July 22, 2025 • 47 mins
Sal Nuzzo, from Consumers Defense, offered a 2025 Legislative Session review with Preston.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
We are here. The third hour, affectually known as common Sense,
amplified the Morning Show with Preston Scotti's Oaseia and Preston,
Hi there. Good to be back with you. We took
a week off. We let you know, no panic. We
weren't suspended. I wasn't taken off the air. I was
taking a break. It's a little vacation. And so we
(00:25):
are back and please to add back with us in
studio for the first time. And as the kids like
to say, in a minute, yeah, it's been a hot minute. Yeah,
hot minute. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
I've heard my daughter say that once or twice.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
I had to have someone to find it for me
the first time I heard it. What are we talking
about here? Sal Muzo with Consumer's Defense, Sal pays attention.
He's our guru on all things Florida legislature and that
has not changed. But now the session's over. Yeah, and
literally at the last final moment, they got the budget
across the finish line. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
I mean we had talked in and I think it
was June or late May whenever we were in last
and they had a cutoff for getting the budget to
the governor to have it enacted by July one, and
they got right up to that deadline, and you know,
one hundred and five days, longest session in my career
(01:21):
in Florida policy, and definitely one of the more unique ones,
not for all of the best reasons, but they got
it done. And now they're, you know, already beginning to
think about prep for twenty six.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
We'll get to what did and what didn't get done,
and I'm sure that in the months to come we'll
maybe notably focus on the things that didn't get done
that might get teed up next time. But let's focus
on the constitutional mandated requirement of getting a budget done.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Yeah, it is, as you mentioned, the one constitutional requirement
that they have. They took quite a long time to
get it done this year. The governor signed it. Final
figure was one hundred and seventeen point four billion dollars.
The budget that passed was one hundred and seventeen point
nine line item veto's a shade under six hundred million.
Two consecutive years of actual reductions in state spending, which
(02:16):
is a boon and a tale to be told to
every other state as well as the federal government.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
What do you think is most notable about that.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
One of the things that I really kind of paid
a lot of attention to, is anybody who's in the
process did, was the battle between the House, the governor
the tax package. The notable piece of this was that
it was basically a stalemate. Neither side got what I
would consider a win on that. And we can kind
of talk a little bit about kind of some of
(02:47):
the tax cuts that passed, but the base tax rate
reduction that the Speaker was pushing didn't go. The reduction
or elimination of property taxes that the governor wanted didn't go.
And in fact, interestingly enough, one of the line items
that the governor did veto was an appropriation for a
(03:10):
study on how to best do that property tax elimination.
He vetoed that and said, no, we should know how.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
To do it.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
We don't need a study, we don't need a committee,
just get it done. I think that is it's telling,
and I think it's going to be part of what
his positioning is in twenty twenty six.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
When you look at the budget and you look at
the fact that we've it's a stunningly successful budget by
in terms of a national comparison, Right, Yeah, I mean
the big comparison is always with New York New York.
New York.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
New York has got three million fewer residents and a
state budget that is more than twice what Florida is.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
When it's all said and done, I feel like the
property tax elimination, you know, I've been advocating it for
twenty three years. That said, I think it needed a
little more time to percolate, to just throw it out
there without a little more study. And I kind of
think that maybe there does need to be some study.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
I'm not I'm sort of with you. I'm not of
the position that it well, let me back up. I
think for folks that are playing a role in policy
and moving policy across the finish line, they will often
articulate that most things that are a little bit contentious
or controversial or have a big price tag, you've got
to expect a two to three in some cases for
(04:32):
cycle process for it to actually get done. And so
I think we may be in year two of that now.
And I don't necessarily think the brass ring is unattainable.
I just think that, like you said, there may need
to be just a little bit more math done because
of the fact that local governments are the ones that
(04:53):
rely on the tax revenues for the things that they do.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
And that's the part that I mean, the consideration of, Okay,
what will the governments likely do in response to this
to raise their revenues.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Yeah, and so there may need to be other bills
that go along with this, what we would call the
Truth and Taxation Bill, things that the state may want
to pre emp them on how much local option they
could do. Things like that where at the end of
the day, local governments will need to provide services that they're
going to need revenue. It's just a question of how
(05:26):
they're going to get it. And that's why, like in
any other case, with something like this, it may just take.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
Two or three cycles on the House Speaker's proposal that
to me was just not worth considering. But that's just
my personal viewpoint. I just I think it was a
foolish idea.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
Yeah, I think politically the narrative was in his favor.
I think it's easy to message. But at the end
of the day, far too much of the sales tax
revenue is paid by tourists visitors, and there are far
too many carve outs, loopholes, exemptions in the sales tax
to make it something that would have mattered more than
a few bucks a month.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
More to come with sal newsoh Here on the Morning
Show with Preston.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Scott Now until seven o'clock this evening.
Speaker 4 (06:22):
Saint Michael Street is going to be closed between Gaines
and Saint Francis Street. This is going to last until Saturday,
July twenty sixth.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
From the Traffic Center, I'm Jay Tab.
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The heat and the humidity that's our big concern here
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Learn more at stude dot org.
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Stay informed, Tallahassee depends on it.
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Get your news at doubuflafam dot com. In a clouded world,
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(07:38):
the hour, more resal Newso, as we're talking about the budget,
let's go through some highlights.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Sure, So fifteen point seven billion in reserves added eight
hundred and thirty million. And I thought this was notable
because of the juxtaposition with the FEDS eight hundred and
thirty million in funding for Florida's Accelerated Debt repayment program.
So the state's actually going to pay off about half
of the debt accrued since we became a state in
eighteen forty five. Now compare that to Washington, DC, and
(08:07):
Florida does this without a state income tax. We do
it by having a great business climate, by having a
regulatory system that encourages investment, encourages business to start open
and grow in the state, and we broaden the base
of economic development in a way that makes this all possible.
(08:30):
The contrast to Washington could not be more stark. On
the state balance sheet, what are the debts? What's the total?
Oh gosh, I would have to go back and figure
it out, because I know that they've taken it down
a bunch since Rick Scott.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
Yeah, Rick Scott's been noted for doing that.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
And I believe debt occurs when like they need to
issue bonds for certain things and down periods and whatnot,
and so it accumulates and we're paying interest and so,
but it is still debt and it's on the balance well.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
And but that now starts to be offset by reserves
and the rainy day fund and all of these things,
so we might not be relying on having to do
that in the.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
Future, right exactly. That is the salient point that as
we're building up reserves, as we're adding to those rainy
day funds, we're making it more likely that we will
not have to issue dead in the future, which again
is something I wish Washington would take note of. Imagine
if the state of Florida called in to Dave Ramsey, right,
(09:30):
called into the Dave Ramsey Show, and the State of
Florida said freedom, We're debt free. Did the we're debt free?
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Yeah, yeah, we're not quite there, no, but but the
fact is it can be. The state can be debt free.
And what a statement that would make.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
Absolutely again a contrast to Washington, DC, A beacon to
every other state out there that you can in fact
operate a state government in an efficient and effective manner.
