Fresh off getting a bill through the U.S. House to ban drilling off the Florida coast, U.S. Rep. Francis Rooney, R-Fla., has a new perch to push his environmental agenda. 

Back in July, Rooney joined the U.S. House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. On Monday, Rooney announced he was joining the committee’s U.S. House Environment Subcommittee. 

U.S. Rep Frank Lucas, R-Ok., who leads Republicans on the committee, praised Rooney on Monday. 

With America seeing the highest number of suicides since World War II, a congressman from the Sunshine State is backing a proposal to create a universal suicide prevention hotline. 

Last month, U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., and U.S. Rep. Chris Stewart, R-Utah, brought out the “National Suicide Hotline Designation Act.” The bill would designate “9-8-8” as a universal telephone number for the national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system, which is run by the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and the Veteran’s Crisis Line.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will ask the Legislature in 2020 to raise the state’s $10,000 fine for spilling sewage into waterways by 50 percent == a measure aimed at municipalities, since most sewage treatment plants are owned and operated by local governments.

He will also request lawmakers give the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) the capacity to levy daily fines after the initial $15,000 penalty until the issue has been remedied because, he said, “Right now, it’s a slap on the wrist and move on.”

When classes resumed in August, a number of school districts in the Florida Panhandle found that many of their students never came back.

In Bay County, the school district lost more than 3,200 students.

In rural Jackson County, 114 fewer students showed up than in the previous year.

And, in Calhoun and Gulf counties, school officials reported 83 and 32 fewer students enrolled, respectively.

Less than two weeks after Hurricane Dorian wrecked the Bahamas, a potential tropical cyclone is looming over the island chain.

Weather experts on Friday predicted “Potential Tropical Cyclone 9” could develop into Tropical Storm Humberto by the weekend, prompting Gov. Ron DeSantis to once again shift his focus to Florida’s Caribbean neighbors.

“As we monitor this depression, our prayers are with the Bahamas as they are impacted by another tropical system,” the Republican governor tweeted Friday morning.

Florida lawmakers will return to the Capitol on Monday to start holding committee meetings in advance of the 2020 legislative session.

The meetings are the start of six months of legislative work scheduled to culminate March 13 with the frenzied end to the 2020 session. Lawmakers then will spill out of Tallahassee, with many turning their attention to next year’s election campaigns.

But first things first. Lawmakers during the coming week will dig into the state budget, getting presentations about Florida’s financial picture and agency spending requests.

Florida Supreme Court Justices Barbara Lagoa and Robert Luck are still receiving an outpouring of support Friday, one day after President Donald Trump selected them to serve on the powerful federal 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. Here’s what they are saying:

John M. Stewart, president of The Florida Bar

Last week, Florida A&M University (FAMU) in Tallahassee received almost $3.4 million in federal funds to continue studies on oceans and coastal communities. 

The $3.36 million in federal monies represents the fourth part of a five-year grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Educational Partnership Program to support FAMU’s Center for Coastal and Marine Ecosystems (CCME).

FAMU President Larry Robinson is the CCME’s director and principal investigator and he noted the Center has provided more than 75 scholarships since 2016. 

U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., one of the top Republicans on the U.S. House Veterans Affairs Committee, is seeing his proposal to expand dental care to veterans see some movement on Capitol Hill. 

Back in May, Bilirakis reintroduced the “Veterans Early Treatment for Chronic Ailment Resurgence through Examinations (VET CARE) Act”  which would expand dental care for veterans and create a four year pilot program. Currently, only fully disabled veterans or those with service related injuries get dental benefits through the VA. 

A congressman from the Sunshine State wants the federal government to change how it classifies marijuana. 

Freshman U.S. Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., brought out the “Marijuana 1-to-3 Act” last week. 

The bill will have the U.S. attorney general to change the Controlled Substances Act and reclassify marijuana from a schedule I controlled substance to a schedule III controlled substance. 

When he showcased the bill on Thursday, Steube insisted his legislation, if enacted, will ensure there is more research on marijuana.