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Capital Report: March 8, 2024

As Florida’s regular legislative session came to a close, Senate President Kathleen Passidomo was touting her Live Healthy Plan. Regan McCarthy reports the package includes several bills that will help increase access to doctors and providers by growing the state’s healthcare workforce.

Floridians and their families affected by mental health and substance abuse illnesses may soon get relief from a system that many have long described as broken. The state’s process for involuntary psychiatric evaluations is getting a major overhaul under new legislation that’s cleared the legislature this year, with advocates saying its long overdue. Lynn Hatter has more.

The Florida Legislature has voted to curtail civilian oversight of law enforcement or correctional officers. The measure would prevent locally governed boards from conducting investigations or inquiries into police misconduct and, as Margie Menzel reports, it has the backing of law enforcement agencies and the House Speaker.

After bouncing between both chambers, a controversial bill changing Florida’s child labor laws has passed the Florida Legislature. Tristan Wood reports the version set to become law is a steep departure from the bill’s original language.

Stores that sell CBD oil, Delta-8 gummies, and similar hemp products may need a new business model. The Florida Legislature has passed a bill that reduces the amount of euphoria-inducing THC levels allowed in products sold over the counter, as Gina Jordan reports.

A couple hundred people gathered outside the governor’s mansion yesterday (Thursday). They were protesting a bill that would ban the sale of flavored nicotine vaping products in Florida. As Valerie Crowder reports, they were urging Governor Ron DeSantis to veto the bill.

Florida News Service Senior Writer Dara Kam has some insights into how things went this legislative session and shares them with Tom Flanigan.