Pay raises for state employees, Yeah, raises two percent. You know,
it's probably around what a cola would be at this point,
(10:06):
but it doesn't really get it all the inflation we
had under the Biden administration. No, However, there are some
ten and fifteen percent increases coming for public safety employees
with more than five years in this in the job,
and so there's a number of ways at which we're
trying to continue to bolster the state workforce.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
There. We always hear about sales tax holidays. Yep, what
happened there.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
So, but first we I want to go to there,
but I do want to highlight the fact that the
business rent tax has been eliminated completely. We were the
only state in the country that levied a sales tax
on a commercial lease. So if you own a business
and you rent your space your office, you had to
pay a sales tax on that. That will that's going
(10:52):
away completely.
Speaker 1 (10:54):
July one, Did it go away? Does it go away
in the fall? I believe July one? So it's done. Yeah,
it's done.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
Nice on the sales tax holidays, permanent back to School
sales tax holiday every August for clothing under one hundred,
school supplies under fifty learning aids, personal computers under fifteen hundred.
Permanent sales tax exemption on event tickets, state park admissions,
life jacket, sunscreen, bike helmets, insect repellent. You know, all
(11:19):
of this stuff are outside disaster preparedness items. Also permanent
exemptions there, batteries, generators, tarps, all of that stuff year round.
Second Amendment sales tax holiday September eighth to December thirty
first on purchases of firearms, bows, ammunition, tents, sleeping bags, stoves,
fishing rods, all of that stuff. Now, in theory, you know, great,
(11:43):
the libertarian or the free marketer in me is more
of a all right, you're really just shifting purchases and
it makes it a little bit more challenging for retailers
to manage inventory. But with that said, I mean we've
become accustomed to and with the tourism the way it is,
I understand why they go about it this way versus
(12:07):
the rate reduction on the whole.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
More to come with sound notes news. Oh, we've got
a lot to talk about. We're going to get into
some of the funding silos before we talk about some
of the bills that did and did not survive. Next
on The Morning Show with Preston Scott, learn more, take
(15:31):
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Speaker 9 (15:40):
When it comes to a gun suicide attempt, all it
takes is a moment.
Speaker 10 (15:44):
My son Rickie took his life by the use of
a firearm. It broke me and I come to play
this suicide my grandson. I was gonna have to be
here for him. I still own my firearm. I keep
it in a safe because I want to keep my
grandson and myself say.
Speaker 9 (16:02):
Store your guns, locked, unloaded, and away from AMMO. Hear
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A pretty nice ride as you're heading out the door
this morning, no accident sewing you down, but there is
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found at Mayhon blocking the right shoulders, So just be
aware traveling in the area. Now until seven o'clock this evening,
Saint Michael Street is going to be closed between Gains.
Speaker 3 (16:30):
And Saint Francis Street.
Speaker 4 (16:31):
This is going to last until Saturday, July twenty sixth.
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From the Traffic Center, I'm shay Tab.
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(17:55):
Salnuzo with me consumers. Defense funding silos describe a silo.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
Yeah, so just categories of the budget sometimes are called allocations.
For example, education a share shade under about sixteen billion
in the K twelve arena. The funding per student is
ninety one hundred and thirty dollars, up about one hundred
and forty some dollars per student one point four billion
(18:20):
for teacher pay increases another six seven billion dollars in
higher education.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
How much of that, you know, teacher pay increase goes
to the people that have been there a while as
opposed to incentivizing.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
I do believe the majority of this is to get
out of the salary compression problems from a few years back.
So I think that's meant to address some of that.
Transportation fifteen billion, everglades protection one point four billion. You've
got just notable. You've got huge chunks of the budget
(18:51):
that aren't a part of the discretionary general fund pool.
For example, thirty percent of Florida's total budget. So thirty
percent of the one hundred and seventeen billion is money
coming from the federal government taxpayers, but from the feds
just for the federal portion of medicaid other things are
(19:12):
other parts of the budget are somewhat similar, none that
are quite as large, But that's kind of we're getting
some of our money back. Yeah, But that's also why
when you look at some of these silos, some of
them are mixes of federal and state money. Some of
them are just state. But that's I just wanted to
make sure that was mentioned and on the line on
(19:33):
in veto's, so the governor has line on a veto authority.
There was not as much acts as in years prior.
But if you look at it, and I did look
at how much he vetoed relative to what other states do,
it would it would look it looks massive. I also
took a look to see, all right, was there a
whole lot of political retribution in there? I didn't see much,
(19:56):
And you know, there was a part of me that
was wonder, with all of the drama back and forth,
would that be the case. However, one item did stand out,
and I'll point to it on bikes Pensacola. It was
a small sixty two, five hundred dollars appropriation. It got tossed.
It's probably not a coincidence that the one of their
(20:18):
vice presidents is Representative Alexandrotti, who is the chair of
the committee that probed Hope Florida, the charity for the
First Lady that she was running. That had a lot
of back and forth there so, but there wasn't a
whole lot of you know, kind of oh the governor
went after me, or anything along those lines.
Speaker 1 (20:37):
So we got about a minute left in the segment
to leave enough time on the back side of the break.
What is most important about what the governor signed?
Speaker 2 (20:47):
Well, so two hundred and forty seven bills signed. He
vetoed eleven, which is more than he has in his
entire administration.
Speaker 1 (20:56):
And those eleven bills have any commonality.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
Not really. There were just a little bit all over
the map, and for different reasons too. He did allow
three bills to become law without signature, which again they
were all over the map. One was a relief bill
for someone who had been incarcerated who was innocent. One
was for.
Speaker 1 (21:17):
Which, by the way, I don't think was enough. It
was not.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
And I don't know that there's any number I know,
but I talked about that story. Yeah, yeah, I'm with
you there. One on nursing education where he was he
viewed it as too much bureaucratic red tape in conjunction
with programs that already exist, and there was just not
a whole lot of rhyme or reason, which makes sense
(21:41):
if you're looking at it, you know, comprehensively.
Speaker 1 (21:44):
Yeah, We've got more to talk about with regard to
bills that did and did not get signed by the governor,
and we'll talk more with Sal Nuzo from Consumer's Defense
next on the Morning Show with Preston.
Speaker 15 (21:54):
Scotna USA.
Speaker 16 (24:33):
US USA.
Speaker 4 (26:36):
On the right shoulder. Just be aware traveling in the
area now. Starting at nine am now until seven o'clock tonight,
Saint Michael Street is going to be closed between Gaines
and Saint Francis Street. But this is going to last
daily until July twenty sixth, and from nine am until
four pm. Crossway Road is going to be closed between
night Heare and Lane and Shelferd Road from the traffic
centerme Shatab.
Speaker 5 (26:55):
The heat and the humidity, that's our big concern here
today or tomorrow. D seven to high. Today heath index
could run as high as one O eight. A few
afternoon thunderstorms may cool you off later today. I'm News
Radio one hundred point seven WFLA s Terry Smith in
the Weather Channel Forecast Center.
Speaker 1 (27:13):
Good morning with w FLA News.
