Capital Report

Lawmakers are being asked to consider two competing proposals surrounding access to dental care. One would allow mid-level practitioners to be licensed, while the other would provide incentives to would-be dentists. A coalition called Floridians for Dental Access wants the Florida Legislature to allow licenses for dental therapists . Therapists have more training than a dental hygienist and less training than a dentist. They can perform services like filling cavities and pulling teeth.

Florida's Commission on Ethics today found probable cause to begin an investigation into possible state ethics violations by former Tallahassee mayor and Democratic candidate for Florida governor Andrew Gillum. Probable cause does NOT mean Gillum is guilty, rather it allows the commission to investigate the four issues brought before it. Robbie Gaffney was at today’s commission proceeding and files this report. Florida Secretary of State Mike Ertel (er-TELL) resigned after the Tallahassee

Governor Ron DeSantis wants the Florida Legislature to change the current law on smoking medical marijuana. Ryan Dailey reports DeSantis is asking courts to hold off on a decision in the lawsuit challenging a smoking ban. Now even some critics of DeSantis like Parkland parent and gun safety advocate Fred Guttenberg and former Democratic Congresswoman Gwen Graham are applauding the move. And while we’re on the subject of constitutional amendments… Victims’ rights protections under Marsy’s Law are

Victims’ rights protections under Marsy’s Law are now enshrined in the state Constitution. But many state agencies are struggling to interpret the broad language, most recently law enforcement.

A law that went into effect last July requires medical providers to check a statewide database before prescribing opioids for patients. Now, lawmakers are being asked to consider an exemption for doctors whose patients are terminally ill. The law, known as House Bill 21 (HB21), targets controlled substances that are labeled as Schedule II or higher. That includes painkillers like OxyContin and codeine. These drugs are classified as having a high potential for abuse.

Shawn Mulcahy and Tom Flanigan review the very busy first week of Florida’s new governor and (mostly) new state cabinet. Although Florida voters approved medical marijuana a few years ago, a legal battle has raged ever since on whether the medicine can be smoked. As Blaise Gainey reports, a new governor and mostly new cabinet may be significantly changing the dynamic of those arguments. Amid the U.S. Government shutdown now going on 20 days, federal employees and their agencies in Florida are

Governor-elect Ron DeSantis officially takes office on Tuesday. The former Congressman stuck with Fox News as his media outlet of choice during the campaign, and he largely stayed quiet during the election recount. Since then, his transition teams have been crafting policy plans. DeSantis announced new state agency chiefs that political observers call qualified candidates. He even crossed the aisle to hire Democrats to lead Florida's Department of Emergency Management and Department of Revenue.

Advisers to Governor-elect Ron DeSantis want greater action on school safety. Shawn Mulcahy reports this comes after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission released the first draft of its report. Governor-elect Ron DeSantis officially takes office on Tuesday. DeSantis stuck with Fox News as his media outlet of choice during the campaign. And he largely stayed quiet during the election recount. Since then, his transition teams have been crafting policy plans. He’s

Florida Governor-elect Ron DeSantis is crafting his policy agenda and has turned to a group of thinkers from across the state to help. One of those groups, the Education and Workforce Transition Committee, is working on its proposals for DeSantis. Lynn Hatter listened in on one of the group’s recent meetings. Republican Former Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran will make his mark on the state’s public schools as the new Commissioner of Education. Ryan Dailey reports Corcoran was voted into

Last week, a Florida Senate committee heard that a potential surplus of more than $220-million had likely disappeared for next year’s state budget because of Hurricane Michael . This week, the outlook turned more positive, with analysts projecting a significant increase in state revenue over two years. Budget analysts periodically meet inside a building next to the Capitol for what’s known as the Revenue Estimating Conference.

Governor-Elect Ron DeSantis’ economic transition team held a conference call this week to pitch suggestions on how to harness what will drive Florida’s economy going forward. Ryan Dailey has more. After a year that saw an explosion of toxic algae blooms in Florida and a host of other environmental concerns, it’s no surprise that the state’s incoming governor would like all the information he could get in advance of leading the state. This week was the first meeting of Governor Elect DeSantis’s

Florida’s share of film and television productions is waning as the state no longer offers tax credits for the industry. A new analysis finds Florida lawmakers may have good reason to reconsider those incentives. The HBO series “Ballers” starring Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson was filmed in South Florida for its first two seasons. Then it moved to California – after Florida’s film tax credit program ended in 2016. The show is still going strong, now working on its fifth season.

Governor-elect Ron DeSantis has chosen fellow Republican and Former Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran to head the State Department of Education. Ryan Dailey reports Florida’s Board of Education will vote on whether or not Corcoran gets the job later this month. Select felons who’ve completed their sentence will be eligible to vote come January 8 th. At least, that’s what the state’s voters approved when they overwhelmingly passed Amendment 4 back in November. As Blaise Gainey reports

A new front in the ongoing battle between Everglades restoration and Florida’s sugar industry has opened up. This time, it’s over a planned water reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee. Environmentalists are suing to block an extension of sugar leases they say could delay construction. Lynn Hatter has more. As the deadline to renew the National Flood Insurance Program looms over Congress, many are left wondering what they will do if it ends. While the NFIP is the primary source of flood insurance

The Florida Legislature convened in Tallahassee before the Thanksgiving holiday for an organizational session. Gina Jordan reports new lawmakers were sworn in, and new leaders were installed. A new crop of leaders will make their way to Tallahassee in January. The state canvassing board has signed off on the results of a contentious election that has seen Florida’s leadership through another big change. On election night, Republican-voting strongholds in the Florida Panhandle provided Governor