June 2024

Special | 58m 46sVideo has Closed Captions

The Northwest Florida delegation reflects on the 2024 legislative session. Hosted by Jeff Weeks.

Aired 06/10/2024

June 2024

Special | 58m 46sVideo has Closed Captions

The Northwest Florida delegation reflects on the 2024 legislative session. Hosted by Jeff Weeks.

The Northwest Florida delegation reflects on the 2024 legislative session. During this live broadcast, host Jeff Weeks asked the legislators questions submitted by the public.

Aired 06/10/2024

Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback

Legislative Review: Dialogue with the Delegation is a local public television program presented by WSRE PBS

June 2024

Special | 58m 46sVideo has Closed Captions

The Northwest Florida delegation reflects on the 2024 legislative session. During this live broadcast, host Jeff Weeks asked the legislators questions submitted by the public.

Aired 06/10/2024

Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback

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June 2024
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Tonight, we are live with members of the local Northwest Florida legislative delegation. We'll get analysis on the 2024 session and look ahead discussing issues that are important to you and the state of Florida. We are live and interactive on social media, radio and on television. 2020 for legislative review. Dialog with the delegation is straight ahead. This original WCR presentation is made possible by viewers like you. Thank you. Good evening and thank you for joining us. I'm Jeff Weeks. In addition to our live television broadcast on WSRE-TV PBS's for the Gulf Coast. We're also streaming on Facebook and broadcasting on Newsradio 92.3 FM AM 1620. Many of you have already sent in your questions for our legislators, but there's still time for more. You can email us with your question or you can message us on. Ed, I should say sorry on Facebook. Now let's meet members of the Northwest Florida legislative delegation. Senator Doug Broxson serves District one, which encompasses all of Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties and a portion of Okaloosa. He is chair of the committee on Appropriations, as well as serving on banking and insurance, judiciary and rules. Now over to the Florida House. Michelle Salzman represents House District one, which covers a large portion of Escambia County. Representative Salzman is chair of the Health Care Regulation Subcommittee. She also serves on Appropriations, Health and Human Services and Rules. Alex Andrade serves House District two, which includes the southern portions of Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties. Representative Andrade is chair of the Infrastructure and Tourism Appropriations Subcommittee, while also serving on appropriations rules and the Joint Legislative Budget Commission.