Speaker 8 (27:15):
I'm jose Ken you c A Leon County judge says
it's too early to decide whether Donna Adelson's murder trial
should be moved. Adolson is accused in the twenty fourteen
murder for hire of her former son in law FSU
law professor Dan Markel. Her trial is set for August nineteenth,
and the judge emphasized both sides must be ready by
that date. A twenty year old Leon County man is
(27:38):
dead after an ATV crash on the Tallahassees Saint Mark's
Historic Railroad State Trail. Florida Highway Patrol states he veered
off the trail, hit a tree, and was ejected. His
mother and stepfather found his body just after eight a m. Sunday.
Speaker 1 (27:52):
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Speaker 8 (27:54):
A thirty four year old man is facing attempted murder
charges after allegedly attacking someone with a machete. Willie Simms
was arrested Thursday, more than twelve hours after deputies found
a man seriously injured near Fairbanks Ferry Road. Simms also
faces charges for battery on law enforcement and resisting arrest.
On Tuesday, the Leon County Commission voted four to three
(28:15):
to approve a five percent across the board pay increase
for all Leon County government and constitutional officer employees in
the fiscal year twenty twenty six budget and in FSU sports,
Florida State star pitcher Jamie Arnold was selected by the
Athletics as the eleventh overall pick in last night's draft.
Speaker 1 (28:34):
Also, Florida State's golf star Lottie.
Speaker 8 (28:37):
Woade has secured her LPGA Tour card after finishing tide
for third at the Amundi Evian Championship in France. Woad,
a five time First Team All American, is the first
to qualify through the LPGA's new Elite Amateur Pathway. Now
y'all caught up with everything local, Let's get more from Fox.
Speaker 12 (28:58):
Fox News.
Speaker 9 (28:58):
I'm geolog Jelloci. President Trump is expected to make a
major statement on Russia this morning.
Speaker 17 (29:03):
The Russians keep getting more and more aggressive. So now
President Trump is teasing a one two punch to hate,
putin where it hurts, some new sanctions for Russia, some
new weapons for Ukraine.
Speaker 9 (29:15):
Fox is Peter Ducey that President is going to meet
with the NATO Secretary General this morning. And former President
Joe Biden defending his use of the autopen to grant
a large batch of pardons and commutations at the end
of his term. In an interview with The New York Times.
Speaker 11 (29:27):
The former president insisting that even though he didn't personally
sign the final version of every official document, he made
every decision on his own. He admits he did not
approve each naming pardon, but rather approve the criteria for
a reduced sentence.
Speaker 9 (29:44):
That's Fox's Rangemells. America is listening to Fox News.
Speaker 13 (29:52):
Oh look a bike with one of those bells and
a radio just like the seventies.
Speaker 1 (30:00):
Yeah, I traveled with a radio tapes to my bike.
This is the Morning Show with Preston Scott. Two segments
left with Salnuzzo of Consumers Defense. Time flies when you're
talking about the state of Florida and the legislative session
that was. Yes, indeed, so let's talk about bills that
(30:24):
got done and those that did not got vetoed.
Speaker 2 (30:26):
Sure, so I went through and try to figure out
what are some of the ones that kind of apply
to the listening audience the most potentially. So first and
foremost is the condo Regulation Bill House Built nine thirteen
and three ninety three. I think it's helpful to dive
into this one because you've got a lot of listeners
in Bay County. Leon County residents have condos over the coast.
(30:49):
It's a big deal. So over the last ten years,
you've got a large number of these Skyrise buildings did
not have these extensive engineering expenses or inspections. Right, you've
got a twenty story building on the beach, their sand
erosion things happen. This is a result of a law
passed under the Charlie Christ administration that allowed those buildings
(31:11):
to forego those inspections if the board wanted to surfside happened.
The collapse a few years ago, and then everybody said, WHOA,
We've got to figure this out. Over the past three sessions,
the legislator has been fine tuning those regulations to balance
the need for you want to have buildings safe and
protect against a collapse. But you've got financial realities impacting
(31:33):
those condo owners. So these two bills allow for an
extended time period to get inspections done, the condo association
can access financing channels for the repairs and renovation work.
It creates more transparency requirements on the association and management
companies and so forth. And then there's this other part
that provides a connecting point between the condos and the
(31:56):
MACE Florida program, which would also open up some other
channel for granting to get some of those things done.
Speaker 1 (32:02):
Ultimately, the responsibility for the safety of a building falls where.
Speaker 2 (32:07):
Well, it depends on who you ask. If you ask
the management company, they would say the board and the
residence they vote on what it is. The residents would say, well,
the management company's job is to give us the information
that we need, and the board they want to be
inoculated from everything in order to know that they're not
going to get sued if something happens.
Speaker 1 (32:28):
Does the State of Florida step in and take any
responsibility for that based on inspections?
Speaker 2 (32:33):
I don't know yet. I don't believe that's the case.
And these are all privately owned buildings. So I think
that's kind of maybe a bridge too far at this point.
Right along those lines, you've also got Senate Bill sixteen
twenty two repealed the twenty eighteen law on beach access.
So in eighteen they passed a law that allowed condos
(32:53):
and homes on the beach to declare the beach in
front of the building to the mean high tideline private.
So you know, if you own a condo or a
big home on the beach. It created all kinds of
problems and like, so people would be walking on the
beach and someone would call the sheriff's office or they'd
plan a chair there. A deputy we'd come over and
(33:17):
say you've got to move your chair down a bit,
and they're like why, and it's this law. It was
a train wreck. An interesting note was it was passed
because the current ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, former governor
of Arkansas, owned a house on the beach, and like
Destin or Fort Walton or somewhere, he didn't like people
(33:37):
walking in front of his house, and so it just
kind of a weird confluence of things there. Okay, Yeah,
two eighty nine Lucy's Law reckless voting. If you leave
the scene of an accident where someone's hurt but it's
not a serious bodily injury, you can now be charged
with a third degree felony if it's a serious injury,
(33:57):
second degree felony. Accident involving a death will be punishable
as first degree felony, So those are all increased. Senate
Bill one thirty the Clean Hands Repeal. If you're wrongly
convicted of a crime in Florida and you spend time
in prison, you would now be eligible for compensation even
if you have a prior felony conviction prior to July one.
(34:21):
If you had a prior felony, you were considered you
did not have clean hands, so you were not eligible,
and so this law repeals that. Senate Bill oneh eight
The Florida Doge Effort mandates a comprehensive five year review
cycle for every single agency rule. Imposes stricter timelines on
publication requirements for agencies crafting new REGs. It's basically what
(34:45):
we would call the RAINS Act, the Regulations from the
Executive in Need of Review Act at the state level
eliminates red tape licensing delays and all of that are
en compass there.
Speaker 1 (34:55):
All right when we come back, Vetos and what didn't
get done is sole news of Consumer's Defense here on
the Morning Show with Preston Scott.
Speaker 5 (35:43):
The heat and the humidity that's our big concern here
today and tomorrow, ninety seven to high. Today heat index
could run as high as one oh eight. A few
afternoon thunderstorms may cool you off later today. I'm News
Radio one hundred point seven WFLA, s Terry Smith in
the Weather Channel forecast center.
Speaker 13 (36:01):
At highway speeds, the average text takes your eyes off
the road for about five seconds. That's enough time to
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Speaker 1 (36:12):
The Morning Show at Preston Scott's.
Speaker 8 (36:14):
They're gonna get a I'll just which who's.
