The Week Ahead in Florida Politics – August 10, 2015

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, AUGUST 7, 2015…..Ordered by the Florida Supreme Court to redraw congressional districts, state lawmakers will return to the Capitol on Monday for the second special session of the year. The session, slated to last until Aug. 21, could have major political implications for members of Florida's congressional delegation. Lawmakers also will hold a special session this fall to redraw state Senate districts.

MONDAY, AUGUST 10, 2015

Legislature:

REDISTRICTING SESSION STARTS: The Florida House and Senate will start a special legislative session to redraw congressional districts. The session comes after the Florida Supreme Court ruled that lawmakers violated a 2010 constitutional amendment aimed at preventing gerrymandering. (Monday, 3 p.m., House and Senate chambers, the Capitol.)

Also:

DUNN DISCUSSES CONGRESSIONAL BID: Panama City Republican Neal Dunn will hold a news conference to discuss his candidacy in Congressional District 2. The Northwest Florida district is now represented by Democrat Gwen Graham. (Monday, 11 a.m., Florida Press Center, 336 East College Ave., Tallahassee.)

CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS DUE: State candidates and political committees face a Monday deadline for filing reports showing campaign-finance activity through July 31.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2015

Legislature:

HOUSE, SENATE PANELS HOLD JOINT MEETING: The Senate Reapportionment Committee and the House Select Committee on Redistricting will hold a joint meeting as they work on drawing new congressional districts. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

HURRICANE LOSS COMMISSION MEETS: The Florida Commission on Hurricane Loss Projection Methodology will meet. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Hermitage Centre, 1801 Hermitage Blvd., Tallahassee.)

TRUST FUNDS TALLIED: The Revenue Estimating Conference will take up issues such as the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund outlook, the Tobacco Settlement Trust Fund outlook and the State School Trust Fund outlook. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

SUWANNEE RIVER WATER BOARD MEETS: The Suwannee River Water Management District Governing Board will meet. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., district headquarters, 9225 County Road 49, Live Oak.)

INDIAN GAMING MONEY ANALYZED: The Revenue Estimating Conference will continue discussions about issues related to tribal casinos. (Tuesday, 9:30 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

RUBIO STAFF HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's staff will hold "mobile office hours" in Osceola and Sumter counties. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Robert Guevara Community Center, 501 Florida Parkway, Kissimmee. Also, 10 a.m., The Savannah Center, 1545 Buena Vista Blvd., The Villages.)

ST. JOHNS WATER BOARD MEETS IN ORLANDO: The St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board will meet. (Tuesday, 11:15 a.m. or upon completion of earlier committee meetings, Orlando City Hall, 400 South Orange Ave., Orlando.)

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2015

SCOTT HEALTH FUNDING PANEL MEETS: The Commission on Healthcare and Hospital Funding, formed this year by Gov. Rick Scott, will meet. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Cabinet meeting room, the Capitol.)

PAROLE CASES HEARD: The Florida Commission on Offender Review will consider numerous parole cases involving crimes committed in the 1970s and 1980s. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 4070 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)

HEALTH INSURANCE ANALYZED: The Self-Insurance Estimating Conference will delve into issues involving state employees' health insurance. (Wednesday, 9:30 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

RUBIO STAFF HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's staff will hold "mobile office hours" in Hendry County. (Wednesday, 11:30 a.m., First Bank, 300 East Sugarland Highway, Clewiston.)

DEUTCH HOLDS TOWN HALL MEETING: U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla., will hold a town-hall meeting. (Wednesday, 2 p.m., Congregation L'Dor Va-Dor, 3475 Woolbright Road, #19, Boynton Beach.)

THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 2015

Legislature:

HOUSE REDISTRICTING PANEL MEETS: The House Select Committee on Redistricting will meet. (Thursday, 9 a.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

SENATE REAPPORTIONMENT PANEL MEETS: The Senate Reapportionment Committee will meet. (Thursday, 10 a.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

HOUSE RULES COMMITTEE MEETS: The House Rules, Calendar & Ethics Committee is scheduled to meet. (Thursday, 3:30 p.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

SOUTH FLORIDA WATER BOARD MEETS: The South Florida Water Management District Governing Board will meet. (Thursday, 9 a.m., district headquarters, 3301 Gun Club Road, West Palm Beach.)

RUBIO STAFF HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's staff will hold "mobile office hours" in Osceola County. (Thursday, 10 a.m., West Osceola Branch Library, 305 Campus St., Kissimmee.)

NORTHWEST FLORIDA WATER BOARD MEETS: The Northwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board will meet. (Thursday, 1 p.m., district headquarters, 81 Water Management Dr., Havana.)

FAMU TRUSTEES HOLD CONFERENCE CALL: The Florida A&M University Board of Trustees has scheduled a conference call to discuss a 2015/2016 work plan. (Thursday, 2 p.m., Florida A&M University, Lee Hall, president's conference room. http://www.famu.edu/famcast, click WANM 90.5 to listen.)

GOP SENATE CANDIDATES AT PALM BEACH COUNTY EVENT: Republican U.S. Senate candidates Carlos Lopez-Cantera, Ron DeSantis and Todd Wilcox are expected to appear at the Republican Party of Palm Beach County's annual "Lobsterfest" fundraiser. (Thursday, 6:30 p.m., Broken Sound Country Club, 2401 Willow Springs Dr., Boca Raton.)

FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, 2015

Legislature:

SENATE REAPPORTIONMENT PANEL MEETS: The Senate Reapportionment Committee is scheduled to meet. (Friday, noon, 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

GENERAL REVENUE PROJECTED: The Revenue Estimating Conference will discuss general-revenue tax projections. General revenue plays a critical role in funding programs such as education, health care and prisons. Lawmakers use the projections as they make budget decisions. (Friday, 9 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

LOBBYIST COMPENSATION REPORTS DUE: Lobbyists face a Friday deadline for filing reports showing their compensation during the period of April 1 through June 30.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 2015

MURPHY CAMPAIGNS IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA: U.S. Senate candidate Patrick Murphy is expected to be the keynote speaker during the Nassau County Democratic Party's "Low Country Boil." Others expected to take part include state Democratic Chairwoman Allison Tant, U.S. Senate candidate Pam Keith and state Sen. Audrey Gibson, D-Jacksonville. (Saturday, 6:30 p.m., Fernandina Beach Golf Club, 2800 Bill Melton Road, Fernandina Beach.)