Monday might seem like an otherwise unremarkable summer day. Or maybe a chance to get away and start the Fourth of July holiday a little early.
But in state government, Monday is one of the biggest days of the year.
That’s because July 1 is when the new state budget and dozens of freshly signed laws take effect.
Beyond the numbers in the budget and the policies in the new laws, July 1 also signals the end of another legislative cycle. That cycle starts relatively slowly with committee meetings, continues with the mad dash of the legislative session and ends with the governor signing the budget and bills and issuing vetoes.
Then it’s summertime in Tallahassee.
The next cycle, however, isn’t too far away. Lawmakers will pile back into the Capitol in September to begin preparing for the 2020 session.
MONDAY, JULY 1, 2019
BUDGET TAKES EFFECT: The state’s 2019-2020 fiscal year will start Monday with a record $90.98 billion budget. The spending plan includes a $242-per-student increase in funding for public schools. Lawmakers also funneled $685 million to the Everglades and other water projects, a top priority of Gov. Ron DeSantis.
NEW LAWS GALORE: More than 100 new laws take effect Monday, including many of the highest-profile issues of the 2019 legislative session. They include laws that will add a new school-vouchers program, seek to import cheaper prescription drugs from Canada, crack down on so-called sanctuary cities, revamp the controversial insurance practice known as assignment of benefits and set the stage for building or expanding three toll roads.
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES DUE: State and local officials face a Monday deadline for filing financial-disclosure forms with the Florida Commission on Ethics. Officials, however, receive a grace period until Sept. 1, when fines begin if they have not filed the forms.
BLUE-GREEN ALGAE TARGETED: The state’s Blue-Green Algae Task Force will meet in Lee County and is expected to review the Lake Okeechobee Basin Management Action Plan and discuss ways to combat toxic algae outbreaks. (Monday, 9 a.m., Lee County School Board, 2855 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers.)
CASTOR CRITICIZES HEALTH PLANS: U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Fla., will hold a media availability to criticize health plans that don’t provide adequate coverage when customers have medical needs --- what she describes as “junk” plans. (10 a.m., in front of Health Insurance Innovations, 15438 North Florida Ave., Tampa.)
MEMORY DISORDER CLINICS AT ISSUE: The Florida Department of Elder Affairs will hold a conference call for the state’s memory-disorder clinics to review their new contract. (Monday, 10 a.m. Call-in number: 1-888-585-9008. Code: 539017756.)
VIRTUAL SCHOOL BOARD HOLDS CALL: The Florida Virtual School Board of Trustees will hold a conference call. (Monday, 11 a.m. Call-in number: 1-888-378-4398. Code: 936994.)
LEGISLATIVE SESSION DISCUSSED: The Tiger Bay Club of Central Florida will host a legislative-update event featuring Ana Ceballos of The News Service of Florida, Matt Dixon of Politico Florida, Jason Garcia of Florida Trend and Peter Schorsch of Florida Politics. (Monday, 5:30 p.m., Citrus Club, 255 South Orange Avenue, #1800, Orlando.)
SNYDER CAMPAIGNS FOR HOUSE SEAT: Republican John Snyder, who is running next year to replace term-limited Rep. MaryLynn Magar, R-Tequesta, in House District 82 is scheduled to appear at a Palm Beach County Tea Party meeting. (6:30 p.m., Abacoa Golf Club, 105 Barbados Dr., Jupiter.)
TUESDAY, JULY 2, 2019
ELECTION RESULTS CERTIFIED: The Florida Elections Canvassing Commission will certify the results of June 18 special elections in state House districts 7, 38 and 97. Port St. Joe Republican Jason Shoaf was elected in North Florida’s District 7 to succeed former Rep. Halsey Beshears, a Monticello Republican who was appointed secretary of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. Dade City Republican Randy Maggard was elected in Pasco County’s District 38 to replace former Rep. Danny Burgess, a Zephyrhills Republican who was appointed executive director of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Coral Springs Democrat Dan Daley ran unopposed in Broward County’s District 97 and succeeds former Rep. Jared Moskowitz, a Coral Springs Democrat who was appointed director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Cabinet meeting room, the Capitol.)
RUBIO HOLDS ‘MOBILE’ OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hold “mobile” office hours in Volusia County. (Tuesday, 9:30 a.m., West Volusia Chamber of Commerce, 132 Treemonte Dr., Orange City.)
RUBIO, NELSON DISCUSS BIPARTISANSHIP: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and former U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., will discuss bipartisanship during an inaugural forum of the Bill Nelson Initiative on Ethics and Leadership at the University of Florida. (Tuesday, 2 p.m., University of Florida, Smathers Library, 1508 Union Road, Gainesville.)
DAVIS HOLDS TOWN HALL: Rep. Tracie Davis, D-Jacksonville, will hold a town hall meeting to discuss the 2019 legislative session. (Tuesday, 6 p.m., Bradham Brooks Library, 1755 Edgewood Ave. West, Jacksonville.)
WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 2019
CERTIFICATE OF NEED RULES ON TABLE: The Agency for Health Care Administration will hold a meeting to discuss changes to rules for the “certificate of need” regulatory process. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill that eliminates the so-called CON process for hospitals, but it continues for nursing homes, hospice programs and intermediate care facilities for people with developmental disabilities. (Wednesday, 8:30 a.m., Agency for Health Care Administration, 2727 Mahan Dr., Building 3, Tallahassee.)
PAROLE CASES CONSIDERED: The Florida Commission on Offender Review will take up cases from across the state. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Florida Commission on Offender Review, 4070 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)
THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2019
STATE OFFICES CLOSED: State offices will be closed for the Fourth of July.