Speaker 13 (36:20):
Thesh on WFLA.
Speaker 1 (36:26):
Even if we go a minute longer than we're supposed to,
it's my show. Glenn Beckon waits, what's he gonna do?
What's he going to do? Sald Newso with me from
Consumers Defense? What got veto so a few that I
thought were notable. Fourteen forty five prohibited any agency staff
from doing political work, along with a requirement that all
appointments to boards be floor to resident residents full time.
(36:51):
There were some issues with that occurring. The legislature said
we wanted to rein that in and the governor said no.
Two ninety five would have required a new statewide waste
reduction and recycling plan. Fifteen seventy four would have required
the Public Service Commission to create a new experimental rate
mechanism to permit utilities to build rate payers for capital
(37:13):
investments and renewable natural gas, which aligns with the Governor's
take on renewable energy and kind of pushing away from
some of the left agenda on ESG. House Bill one
eighty one.
Speaker 2 (37:27):
It passed unanimously by the Senate, and the House would
have compelled the Florida Commission on a Fender Review to
consider how an inmate worked on improvement while being imprisoned
through vocational training, substance abuse treatment, educational programs, other self
help programs when deciding on early parole.
Speaker 1 (37:45):
This one vexed me. I don't know why, but the
fact that it was passed unanimously means it's likely going
to get pushed right back through.
Speaker 2 (37:52):
I would love to see this one come back. And
if there were some language in the bill that gave
him pause, maybe they can tweak it somehow and tighten
it's They've done that before with him in prior years,
so we'll have to see there.
Speaker 1 (38:06):
But I mean, they can override his veto. They can.
Speaker 2 (38:09):
My guess is they would have enough votes in the House.
I'm not sure on the Senate.
Speaker 1 (38:14):
Even though it was past unanimously.
Speaker 2 (38:15):
Yeah, there's also I mean, you're also making a statement
with a veto override, so the vote is a little
bit more seriously considered, I think, and I often wonder
in the makeup of the Senate whether or not the
votes to override would be there. The free kill repeals
sixty seventeen, so when an adult individual dies from medical
(38:40):
negligence and they don't have a spouse or children, immediate family,
parents and grandparents are not allowed to sue. The legislature
wanted to allow this, the governor said no. He claimed
it would be another avenue to trial layers exactly the
boogeyman there. I don't know. I can understand the cases
(39:04):
on both sides of this one. I don't think it's
going to be as big of an issue with respect
to litigation as other things, but I get the governor
wanted to have a consistent stance there. And then the
nursing education program, he indicated too much bureaucratic red tape
in the program didn't align with existing funding streams that
had something called the pipeline and line where I think
(39:27):
they're going to focus on those things as well.
Speaker 1 (39:30):
When we look at the session, I called it in
many regards of failed session for a lot of reasons,
infighting between a super majority in the House and a
super majority in the Senate. But from your chair, what
didn't get done a lot.
Speaker 2 (39:46):
And we've talked about this over the course of this
entire year. There was a whole lot that got left
on the field that shouldn't have been in my opinion.
And you've got closing the loopholes on a verify, you've
got the training wage, the minimum wage carve outs, HEMP
regulations on the companies that are not doing the actual
(40:08):
medical marijuana. But this other stuff, all of the tech
bills that had been pushed forward, term limits for municipal officials,
they're probably going to come back to put that on
the ballot. I think reversing the tort reforms, now, this
is something that they were wanting to do and didn't
get done. But I'm glad it didn't get done. One
I wish that would have gone through. The speed limit increase,
(40:30):
I it's a personal preference. There enhance penalties for killing
a law enforcement officer passed the Senate, didn't get through
the House. The Senate President's priority, the program called the
Rule Renaissance Program. It was one bill in the Senate.
It got broken up into three bills in the House.
(40:52):
I think there was a part of it that may
have gotten on the veto list of the governor in
the line items, but that didn't make it through. There
was a lot that I think a super super majority
conservative legislature would have tackled a lot more of these,
especially in a non election year session. But we will
(41:14):
see what happens in the coming year.
Speaker 1 (41:19):
What about the coming session with the leadership in its
final year.
Speaker 2 (41:25):
Yeah, so if listeners are unfamiliar, you've got one more
year of the current Speaker and Senate President than they
term out, and you've got a new Senate President and
new speaker coming in and the session starts early. The
session starts early because of the fact that it's an
election year. They go January February into early March. It's
(41:48):
also the governor's last year in office. You've got the
mid terms, the cabinet election, so the pre session committee
weeks actually begin in October of this year. And I
would I'm going to make a prediction, I would be
shocked to see a repeat of what transpired this past session.
(42:09):
With that being said, like I was shocked at how
bad it got this year. So who knows, but it
is never dull in the great state of Florida.
Speaker 1 (42:22):
We could be New York. We could be New York.
We're not.
Speaker 2 (42:26):
Thankfully we are not. Someone told me a while back
how great a state is it when the legislature and
governor are arguing over which massive tax cut is the
better one to do. So I'm going to try and
look at, you know, the optimistic silver lining there, but
I'm really hoping that cooler heads prevail in terms of
(42:48):
the internal dynamics in the drama.
Speaker 1 (42:50):
Thanks for the time, Always a pleasure to be with you,
SALD News and with Consumers Defense. The website Consumers Defense
dot com USA.
Speaker 14 (45:55):
Even to the research and make more progress.
Speaker 1 (45:58):
We were able to start in a clinical trial that's
led by Emily green Guard.
Speaker 17 (46:03):
The hope is that these types of therapies are going
to be more effective and a lot better are tolerated,
a lot more safe for the patients.
Speaker 7 (46:11):
People ask me how I keep a smile on my face.
It's easy when you have so many great people that
take care of you and support you.
Speaker 1 (46:21):
To find out how you can be a part of
the child's cancer journey and a part of the cure.
This Children's Cancer DOTA work a public service message from
Children's Cancer Research Fund.
Speaker 4 (46:31):
If you can plan barbecues and weddings, you can plan
to protect yourself from a natural disaster. Sign up for
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Get started at Ready dot gov.
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Slash Plan brought to you by FEMA and the ad
Council from the Very and Young Attorneys at Law Traffic
Center Your Time Savored Traffic.
Speaker 2 (46:49):
On one hundred and twenty seven WUFLA got
Speaker 4 (46:52):
A crash along Capital Circle Southeast at Artemus Way, so
if you're traveling in the area, be sure to give
yourself a few extra minutes, got some roadword that Saint
Augustine Street closed between South Macomb Street and
We are here. The third hour, affectually known as common Sense,
amplified the Morning Show with Preston Scotti's Oaseia and Preston,
Hi there. Good to be back with you. We took
a week off. We let you know, no panic. We
weren't suspended. I wasn't taken off the air. I was
taking a break. It's a little vacation. And so we
(00:25):
are back and please to add back with us in
studio for the first time. And as the kids like
to say, in a minute, yeah, it's been a hot minute. Yeah,
hot minute. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
I've heard my daughter say that once or twice.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
I had to have someone to find it for me
the first time I heard it. What are we talking
about here? Sal Muzo with Consumer's Defense, Sal pays attention.
