Sunrise

A Senate committee will debate a bill seeking to implement more of the recommendations made by the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— A couple of lawmakers want to change the law passed after the Parkland shooting so districts deciding not to take part in the Guardian Program can use that money for other security measures.

 — There’s been a big decline in the number of Florida college students over the past year. The Sunshine State had the second-largest decrease in the nation.

— Some of the women trying to hold the line (and resist the conservative agenda prevalent in the Legislature) feel they are spending a lot of time talking to lawmakers — who don’t seem to be listening.

 — Tallahassee food blogger and Florida Politics contributor Rochelle Koff shares some suggestions on where a visitor can find a decent meal in the Capital City. Sometimes it's as easy as going to the basement.

— And in Florida Man news: A pilot with a graffiti problem and a former Mayor who is going to jail for stealing more than half a million dollars from the United Way.

State Sen. Rob Bradley’s criminal justice reform bill has gained traction in the Senate Appropriations Committee, where members approved giving first-time drug offenders a break from minimum mandatory sentences. Under his proposal, anyone convicted of the first time of buying or possessing less than 2 grams of any narcotic — except fentanyl — would not have to serve more than a year in jail. House leaders don’t share Bradley’s enthusiasm, but he’s not discouraged.

 Also, on today’s #Sunrise:

— Senate leaders are pushing ahead with their new gun safety legislation … much to the dismay of the National Rifle Association lobbyist Marion Hammer, who calls it gun control on steroids.

 — A bill banning the import, export, and sale of shark fins clears its second House committee.

— Bud Chiles, the son of the late Gov. Lawton Chiles, talks about his new campaign to encourage purchasing American-grown produce.

 — In an all-woman Florida Man segment, stories of two girls-gone-wild at two different airports.

State Sen. Kelli Stargel’s controversial bill requiring parental consent for minors to obtain an abortion clears another Senate committee … just barely.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— A bill to legalize the sale of fireworks on national holidays — but not Memorial Day — clears the Senate Rules Committee.

— Good news if you like to slather on sunscreen without reading the label first. A bill preempting the right of local governments to ban certain types of sunscreen is ready for the Senate floor.

— Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a deal to buy a 20,000-acre piece of land described as the “heart” of the Everglades so to prevent the current owners from drilling for oil.

— Democratic Minority House leader Kionne McGhee of Cutler Bay talks about leading the charge for bills that would allow college athletes to make money off their images and likeness without losing their athletic scholarships.

— Today’s Florida Man story features a guy accused of stealing merch from more than 1,000 Walmart stores nationwide.

The 2020 Session of the Florida Legislature is off and running.

On today’s Sunrise:

— Hitting the highlights of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ second annual State of the State address, as well as the response from Democratic leaders of the House and Senate. DeSantis asked lawmakers to pass a bill requiring employers to use the federal E-Verify system to screen all new hires, to pass a bill requiring parental consent for minors who want an abortion and bring more transparency to health care.

— Senate Democratic Leader Audrey Gibson is still waiting on the Governor to make good on promises he made during last year’s State of the State speech.

— House Democratic Leader Kionne McGhee said 20 years of Republican leadership in Tallahassee have been a disaster for working men and women struggling to make ends meet, while lawmakers bend over backward for corporations and the donor class.

— Also, an examination of the agendas laid out by the House Speaker José Oliva and Senate President Bill Galvano.

— Spoiler alert: Oliva has declared war on the health care industry.

— A Florida man is in jail for beating up an elderly Ocala man after stealing his balls at a golf club. Deputies say 22-year-old Tyler Dearden was taking golf balls from another man’s bucket.

On the eve of Session, The Capitol complex was teeming with teachers asking lawmakers to do a better job funding education. Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran issued some vague threats about it being an “illegal teacher strike” that could lead to firings; Senate Democrats say that’s ridiculous. They’re also offering an alternative to the Gov. Ron DeSantis’ $900 million teacher pay package.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— The Sierra Club of Florida delivers a report card to DeSantis, giving him a “D” on environmental issues during his first year in office.

— A Senate committee approves Alyssa’s Law, requiring panic alarms in public schools.

 — Backers of the only recreational marijuana amendment that had a chance of making the ballot in 2020 said they’re not going to make the deadline. So, they’re holding off until 2022

— Correspondent Noah Pransky talks about a different kind of political poll.

