In this episode: The pace is picking up in the Florida Legislature, which is now into the third week of its 2026 session. Bills have begun moving that would give a tax break to Philip Morris; let people pay for vending machine lottery tickets with debit cards; strip local communities of the power to regulate everything from religious gatherings to home playgrounds; block teenagers from obtaining birth control without permission from a parent — oh, and rename a major airport after Donald Trump. An update from Day 15 of Florida’s 60-day legislative session.
Correction: The provision authorizing the use of debit cards to buy lottery tickets was removed from Senate Bill 530 though it remains in House Bill 1401.
Show notes
The bill’s discussed in today’s show:
House Bill 377 — Heated Tobacco Products
Passed the House Ways & Means Committee by 14-1 vote (vote sheet)
Senate Bill 530 — State Lotteries
Passed the Senate Regulated Industries Committee by a 9-0 vote (vote sheet)
Senate Bill 1444 — Preemption to the State
Passed the Senate Community Affairs Committee by 6-2 vote (vote sheet)
House Bill 173 — Parental Rights
Passed the House Health & Human Services Committee by a 19-7 vote (vote sheet)
Senate Bill 706 — Commercial Service Airports
Passed the Senate Transportation Committee by a 9-0 vote (vote sheet)
Senate Bill 332 — Public Meetings
Passed the Senate Judiciary Committee by a 10-0 vote (vote sheet)
House Bill 167 — Former Phosphate Mining Lands
Passed the Senate Rules Committee by a 22-0 vote (vote sheet)
House Bill 1119 — Materials Harmful to Minors
Passed the House Education & Employment Committee by a 16-5 vote (vote sheet)
House Bill 7009 — OGSR/Public Service Commission
Passed the House State Affairs Committee by a 24-1 vote (vote sheet)
House Bill 981 — Tributaries of St. Johns River
Passed the House Budget Committee by a 28-0 vote (vote sheet)
Senate Bill 290 — Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Postponed by the Senate Rules Committee without a vote
Stories discussed on today’s show:
DeSantis grants tax favor for Philip Morris after $500,000 gift
Florida AG made sweeping claims in confidential abortion case
Who’s behind a thorny Florida property rights bill? A real estate empire
A gun company gave lots of money to Florida lawmakers. Now it’s lobbying for legal immunity.
Questions or comments? Send ‘em to Garcia.JasonR@gmail.com
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