He's our guru on all things Florida legislature and that
has not changed. But now the session's over. Yeah, and
literally at the last final moment, they got the budget
across the finish line. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
I mean we had talked in and I think it
was June or late May whenever we were in last
and they had a cutoff for getting the budget to
the governor to have it enacted by July one, and
they got right up to that deadline, and you know,
one hundred and five days, longest session in my career
(01:21):
in Florida policy, and definitely one of the more unique ones,
not for all of the best reasons, but they got
it done. And now they're, you know, already beginning to
think about prep for twenty six.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
We'll get to what did and what didn't get done,
and I'm sure that in the months to come we'll
maybe notably focus on the things that didn't get done
that might get teed up next time. But let's focus
on the constitutional mandated requirement of getting a budget done.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Yeah, it is, as you mentioned, the one constitutional requirement
that they have. They took quite a long time to
get it done this year. The governor signed it. Final
figure was one hundred and seventeen point four billion dollars.
The budget that passed was one hundred and seventeen point
nine line item veto's a shade under six hundred million.
Two consecutive years of actual reductions in state spending, which
(02:16):
is a boon and a tale to be told to
every other state as well as the federal government.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
What do you think is most notable about that.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
One of the things that I really kind of paid
a lot of attention to, is anybody who's in the
process did, was the battle between the House, the governor
the tax package. The notable piece of this was that
it was basically a stalemate. Neither side got what I
would consider a win on that. And we can kind
of talk a little bit about kind of some of
(02:47):
the tax cuts that passed, but the base tax rate
reduction that the Speaker was pushing didn't go. The reduction
or elimination of property taxes that the governor wanted didn't go.
And in fact, interestingly enough, one of the line items
that the governor did veto was an appropriation for a
(03:10):
study on how to best do that property tax elimination.
He vetoed that and said, no, we should know how.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
To do it.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
We don't need a study, we don't need a committee,
just get it done. I think that is it's telling,
and I think it's going to be part of what
his positioning is in twenty twenty six.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
When you look at the budget and you look at
the fact that we've it's a stunningly successful budget by
in terms of a national comparison, Right, Yeah, I mean
the big comparison is always with New York New York.
New York.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
New York has got three million fewer residents and a
state budget that is more than twice what Florida is.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
When it's all said and done, I feel like the
property tax elimination, you know, I've been advocating it for
twenty three years. That said, I think it needed a
little more time to percolate, to just throw it out
there without a little more study. And I kind of
think that maybe there does need to be some study.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
I'm not I'm sort of with you. I'm not of
the position that it well, let me back up. I
think for folks that are playing a role in policy
and moving policy across the finish line, they will often
articulate that most things that are a little bit contentious
or controversial or have a big price tag, you've got
to expect a two to three in some cases for
(04:32):
cycle process for it to actually get done. And so
I think we may be in year two of that now.
And I don't necessarily think the brass ring is unattainable.
I just think that, like you said, there may need
to be just a little bit more math done because
of the fact that local governments are the ones that
(04:53):
rely on the tax revenues for the things that they do.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
And that's the part that I mean, the consideration of, Okay,
what will the governments likely do in response to this
to raise their revenues.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Yeah, and so there may need to be other bills
that go along with this, what we would call the
Truth and Taxation Bill, things that the state may want
to pre emp them on how much local option they
could do. Things like that where at the end of
the day, local governments will need to provide services that they're
going to need revenue. It's just a question of how
(05:26):
they're going to get it. And that's why, like in
any other case, with something like this, it may just take.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
Two or three cycles on the House Speaker's proposal that
to me was just not worth considering. But that's just
my personal viewpoint. I just I think it was a
foolish idea.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
Yeah, I think politically the narrative was in his favor.
I think it's easy to message. But at the end
of the day, far too much of the sales tax
revenue is paid by tourists visitors, and there are far
too many carve outs, loopholes, exemptions in the sales tax
to make it something that would have mattered more than
a few bucks a month.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
More to come with sal newsoh Here on the Morning
Show with Preston.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Scott Now until seven o'clock this evening.
Speaker 4 (06:22):
Saint Michael Street is going to be closed between Gaines
and Saint Francis Street. This is going to last until Saturday,
July twenty sixth.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
From the Traffic Center, I'm Jay Tab.
Speaker 5 (06:32):
The heat and the humidity that's our big concern here
today and tomorrow. Ninety seven to high. Today heath index
could run as high as one oh eight. A few
afternoon thunderstorms may cool you off later today. I'm News
Radio one hundred point seven WFLA s Terry Smith in
the Weather Channel forecast Center.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
There's no better descriptions than to say Saint get is
a place of hope. My name is Lindsay.
Speaker 6 (06:54):
I'm alive today because of this incredible hospital and the
generosity of so many who want to disappoint it.
Speaker 7 (07:00):
Finding cures, saving children.
Speaker 8 (07:02):
Learn more at stude dot org.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Stay informed, Tallahassee depends on it.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Get your news at doubuflafam dot com. In a clouded world,
consider him your truth Detector. The Morning Show with Preston
Scott on NewsRadio one hundred point seven DOUBLEUFLA twelve past
(07:38):
the hour, more resal Newso, as we're talking about the budget,
let's go through some highlights.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Sure, So fifteen point seven billion in reserves added eight
hundred and thirty million. And I thought this was notable
because of the juxtaposition with the FEDS eight hundred and
thirty million in funding for Florida's Accelerated Debt repayment program.
So the state's actually going to pay off about half
of the debt accrued since we became a state in
eighteen forty five. Now compare that to Washington, DC, and
(08:07):
Florida does this without a state income tax. We do
it by having a great business climate, by having a
regulatory system that encourages investment, encourages business to start open
and grow in the state, and we broaden the base
of economic development in a way that makes this all possible.
(08:30):
The contrast to Washington could not be more stark. On
the state balance sheet, what are the debts? What's the total?
Oh gosh, I would have to go back and figure
it out, because I know that they've taken it down
a bunch since Rick Scott.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
Yeah, Rick Scott's been noted for doing that.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
And I believe debt occurs when like they need to
issue bonds for certain things and down periods and whatnot,
and so it accumulates and we're paying interest and so,
but it is still debt and it's on the balance well.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
And but that now starts to be offset by reserves
and the rainy day fund and all of these things,
so we might not be relying on having to do
that in the.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
Future, right exactly. That is the salient point that as
we're building up reserves, as we're adding to those rainy
day funds, we're making it more likely that we will
not have to issue dead in the future, which again
is something I wish Washington would take note of. Imagine
if the state of Florida called in to Dave Ramsey, right,
(09:30):
called into the Dave Ramsey Show, and the State of
Florida said freedom, We're debt free. Did the we're debt free?
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Yeah, yeah, we're not quite there, no, but but the
fact is it can be. The state can be debt free.
And what a statement that would make.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
Absolutely again a contrast to Washington, DC, A beacon to
every other state out there that you can in fact
operate a state government in an efficient and effective manner.