Dr. Joel Rudman represents House District three, which covers portions of Okaloosa and Santa Rosa Counties. Representative Redmond's committee assignments include Commerce, Health Care, Regulation and Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee. Pat Maney serves House District four, which encompasses part of Okaloosa County. He is vice chair of both the Commerce and Children, Families and Seniors subcommittees. He is also on the Judiciary Committee and the Civil Justice Subcommittee. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome. Thank you all for being here. We have a full house. It's been a while since we've put this program on the air due to a pandemic and things like that. So we're back in full force and we have five of our legislators with us this evening. Senator Broxton, let me begin with you. First of all, congratulations on a wonderful career and we'll talk more about that later in the broadcast. But let me get you to kind of give us your oversight on 2024 and the legislative session. Well, Jeff is historic because we had so much money, the state of Florida, when other states were struggling, we were doing great. We were growing. In addition to what the feds sent down, it really made Florida the envy of really the entire United States. And rather than spending that money on recurring, we put many of it into savings and put it towards things that that were non-recurring projects that we had deferred deferred maintenance on the university system and the colleges, a lot of money to the counties and cities. So it was historic in that we will never see the kind of a flush that we had this year. And hopefully we will continue to have robust cells and people will continue to come to Florida. About a fourth of our taxes are paid by tourists. So we're very blessed to be a citizen. And we see that because so many people want to move to Florida that live in other states that did not do well during the pandemic. Yeah, no question about that. Let me let me move over to Representative Manny and Rudman. And you guys are kind of the the new kids on the block, so to speak, or at least on our panel here. What is your take away from 2024? I think it was a great session. We got a lot done. We you know, we only meet for 60 days and we had over 1700 bills were introduced of of which fewer than 300 passed. And I think Northwest Florida did very well. We've we've made progress on insurance. We, like Senator Brockman was saying, we put a lot of money locally into projects that are going to provide dividends and jobs and better quality of life, better environment for years to come. So it was a very successful session. Representative Rudman. >> Weeks: REPRESENTATIVE RUDMAN. >> Rudman: I'M THE ROOKIE OF THE BUNK. BUNCH.THIS WAS MY FIRST TERM. I ARRIVED KIND OF AS A POLITICAL OUTSIDER AND SO I DIDN'T QUITE KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN I GOT TO TALLAHASSEE. I ARRIVED WITH BASICALLY ONE ITEM ON MY AGENDA, AND THAT WAS MEDICAL FREEDOM. AND IT WAS A BILL THAT WAS ACTUALLY SIGNED INTO LAW DURING OUR VERY FIRST SESSION. AND SO I BASICALLY SPENT THE REST OF MY TIME LEARNING FROM MY COLLEAGUES HERE. AND I CAN'T THINK OF A FINER BUNCH OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE SENATOR TO ACTUALLY GET GUIDANCE FROM. SO I'VE BEEN ADOPTING MORE OF A LEARNING POSTURE, BECAUSE IT IS. IT'S AN ART. IT REQUIRES A LOT OF SKILL TO BE AT THIS LEVEL. AND CERTAINLY YOU CAN SEE THAT IN THE PEOPLE THAT I'M SEATED NEXT TO. >> Weeks: REPRESENTATIVE SALZMAN, YOUR TAKEAWAY FROM 2024. >> Salzman: I THINK 2024 WAS UNIQUE IN THE WAY THAT WE FOCUSED MORE ON HEALTHCARE THAN WE HAVE IN MANY YEARS. THE SENATE PRESIDENT WAS VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THE LIVE HEALTHY ACT. AND BEING IN N HEALTHCARE, A MAJORITY OF MY COMMITTEES, THAT'S W WHAT I'VE DONE, SERVING ON A LOT OF BOARDS THROUGHOUT THE STATE. IT WAS REFRESHING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED THROUGH THAT. ALL OF THAT MONUMENTAL LEGISLATION, THE FUNDING, THE CHANGING IN THE WAY THAT WE REQUIRE CERTAIN THINGS FOR WHETHER YOU'RE A STUDENT OR A DOCTOR COMING FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY, HOW TO GET US THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO FILL IN SOME OF THOSE GAPS FOR OUR ACCESS TO CARE. THAT WAS MY FAVORITE PART ABOUT THE SESSION, JUST WATCHING THAT COME TO FRUITION. IT WAS A VERY LARGE -- IT WAS A HEAVY LIFT. SEVERAL BILLS ENCOMPASSED AND JUST BEING ON THOSE COMMITTEES, AND BEING IN THE ROOM WHEN WE WERE TALKING THROUGH AND NEGOTIATING SOME OF THAT ON THE HOUSE SIDE WAS PRETTY COOL. >> Weeks: REPRESENTATIVE ANDRADE, YOUR TAKEAWAY? >> Andrade: MY TAKEAWAY FROM 2024 IS THE SAME AS I HAD IN 2023, WHICH WAS JUST TRY AND MAXIMIZE SENATOR BROXSON'S POTENTIAL. I CAME INTO THIS TERM UNDERSTANDING THAT OUR SENATOR HAD SPENT HIS TIME IN PUBLIC OFFICE TO GET TO THIS POINT TO HAVE THIS INFLUENCE TO IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY, AND I CAN'T TAKE CREDIT FOR THE SOURCES. IF YOU LOOK AT OUR AREA, WE'RE COMPETING FOR TALENT FOR OUR PROFESSORS. APPROPRIATIONS, GOING TO THE NON-RECURRING SIDE, SO THIS WAS THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW THAT WE FUNDED SEVERAL HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS IN GENERAL REVENUE ON TOP OF OUR TR FUND FOR THINGS LE ROADS. SENATOR BROXSON HAD AN OUTSIZED ROLE IN MAKING SURE THAT FUNDING CAME TO OUR AREA. HE DID AN INCREDIBLE JOB. MY INTENT SUCCEEDED AS WELL. >> Weeks: GOOD DEAL. AS I MENTIONED, WE HAVE RECEIVED MANY QUESTIONS, BUT THERE'S STILL TIME FOR MORE. YOU CAN EMAIL US INFO AT WSRE.ORG OR YOU CAN SEND US A MESSAGE ON FACEBOOK. WELL, THIS IS NOT NEWS TO ANYONE, BECAUSE FORECASTERS AROUND THE NATION HAVE BEEN QUITE ADAMANT THAT WE ARE PROBABLY HEADED INTO ONE OF THE MOST ACTIVE HURRICANE SE SEASONS WE'VE SEEN IN MANY YEARS. HOPEFULLY THEY WILL BE WRONG. THEY FEEL LIKE THE CLIMATE IS SETTING UP IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT WILL BE AN ACTIVE SEASON. PROBABLY ONE OF THE THINGS ON THE MINDS OF MOST FLORIDIANS IS INSURANCE. AND WE HAVE MANY, MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT INSURANCE. I'M GOING TO BEGIN WITH A QUESTION FROM A VIEWER AND A CONSTITUENT FROM GULF BREEZE. AND SHE SAYS, I'M CONCERNED OVER THE LACK OF BOUNDARIES THE LEGISLATURE APPEARS TO BE PLACING ON INSURANCE COMPANIES IN FLORIDA. SHE SAYS, I FULLY REALIZE THAT WE ARE ESSENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, STICKING OUT, THAT WE'RE VERY VULNERABLE TO THE GULF AND THE ATLANTIC, BUT THERE MUST BE A POTENTIALLY CREATIVE SOLUTION TO THE INCREASES IN OUR INSURANCE RATES AND SOME OF THE RULES REGARDING COMPANIES DROPPING CUSTOMERS ONCE CALAMITY STRIKES. I'LL BEGIN WITH YOU, AGAIN, SENATOR BROXSON, TO ADDRESS THE INSURANCE ISSUE. >> Broxson: IT'S A VERY COMPLICATED ISSUE THAT WE DEFERRED THE SOLUTION FOR YEARS AND YEARS. WE HAVE TWO CHOICES -- WE CAN WRITE ALL THE INSURANCE IN FLORIDA THROUGH CITIZENS, WHICH IS OWNED BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA. EVERYONE WOULD ENJOY A PROPORTIONATE SHARE OF THE RISK. WE'VE HESITATED IN DOING THAT. OR WE CAN ENCOURAGE AND SET UP WAYS THAT WE CAN HAVE FOR-PROFIT INSURANCE COMPANIES DO BUSINESS. THEY HAVE NOT MADE ANY PROFIT IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS. THEY'VE GONE UNDER. WE'VE SEEN MORE THAN A DOZEN COMPANIES GO UNDER. SO WE HAD TO DO A DEEP DIVE INTO THE FLUFF THAT WAS GENERATING -- NOT HURRICANES. WE CAN HANDLE HURRICANES. IT'S ALL THOSE OTHER FACTORS. LITIGATION, FRAUDULENT VENDORS WHO WERE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE ASSIGNMENT BENEFITS. IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN TOMORROW. IT WILL HAPPEN, I CAN ASSURE YOU OF THAT. WE'RE ALL VICTIMS, BECAUSE MY RATES HAVE GONE UP THREE TIMES. AND I THINK EVERYONE HERE CAN SAY THE SAME THING. IT'S SOMETHING TO BE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WITH HURRICANE SEASON COMING. COMPANIES ARE VERY NERVOUS ABOUT FLORIDA. WE'RE THE THIRD-BIGGEST CATASTROPHIC AREA IN THE WORLD. AND WE'VE GOT TO FIND A WAY TO UNDERWRITE IT WHERE PEOPLE CAN AFFORD PREMIUMS AND HOPEFULLY THIS TEAM WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT. WE'LL BE IN A BETTER POSITION IN THE YEARS TO COME. >> AND JUST SO PEOPLE UNDERSTAND, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ASSIGNMENT OF BENEFITS, MY FAMILY