On Tap in the Capital: Wednesday, March 29, 2017

By The News Service of Florida

Legislature:

HUCKABEE KEYNOTES PRAYER BREAKFAST: Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who lives in Northwest Florida, is slated to be the keynote speaker during the annual Legislative Prayer Breakfast. (7:30 a.m., Donald L. Tucker Civic Center, 505 West Pensacola St., Tallahassee.)

ELECTIONS LAW CHANGES CONSIDERED: The House Government Accountability Committee will consider a proposal (PCB GAC 17-03) that would make a series of changes in elections laws, including limiting the dates on which municipal elections could be held. (8 a.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

WORKERS' COMP BILL WEIGHED: The House Commerce Committee will take up a bill (HB 7085), filed by Rep. Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrhills, that would make changes in the workers' compensation insurance system. The bill comes after two Florida Supreme Court rulings last year helped lead to a 14.5 percent rate increase for businesses. (8:30 a.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

REDISTRICTING ISSUES ON THE TABLE: The House Public Integrity & Ethics Committee will consider a proposal (HB 953), filed by Rep. Larry Ahern, R-Seminole, that would set guidelines for what happens when redistricting legal cases are unresolved in election years. The bill was filed after long-running legal battles that led to Florida's congressional and Senate districts being redrawn before the 2016 elections. (9 a.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

SHARK FIN TRADE TARGETED: The Senate Environment and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee will take up a bill (SB 884), filed by Sen. Travis Hutson, R-Elkton, that would crack down on the possession of shark fins, considered a delicacy in parts of Asia. (9 a.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT ISSUE: The Senate Transportation, Tourism and Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee will hold a workshop on issues related to affordable housing. (9 a.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
BUDGET ISSUES DISCUSSED: The Senate Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations Subcommittee, the Senate Pre-K-12 Education Appropriations Subcommittee, the Senate General Government Appropriations Subcommittee, the Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee and the Senate Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee will discuss budget issues. (Criminal and Civil Justice, 9 a.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol. Also, Pre-K-12, 9 a.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol. Also, General Government, 11 a.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol. Also, Health and Human Services, 11 a.m., 401 Senate Office Building, the Capitol. Also, Higher Education, 11 a.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

'BEST AND BRIGHTEST' DEBATED: The House Appropriations Committee will take up a bill (HB 7069) that would revamp the controversial "Best and Brightest" bonus program for teachers. The proposal would lower the scores teachers would need on college-entrance exams to access the award, expand the number of tests that could be used to qualify for the bonuses and give principals an opportunity to earn additional pay by having large numbers of teachers at their schools who receive the Best and Brightest awards. (11:30 a.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

TAX CUTS CONSIDERED: The House Ways & Means Committee will look at tax-cut "concepts." (11:30 a.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

UNIVERSITY LEADERS DISCUSS LEGISLATIVE ISSUES: Leaders of the state university system, including Board of Governors Chairman Tom Kuntz, will hold a news conference to discuss issues such as student mental-health services and university research. Also expected to take part is Sen. Gary Farmer, D-Fort Lauderdale. (Noon, fourth-floor, the Capitol.)

ELECTED SECRETARY OF STATE PROPOSED: The Senate Rules Committee will consider a proposed constitutional amendment (SJR 882), filed by Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, that would lead to the secretary of state being elected to a seat on the Florida Cabinet. If approved by lawmakers, the proposal would go on the November 2018 ballot. (1 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

HOUSE HOLDS FLOOR SESSION: The House is scheduled to hold a floor session and consider numerous issues, including a proposed constitutional amendment (HJR 1) that would impose term limits on Florida Supreme Court justices and appeals-court judges. The House also is expected to consider a bill (HB 81) that would repeal a Depression-era law that prevents liquor from being sold alongside groceries; a bill (HB 221) that would create statewide regulations for ride-sharing businesses such Uber and Lyft; and a bill (HB 161) that would clear the way for what are known as "direct primary care" agreements between doctors and patients. (2:30 p.m., House chamber, the Capitol.)

SENATE DEMOCRATS MEET: The Senate Democratic caucus will meet. (3:15 p.m., 200 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

SENATE HOLDS FLOOR SESSION: The Senate is scheduled to hold a floor session and could vote on a bill (SB 80), filed by Sen. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, that seeks to resolve a long-running debate about awarding attorney fees in public-records lawsuits. State law requires judges to award attorney fees to people who successfully file lawsuits against government agencies that have improperly withheld public records. Local governments contend the law is being abused by people who inundate government agencies with public-records requests as a strategy to file lawsuits and receive attorney fees or settlements. Steube's bill would keep in place the requirement that agencies pay attorney fees if they improperly withhold records. But it also includes changes, such as requiring that notice be given at least five days before lawsuits are filed, that could help agencies avoid potential litigation. (4 p.m., Senate chamber, the Capitol.)

Also:

CITIZENS PROPERTY INSURANCE BOARD MEETS: The Citizens Property Insurance Corp. Board of Governors is scheduled to meet. Among the numerous topics is expected to be a legislative update. (9 a.m., Sheraton Orlando North, 600 North Lake Destiny Dr., Orlando.)

CONSTITUTION PANEL AT ISSUE: Several groups will hold a news conference to raise questions about the proposed rules and process for the Constitution Revision Commission. The groups are expected to include the League of Women Voters of Florida, the American Civil Liberties Union, Common Cause Florida, Equality Florida, Florida Conservation Voters, For Florida's Future, Planned Parenthood and Progress Florida. (Noon, Old Capitol front steps, Tallahassee.)

BOARD OF GOVERNORS HOLDS COMMITTEE MEETINGS: The state university system's Board of Governors will hold a series of committee meetings, with topics including the Budget and Finance Committee receiving an update about legislative budget issues. (Meetings start at 1:30 p.m., Florida A&M University, Student Union, Grand Ballroom, Tallahassee.)

SCOTT HOLDS MILITARY ROUNDTABLE: Gov. Rick Scott will hold a roundtable discussion about military-related economic development programs. (2:15 p.m., Florida Army National Guard, 13433 Crossover Blvd., Building 1822, Jacksonville.)

BONDI HOSTS PANEL AT WHITE HOUSE: Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi will serve as moderator Wednesday at a "Women's Empowerment Panel" at the White House. The panel is slated to include Betsy DeVos, U.S. secretary of education; Linda McMahon, administrator of the Small Business Administration; Nikki Haley, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations; and Seema Verma, administrator of the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (3 p.m., White House, Washington, D.C.)

CONSTITUTION REVISION PANEL HOLDS HEARING: The Constitution Revision Commission will hold the first in a series of public hearings as it prepares to propose constitutional amendments for the November 2018 ballot. (5 p.m., University of Central Florida, Fairwinds Alumni Center, 12676 Gemini Blvd. North, Orlando.)

HOOPER RAISES MONEY FOR SENATE BID: Former state Rep. Ed Hooper, a Clearwater Republican running next year in Senate District 16, is expected to raise money during an event in Pinellas County. (5:30 p.m., The Sports Bar & Grill, 9685 Bay Pines Blvd., St. Petersburg.)