Pay raises for state employees, Yeah, raises two percent. You know,
it's probably around what a cola would be at this point,
(10:06):
but it doesn't really get it all the inflation we
had under the Biden administration. No, However, there are some
ten and fifteen percent increases coming for public safety employees
with more than five years in this in the job,
and so there's a number of ways at which we're
trying to continue to bolster the state workforce.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
There. We always hear about sales tax holidays. Yep, what
happened there.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
So, but first we I want to go to there,
but I do want to highlight the fact that the
business rent tax has been eliminated completely. We were the
only state in the country that levied a sales tax
on a commercial lease. So if you own a business
and you rent your space your office, you had to
pay a sales tax on that. That will that's going
(10:52):
away completely.
Speaker 1 (10:54):
July one, Did it go away? Does it go away
in the fall? I believe July one? So it's done. Yeah,
it's done.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
Nice on the sales tax holidays, permanent back to School
sales tax holiday every August for clothing under one hundred,
school supplies under fifty learning aids, personal computers under fifteen hundred.
Permanent sales tax exemption on event tickets, state park admissions,
life jacket, sunscreen, bike helmets, insect repellent. You know, all
(11:19):
of this stuff are outside disaster preparedness items. Also permanent
exemptions there, batteries, generators, tarps, all of that stuff year round.
Second Amendment sales tax holiday September eighth to December thirty
first on purchases of firearms, bows, ammunition, tents, sleeping bags, stoves,
fishing rods, all of that stuff. Now, in theory, you know, great,
(11:43):
the libertarian or the free marketer in me is more
of a all right, you're really just shifting purchases and
it makes it a little bit more challenging for retailers
to manage inventory. But with that said, I mean we've
become accustomed to and with the tourism the way it is,
I understand why they go about it this way versus
(12:07):
the rate reduction on the whole.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
More to come with sound notes news. Oh, we've got
a lot to talk about. We're going to get into
some of the funding silos before we talk about some
of the bills that did and did not survive. Next
on The Morning Show with Preston Scott, learn more, take
(15:31):
a tour online scottsdel Academy dot com, and then call
and set up a time to visit eight five zero
two one nine twenty four hundred Scott Steal Academy.
Speaker 9 (15:40):
When it comes to a gun suicide attempt, all it
takes is a moment.
Speaker 10 (15:44):
My son Rickie took his life by the use of
a firearm. It broke me and I come to play
this suicide my grandson. I was gonna have to be
here for him. I still own my firearm. I keep
it in a safe because I want to keep my
grandson and myself say.
Speaker 9 (16:02):
Store your guns, locked, unloaded, and away from AMMO. Hear
more safe stories at Endfamilyfire dot Org.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
Brought to you by Brady and the ad Council from
the very.
Speaker 11 (16:10):
End, young attorneys at Law Traffic Center Your time savored
traffic on one hundred and twenty seven WUFLA.
Speaker 6 (16:16):
A pretty nice ride as you're heading out the door
this morning, no accident sewing you down, but there is
a broken down vehicle to watch for dot on iteas
found at Mayhon blocking the right shoulders, So just be
aware traveling in the area. Now until seven o'clock this evening,
Saint Michael Street is going to be closed between Gains.
Speaker 3 (16:30):
And Saint Francis Street.
Speaker 4 (16:31):
This is going to last until Saturday, July twenty sixth.
Speaker 3 (16:34):
From the Traffic Center, I'm shay Tab.
Speaker 1 (16:36):
This report is sponsored by Staple.
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Whatamar Lopez here? You know? I love me a throwback
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And Iheart's radio station twenty three minutes after the hour
(17:55):
Salnuzo with me consumers. Defense funding silos describe a silo.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
Yeah, so just categories of the budget sometimes are called allocations.
For example, education a share shade under about sixteen billion
in the K twelve arena. The funding per student is
ninety one hundred and thirty dollars, up about one hundred
and forty some dollars per student one point four billion
(18:20):
for teacher pay increases another six seven billion dollars in
higher education.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
How much of that, you know, teacher pay increase goes
to the people that have been there a while as
opposed to incentivizing.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
I do believe the majority of this is to get
out of the salary compression problems from a few years back.
So I think that's meant to address some of that.
Transportation fifteen billion, everglades protection one point four billion. You've
got just notable. You've got huge chunks of the budget
(18:51):
that aren't a part of the discretionary general fund pool.
For example, thirty percent of Florida's total budget. So thirty
percent of the one hundred and seventeen billion is money
coming from the federal government taxpayers, but from the feds
just for the federal portion of medicaid other things are
(19:12):
other parts of the budget are somewhat similar, none that
are quite as large, But that's kind of we're getting
some of our money back. Yeah, But that's also why
when you look at some of these silos, some of
them are mixes of federal and state money. Some of
them are just state. But that's I just wanted to
make sure that was mentioned and on the line on
(19:33):
in veto's, so the governor has line on a veto authority.
There was not as much acts as in years prior.
But if you look at it, and I did look
at how much he vetoed relative to what other states do,
it would it would look it looks massive. I also
took a look to see, all right, was there a
whole lot of political retribution in there? I didn't see much,
(19:56):
And you know, there was a part of me that
was wonder, with all of the drama back and forth,
would that be the case. However, one item did stand out,
and I'll point to it on bikes Pensacola. It was
a small sixty two, five hundred dollars appropriation. It got tossed.
It's probably not a coincidence that the one of their
(20:18):
vice presidents is Representative Alexandrotti, who is the chair of
the committee that probed Hope Florida, the charity for the
First Lady that she was running. That had a lot
of back and forth there so, but there wasn't a
whole lot of you know, kind of oh the governor
went after me, or anything along those lines.
Speaker 1 (20:37):
So we got about a minute left in the segment
to leave enough time on the back side of the break.
What is most important about what the governor signed?
Speaker 2 (20:47):
Well, so two hundred and forty seven bills signed. He
vetoed eleven, which is more than he has in his
entire administration.
Speaker 1 (20:56):
And those eleven bills have any commonality.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
Not really. There were just a little bit all over
the map, and for different reasons too. He did allow
three bills to become law without signature, which again they
were all over the map. One was a relief bill
for someone who had been incarcerated who was innocent. One
was for.
Speaker 1 (21:17):
Which, by the way, I don't think was enough. It
was not.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
And I don't know that there's any number I know,
but I talked about that story. Yeah, yeah, I'm with
you there. One on nursing education where he was he
viewed it as too much bureaucratic red tape in conjunction
with programs that already exist, and there was just not
a whole lot of rhyme or reason, which makes sense
(21:41):
if you're looking at it, you know, comprehensively.
Speaker 1 (21:44):
Yeah, We've got more to talk about with regard to
bills that did and did not get signed by the governor,
and we'll talk more with Sal Nuzo from Consumer's Defense
next on the Morning Show with Preston.
Speaker 15 (21:54):
Scotna USA.
Speaker 16 (24:33):
US USA.
Speaker 4 (26:36):
On the right shoulder. Just be aware traveling in the
area now. Starting at nine am now until seven o'clock tonight,
Saint Michael Street is going to be closed between Gaines
and Saint Francis Street. But this is going to last
daily until July twenty sixth, and from nine am until
four pm. Crossway Road is going to be closed between
night Heare and Lane and Shelferd Road from the traffic
centerme Shatab.
