the president’s reelection campaign will begin running a new ad this week in the state highlighting Biden’s economic record. It’s the second ad the campaign has released since the president announced he would run for reelection last week. The ad, slated to run on cable in the Orlando and Tampa media markets and on online platforms across the state, represents a relatively tiny investment compared to the multi-million-dollar sums campaigns have spent in the state in the past.”

— “Palm Beach County election showdown: Democratic mayor vs DeSantis-appointed Republican,” by South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s Anthony Man

PENINSULA AND BEYOND

‘NOTHING I COULD REALLY DO’ — “Because of Florida abortion law, she carried her baby to term knowing he would die,” by CNN’s Elizabeth Cohen, Carma Hassan and Amanda Musa: “A Florida woman, unable to get an abortion in her state, carried to term a baby who had no kidneys. Deborah Dorbert’s son Milo died in her arms on March 3, shortly after he was born, just as her doctors had predicted he would. ‘He gasped for air a couple of times when I held him,’ said Dorbert, 33. ‘I watched my child take his first breath, and I held him as he took his last one.’”

SENTENCE CARRIED OUT — “Man executed in Florida for woman’s 1986 stabbing death,” by The Associated Press: “A Florida man was executed Wednesday for breaking into a woman’s home and stabbing her to death in 1986, a crime committed months after he was released from prison for a rape. Darryl B. Barwick, 56, was pronounced dead at 6:14 p.m. Wednesday following a lethal injection at Florida State Prison, the office of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis said. The U.S. Supreme Court denied the inmate’s final appeal for a stay of execution earlier in the day. After being brought into the death chamber, Barwick said, ‘I can’t explain why I did what I did. It’s time to apologize to the family ... I’m sorry.’”

— “Olympic Gold medalist found dead in Horizon West, deputies say,” by Orlando Sentinel’s David Harris

— “Hillsborough elections office in Tampa reports ‘criminal cyberactivity,” by Tampa Bay Times’ Sue Carlton

— “Portions of JEA hearing to be held in secret, over media objections,” by Florida Times-Union’s Nate Monroe

— “Florida OKs AP precalculus course after delay that worried educators,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Leslie Postal

— “Fort Lauderdale mayor wants to hand out millions to flood victims. Commission says no,” by South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s Susannah Bryan

ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN

— “Leo Schofield from ‘Bone Valley’ podcast denied parole again,” by Richard Bockman for The Tampa Bay Times: “At Wednesday’s hearing, state Sen. Jonathan Martin, chairperson of the Criminal Justice Committee, told the parole board (the Florida Commission on Offender Review) that Schofield should be released. ‘Everything that I’ve seen about this case turns my stomach,’ said Martin, a former prosecutor. ‘I don’t know why Leo Schofield wasn’t released years ago. … You have the chance to restore credibility to the system that thousands of people know injustice is continuing every single second that Leo Schofield remains behind bars.’”

BIRTHDAYS: State Sen. Tina Polsky … Palm Beach State Attorney Dave Aronberg