New reporting show Governor Ron DeSantis is behind proposals advancing in the Florida legislature this session that would reduce child labor protections in the state. The proposals would remove the 30 hour a week work limit for 16 year olds, strip protections for 14 year olds enrolled in virtual or home school, and allow some 13-year-olds to work over the summer. DeSantis previously signaled support for the bills, but public email records obtained by the Orlando Weekly’s McKenna Schueler (SHOE-ler) show that DeSantis’ staff sent bill drafts and talking points to the lawmakers currently carrying the proposal. Tristan Wood spoke with Schueler(shoe-ler) about her reporting.
A bill that would allow a public school to be more readily converted into a charter school is heading for the House floor. As Margie Menzel reports, the proposal received fierce but futile pushback in its last House committee stop.
The Florida House and Senate formally adopted their own versions of a new state budget today. Negotiations will be needed to close the $4.4 billion gap between the two spending plans.
As lawmakers at the Florida Capitol piece together the state’s spending plan, officials with Florida A&M University have a few items they’d like to add to the list. The school used ‘FAMU Day’ at the Capitol, as a chance to ensure their requests are heard. Adrian Andrews tells us more.