Speaker 5 (26:55):
The heat and the humidity, that's our big concern here
today or tomorrow. D seven to high. Today heath index
could run as high as one O eight. A few
afternoon thunderstorms may cool you off later today. I'm News
Radio one hundred point seven WFLA s Terry Smith in
the Weather Channel Forecast Center.
Speaker 1 (27:13):
Good morning with w FLA News.
Speaker 8 (27:15):
I'm jose Ken you c A Leon County judge says
it's too early to decide whether Donna Adelson's murder trial
should be moved. Adolson is accused in the twenty fourteen
murder for hire of her former son in law FSU
law professor Dan Markel. Her trial is set for August nineteenth,
and the judge emphasized both sides must be ready by
that date. A twenty year old Leon County man is
(27:38):
dead after an ATV crash on the Tallahassees Saint Mark's
Historic Railroad State Trail. Florida Highway Patrol states he veered
off the trail, hit a tree, and was ejected. His
mother and stepfather found his body just after eight a m. Sunday.
Speaker 1 (27:52):
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Speaker 8 (27:54):
A thirty four year old man is facing attempted murder
charges after allegedly attacking someone with a machete. Willie Simms
was arrested Thursday, more than twelve hours after deputies found
a man seriously injured near Fairbanks Ferry Road. Simms also
faces charges for battery on law enforcement and resisting arrest.
On Tuesday, the Leon County Commission voted four to three
(28:15):
to approve a five percent across the board pay increase
for all Leon County government and constitutional officer employees in
the fiscal year twenty twenty six budget and in FSU sports,
Florida State star pitcher Jamie Arnold was selected by the
Athletics as the eleventh overall pick in last night's draft.
Speaker 1 (28:34):
Also, Florida State's golf star Lottie.
Speaker 8 (28:37):
Woade has secured her LPGA Tour card after finishing tide
for third at the Amundi Evian Championship in France. Woad,
a five time First Team All American, is the first
to qualify through the LPGA's new Elite Amateur Pathway. Now
y'all caught up with everything local, Let's get more from Fox.
Speaker 12 (28:58):
Fox News.
Speaker 9 (28:58):
I'm geolog Jelloci. President Trump is expected to make a
major statement on Russia this morning.
Speaker 17 (29:03):
The Russians keep getting more and more aggressive. So now
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putin where it hurts, some new sanctions for Russia, some
new weapons for Ukraine.
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Fox is Peter Ducey that President is going to meet
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Joe Biden defending his use of the autopen to grant
a large batch of pardons and commutations at the end
of his term. In an interview with The New York Times.
Speaker 11 (29:27):
The former president insisting that even though he didn't personally
sign the final version of every official document, he made
every decision on his own. He admits he did not
approve each naming pardon, but rather approve the criteria for
a reduced sentence.
Speaker 9 (29:44):
That's Fox's Rangemells. America is listening to Fox News.
Speaker 13 (29:52):
Oh look a bike with one of those bells and
a radio just like the seventies.
Speaker 1 (30:00):
Yeah, I traveled with a radio tapes to my bike.
This is the Morning Show with Preston Scott. Two segments
left with Salnuzzo of Consumers Defense. Time flies when you're
talking about the state of Florida and the legislative session
that was. Yes, indeed, so let's talk about bills that
(30:24):
got done and those that did not got vetoed.
Speaker 2 (30:26):
Sure, so I went through and try to figure out
what are some of the ones that kind of apply
to the listening audience the most potentially. So first and
foremost is the condo Regulation Bill House Built nine thirteen
and three ninety three. I think it's helpful to dive
into this one because you've got a lot of listeners
in Bay County. Leon County residents have condos over the coast.
(30:49):
It's a big deal. So over the last ten years,
you've got a large number of these Skyrise buildings did
not have these extensive engineering expenses or inspections. Right, you've
got a twenty story building on the beach, their sand
erosion things happen. This is a result of a law
passed under the Charlie Christ administration that allowed those buildings
(31:11):
to forego those inspections if the board wanted to surfside happened.
The collapse a few years ago, and then everybody said, WHOA,
We've got to figure this out. Over the past three sessions,
the legislator has been fine tuning those regulations to balance
the need for you want to have buildings safe and
protect against a collapse. But you've got financial realities impacting
(31:33):
those condo owners. So these two bills allow for an
extended time period to get inspections done, the condo association
can access financing channels for the repairs and renovation work.
It creates more transparency requirements on the association and management
companies and so forth. And then there's this other part
that provides a connecting point between the condos and the
(31:56):
MACE Florida program, which would also open up some other
channel for granting to get some of those things done.
Speaker 1 (32:02):
Ultimately, the responsibility for the safety of a building falls where.
Speaker 2 (32:07):
Well, it depends on who you ask. If you ask
the management company, they would say the board and the
residence they vote on what it is. The residents would say, well,
the management company's job is to give us the information
that we need, and the board they want to be
inoculated from everything in order to know that they're not
going to get sued if something happens.
Speaker 1 (32:28):
Does the State of Florida step in and take any
responsibility for that based on inspections?
Speaker 2 (32:33):
I don't know yet. I don't believe that's the case.
And these are all privately owned buildings. So I think
that's kind of maybe a bridge too far at this point.
Right along those lines, you've also got Senate Bill sixteen
twenty two repealed the twenty eighteen law on beach access.
So in eighteen they passed a law that allowed condos
(32:53):
and homes on the beach to declare the beach in
front of the building to the mean high tideline private.
So you know, if you own a condo or a
big home on the beach. It created all kinds of
problems and like, so people would be walking on the
beach and someone would call the sheriff's office or they'd
plan a chair there. A deputy we'd come over and
(33:17):
say you've got to move your chair down a bit,
and they're like why, and it's this law. It was
a train wreck. An interesting note was it was passed
because the current ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, former governor
of Arkansas, owned a house on the beach, and like
Destin or Fort Walton or somewhere, he didn't like people
(33:37):
walking in front of his house, and so it just
kind of a weird confluence of things there. Okay, Yeah,
two eighty nine Lucy's Law reckless voting. If you leave
the scene of an accident where someone's hurt but it's
not a serious bodily injury, you can now be charged
with a third degree felony if it's a serious injury,
(33:57):
second degree felony. Accident involving a death will be punishable
as first degree felony, So those are all increased. Senate
Bill one thirty the Clean Hands Repeal. If you're wrongly
convicted of a crime in Florida and you spend time
in prison, you would now be eligible for compensation even
if you have a prior felony conviction prior to July one.
(34:21):
If you had a prior felony, you were considered you
did not have clean hands, so you were not eligible,
and so this law repeals that. Senate Bill oneh eight
The Florida Doge Effort mandates a comprehensive five year review
cycle for every single agency rule. Imposes stricter timelines on
publication requirements for agencies crafting new REGs. It's basically what
(34:45):
we would call the RAINS Act, the Regulations from the
Executive in Need of Review Act at the state level
eliminates red tape licensing delays and all of that are
en compass there.
Speaker 1 (34:55):
All right when we come back, Vetos and what didn't
get done is sole news of Consumer's Defense here on
the Morning Show with Preston Scott.
