Redistricting Sessions Begin; House Welcomes FSU Coach

The self-dubbed extraordinary 15-day special session on redistricting got underway Wednesday with approximately 10-minute full floor sessions in both the House and Senate Wednesday,.

Both chambers recessed to respective committee meetings on reapportionment, where they will receive updates from their staff attorneys on the Supreme Court ruling from Friday that declared the Senate map invalid.

Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, who chairs the Senate redistricting committee, said no vote will be taken today.

A revised map will be ready to go before the committee on March 20, with the full Senate expected to vote March 22 and March 23.

The House, which must wait for the Senate to complete its map, is scheduled to vote on the revised lines the week of March 26.

With less to do than the Senate -- the House map was ruled valid -- the House spent part of the floor time on Wednesday recognizing Florida State University Basketball Coach Leonard Hamilton, whose team will play St. Bonaventure University in Nashville, Tenn., in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Friday.