 — And two Florida Man stories: One faces jail time for spitting; the other for pooping.

On the eve of the Session, thousands of teachers will converge on The Capitol to push for better education funding. While Gov. Ron DeSantis is recommending close to a billion dollars in new money for salaries and bonuses, the Florida Education Association says it doesn’t go far enough, though it’s a good start.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— The Florida Sierra Club releases its report card on the Gov.’s first year in office. Although DeSantis has received glowing reviews on environmental issues, after eight years of Rick Scott, it’s almost impossible not to do better.

— Bear poachers are in the crosshairs. A bill seeking to increase penalties for people who kill bears out of season is already moving in the Legislature. There is no season now and there hasn’t been a legal bear hunt in Florida in almost 4 years, but poaching is a problem — thanks to sky-high prices in China for bear bile and gall bladders.

— State Rep. Byron Donalds is a pro-Donald Trump, pro-gun, anti-abortion Republican running for Congress, which is nothing unusual. However, he is African American, making him something of a political unicorn.

— Today’s Florida Woman update: A former beauty queen accused of keeping the Social Security money that was supposed to pay for her mom’s nursing home.

Florida’s Chamber of Commerce is issuing its economic forecast for 2020 — and it’s huge: 200,000 new jobs created, and 320,000 new residents moving to the Sunshine State.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— The Supreme Court dealt a death blow to the constitutional amendment seeking to deregulate the energy industry in Florida, saying it cannot appear on the ballot in November. It’s a major win for the utilities (and big business in general).

— Speaking of constitutional amendments, Sunrise speaks with pollster Steve Vancore about some of the propositions that still have a chance of making the ballot this year.

— And today’s Florida Man segment includes a homeless man who tried to hack his way out of jail by impersonating a prosecutor online.

Special Guest: Steve Vancore.

Florida already requires criminal background checks if you want to work in law enforcement, schools and day care, among others. Now there’s a bill that says Amazon delivery persons should face the same sort of scrutiny.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— Earlier this week, Sunrise reported on legislative efforts to control local governments by preemption of authority on several issues. Now there’s a bill to get rid of one of those preemptions.

— House Speaker José Oliva says he will support efforts to allow college student-athletes to cash in on their fame. So far, lawmakers filed four bills.

— Vice President Mike Pence’s campaign rally in Tampa next week is moving to a new venue, after complaints from residents of Valencia Lakes who said they didn’t want it in their private, gated community.

— Sunrise talks with state Sen. Annette Taddeo on the issue of a Halloween holiday for public schools. Not Halloween itself, but the day after.

— Two stories show Florida Women can be every bit as stupid as Florida Man, which includes a Ruskin woman with a million dollars’ worth of cocaine and a Vero Beach woman who lost it over 25 cents worth of dipping sauce.

Tallahassee’s political establishment is asking the Florida Supreme Court to keep a marijuana adult-use legalization amendment off the ballot in November.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran delivered his plan to get rid of the Common Core in Florida schools. However, the Governor’s office is staying mum on any details.

— Two lawmakers from the Tampa Bay area want to restore funding for arts education. It’s an investment that pays enormous dividends, they say.

— A South Florida lawmaker files a bill to stop the state from selling personal information on your driver's license to third parties — like bill collectors, credit bureaus and private investigators.

— U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio is under fire after saying he won’t vote to compel testimony from John Bolton in Donald Trump's upcoming Senate impeachment trial.

— Today’s Florida Man stories are real doozies: A naked man strung out on meth took a bite out of a police dog and the tale of a toe-sucking intruder.

State Rep. Anna Eskamani, the only Iranian American serving in the Legislature, gives her take on the fallout from President Donald Trump’s decision to take out Iran’s top general with a drone strike

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— Medical marijuana may be legal in Florida, but you can still lose your job if you test positive for it. Two South Florida lawmakers are proposing a fix.

— Integrity Florida issues a new report that raises red flags about how the lawmakers tend to pass preemption bills, forcing local governments to do things their way … or not at all.

— On an all-female (and a bird) Florida Man segment, a Hollywood woman was clocked driving 107 MPH on I-275 in Pinellas County, with an open bottle of vodka in the car, as well as Jello shots and beer in the trunk. And Palm Beach County deputies responded to a 911 call in Lake Worth, only to find it was a parrot named Rambo saying, “let me out.”