Speaker 5 (35:43):
The heat and the humidity that's our big concern here
today and tomorrow, ninety seven to high. Today heat index
could run as high as one oh eight. A few
afternoon thunderstorms may cool you off later today. I'm News
Radio one hundred point seven WFLA, s Terry Smith in
the Weather Channel forecast center.
Speaker 13 (36:01):
At highway speeds, the average text takes your eyes off
the road for about five seconds. That's enough time to
travel the length of a football field. Stop texts, stop
rex dot org. Brought to you by the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration and the AD Council.
Speaker 1 (36:12):
The Morning Show at Preston Scott's.
Speaker 8 (36:14):
They're gonna get a I'll just which who's.
Speaker 13 (36:20):
Thesh on WFLA.
Speaker 1 (36:26):
Even if we go a minute longer than we're supposed to,
it's my show. Glenn Beckon waits, what's he gonna do?
What's he going to do? Sald Newso with me from
Consumers Defense? What got veto so a few that I
thought were notable. Fourteen forty five prohibited any agency staff
from doing political work, along with a requirement that all
appointments to boards be floor to resident residents full time.
(36:51):
There were some issues with that occurring. The legislature said
we wanted to rein that in and the governor said no.
Two ninety five would have required a new statewide waste
reduction and recycling plan. Fifteen seventy four would have required
the Public Service Commission to create a new experimental rate
mechanism to permit utilities to build rate payers for capital
(37:13):
investments and renewable natural gas, which aligns with the Governor's
take on renewable energy and kind of pushing away from
some of the left agenda on ESG. House Bill one
eighty one.
Speaker 2 (37:27):
It passed unanimously by the Senate, and the House would
have compelled the Florida Commission on a Fender Review to
consider how an inmate worked on improvement while being imprisoned
through vocational training, substance abuse treatment, educational programs, other self
help programs when deciding on early parole.
Speaker 1 (37:45):
This one vexed me. I don't know why, but the
fact that it was passed unanimously means it's likely going
to get pushed right back through.
Speaker 2 (37:52):
I would love to see this one come back. And
if there were some language in the bill that gave
him pause, maybe they can tweak it somehow and tighten
it's They've done that before with him in prior years,
so we'll have to see there.
Speaker 1 (38:06):
But I mean, they can override his veto. They can.
Speaker 2 (38:09):
My guess is they would have enough votes in the House.
I'm not sure on the Senate.
Speaker 1 (38:14):
Even though it was past unanimously.
Speaker 2 (38:15):
Yeah, there's also I mean, you're also making a statement
with a veto override, so the vote is a little
bit more seriously considered, I think, and I often wonder
in the makeup of the Senate whether or not the
votes to override would be there. The free kill repeals
sixty seventeen, so when an adult individual dies from medical
(38:40):
negligence and they don't have a spouse or children, immediate family,
parents and grandparents are not allowed to sue. The legislature
wanted to allow this, the governor said no. He claimed
it would be another avenue to trial layers exactly the
boogeyman there. I don't know. I can understand the cases
(39:04):
on both sides of this one. I don't think it's
going to be as big of an issue with respect
to litigation as other things, but I get the governor
wanted to have a consistent stance there. And then the
nursing education program, he indicated too much bureaucratic red tape
in the program didn't align with existing funding streams that
had something called the pipeline and line where I think
(39:27):
they're going to focus on those things as well.
Speaker 1 (39:30):
When we look at the session, I called it in
many regards of failed session for a lot of reasons,
infighting between a super majority in the House and a
super majority in the Senate. But from your chair, what
didn't get done a lot.
Speaker 2 (39:46):
And we've talked about this over the course of this
entire year. There was a whole lot that got left
on the field that shouldn't have been in my opinion.
And you've got closing the loopholes on a verify, you've
got the training wage, the minimum wage carve outs, HEMP
regulations on the companies that are not doing the actual
(40:08):
medical marijuana. But this other stuff, all of the tech
bills that had been pushed forward, term limits for municipal officials,
they're probably going to come back to put that on
the ballot. I think reversing the tort reforms, now, this
is something that they were wanting to do and didn't
get done. But I'm glad it didn't get done. One
I wish that would have gone through. The speed limit increase,
(40:30):
I it's a personal preference. There enhance penalties for killing
a law enforcement officer passed the Senate, didn't get through
the House. The Senate President's priority, the program called the
Rule Renaissance Program. It was one bill in the Senate.
It got broken up into three bills in the House.
(40:52):
I think there was a part of it that may
have gotten on the veto list of the governor in
the line items, but that didn't make it through. There
was a lot that I think a super super majority
conservative legislature would have tackled a lot more of these,
especially in a non election year session. But we will
(41:14):
see what happens in the coming year.
Speaker 1 (41:19):
What about the coming session with the leadership in its
final year.
Speaker 2 (41:25):
Yeah, so if listeners are unfamiliar, you've got one more
year of the current Speaker and Senate President than they
term out, and you've got a new Senate President and
new speaker coming in and the session starts early. The
session starts early because of the fact that it's an
election year. They go January February into early March. It's
(41:48):
also the governor's last year in office. You've got the
mid terms, the cabinet election, so the pre session committee
weeks actually begin in October of this year. And I
would I'm going to make a prediction, I would be
shocked to see a repeat of what transpired this past session.
(42:09):
With that being said, like I was shocked at how
bad it got this year. So who knows, but it
is never dull in the great state of Florida.
Speaker 1 (42:22):
We could be New York. We could be New York.
We're not.
Speaker 2 (42:26):
Thankfully we are not. Someone told me a while back
how great a state is it when the legislature and
governor are arguing over which massive tax cut is the
better one to do. So I'm going to try and
look at, you know, the optimistic silver lining there, but
I'm really hoping that cooler heads prevail in terms of
(42:48):
the internal dynamics in the drama.
Speaker 1 (42:50):
Thanks for the time, Always a pleasure to be with you,
SALD News and with Consumers Defense. The website Consumers Defense
dot com USA.
Speaker 14 (45:55):
Even to the research and make more progress.
Speaker 1 (45:58):
We were able to start in a clinical trial that's
led by Emily green Guard.
Speaker 17 (46:03):
The hope is that these types of therapies are going
to be more effective and a lot better are tolerated,
a lot more safe for the patients.
Speaker 7 (46:11):
People ask me how I keep a smile on my face.
It's easy when you have so many great people that
take care of you and support you.
Speaker 1 (46:21):
To find out how you can be a part of
the child's cancer journey and a part of the cure.
This Children's Cancer DOTA work a public service message from
Children's Cancer Research Fund.
Speaker 4 (46:31):
If you can plan barbecues and weddings, you can plan
to protect yourself from a natural disaster. Sign up for
local alerts, prepare an emergency kit, and make a family
communications plan.
Speaker 3 (46:41):
Get started at Ready dot gov.
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Slash Plan brought to you by FEMA and the ad
Council from the Very and Young Attorneys at Law Traffic
Center Your Time Savored Traffic.
Speaker 2 (46:49):
On one hundred and twenty seven WUFLA got
Speaker 4 (46:52):
A crash along Capital Circle Southeast at Artemus Way, so
if you're traveling in the area, be sure to give
yourself a few extra minutes, got some roadword that Saint
Augustine Street closed between South Macomb Street and
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