ACTUALLY EXPERIENCED SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF WHAT SENATOR BROXSON WAS TALKING ABOUT. WE SUSTAINED SOME ROOF DAMAGE A COUPLE YEARS BACK ON OUR HOME. FORTUNATELY, I HAVE A ROOFER WHO LIVES ONE BLOCK OVER FROM US WHO'S A FRIEND. SO HE CAME BY AND EVALUATED OUR ROOF AND SAID YOU'VE GOT $20,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE. AND YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO BE ON THE HOOK FOR 6,000 OF IT. AND HONEST MAN, GOOD FRIEND, LIVES ACROSS THE STREET. NOT THE NEXT DAY WE HAD A FLY-BY-NIGHT COMPANY STOP BY. THEY WERE TOURING THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY STOPPED AT OUR HOUSE. WE KNOW WHAT THE DAMAGE IS. WE'VE BEEN TOLD. THE FLY-BY-NIGHT PERSON PULLS UP TO THE HOUSE, HOPS OUT, KNOCKS ON THE DOOR, TELLS MY WIFE IT'S GOING TO COST ABOUT 60,000 TO FIX YOUR ROOF. HERE, SIGN THIS. AND YOU WON'T BE ON THE HOOK FOR A SINGLE PENNY. WHAT HE WAS ASKING MY WIFE TO SIGN WAS AN ASSIGNMENT OF BENEFITS. IN OTHER WORDS, HE WANTED US TO GIVE HIM THE RIGHT TO SUE OUR HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE. AND THESE WERE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE IN TERMS OF FRIVOLOUS LAWSUITS, PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE THE BEST INTEREST OF FLORIDIANS AT HEART. I GOT TO LEARN THAT FIRST-HAND. THIS WAS LONG BEFORE I JUMPED INTO POLITICS. >> THERE ARE THREE MAIN COST DRIVERS FOR YOUR PREMIUM, YOUR PROPERTY INSURANCE. ONE IS THE HURRICANES THAT HAPPEN. I CAN'T CONTROL THE WEATHER. WE CAN'T LEGISLATE THE WEATHER. BUT IF IT COST 40% MORE TO REBUILD YOUR HOME AND IT'S WORTH TWICE AS MUCH AS IN 2019 THAT COST IS GOING TO W BE IN YOUR PREMIUM. THE OTHER IS LITIGATION. WE'VE DONE EXTREME AMOUNTS OF WORK ON CURTAILING FRIVOLOUS LITIGATION. THE THIRD IS THE COST OF REINSURANCE. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY EXPAND OUR ROLE AT THE STATE IN, AT THE COST OF SEVERAL BILLION DOLLARS. SO, I WORKED ON THE POLICY THIS YEAR THAT DID NOT PASS. BUT THAT IS A POLICY ON REINSURANCE BECAUSE THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT COST FOR OUR FIRST-PARTY PROPERTY INSURERS. I WANT THAT CONSTITUENT TO KNOW WE HAVE SEVEN NEW COMPANIES COMING INTO THE MARKET THIS YEAR. AND OUR OFFICE OF INSURANCE REGULATIONS REPORTING STAGNATION OR REDUCTION IN PREMIUMS THIS YEAR ON TOP OF THE FACT THAT WE DID DO, IN OUR BUDGET THAT HAS NOT BEEN SIGNED, KNOCK ON WOOD, A REMITTANCE IN TAXES ON YOUR PREMIUM THAT WILL HOPEFULLY SHOW SAVINGS FOR HOMEOWNERS. >> ONE OTHER THING WE WE'VE DON, WE DIDN'T JUST LOOK AT THE INSURANCE CRISIS, BUT HOW CAN WE DO A BETTER JOB AT RESPONDING TO THESE EMERGENCIES SO WE DON'T HAVE PEOPLE KNOCKING ON DOORS TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO SIGN THEIR RIGHTS AWAY. AND THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AS WELL AS THE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES HAVE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB OF CREATING PLANS. WHEN WE HAD HURRICANE IAN COME THROUGH, WITHIN 24 HOURS THE CFO'S OFFICE HAD SET UP AN EMERGENCY TENT AT THE ONLY ENTRANCE TO THE AREA THAT WAS MOST BADLY HIT. SO WHEN PEOPLE DROVE IN THEY HAD TO CHECK IN. THEY SAID IF YOU HAVE AN INSURANCE CLAIM, HERE'S THE PHONE NUMBER. THAT WAY WE WEREN'T GETTING PEOPLE -- THERE WERE A FEW THAT TRIED TO GET INTO THE AREA. WE'VE DONE THINGS LIKE REPRESENTATIVE ANDRADE SAID, WITH TAX REDUCTION. AND WE HAVE THE TIME WHEN YOU CAN SHOP FOR TAX-EXEMPT PURCHASES. SO WE'RE DOING OPERATIONAL THINGS AS WELL, LOOKING AT OUR PROCEDURES ON HOW WE RESPOND SO WE CAN CREATE A BETTER ENVIRONMENT FOR FLORIDIANS WHEN WE DO, WHICH WILL END UP SAVING MONEY IN THE LONG RUN AS WELL. >> COULD I ADD SOMETHING? ONE THING THE LEGISLATURE DID WAS, WE REFILLED THE POT OF MONEY FOR PEOPLE TO HELP THEM AFFORD HARDENING THEIR OWN HOMES. SO IT'S A PRIVATE SECTOR FOCUSED PROCESS TO HELP EVERYBODY'S INSURANCE RATES, BECAUSE IT WILL HOPEFULLY KEEP THE DAMAGE DOWN WHEN A SERIOUS STORM COMES. >> JEFF, I HAVE A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE I TELL MY CONSTITUENTS THAT I'VE ALREADY LIVED THROUGH AN INSURANCE CRISIS, BECAUSE AS A PHYSICIAN, FLORIDA DEALT WITH A MALPRACTICE INSURANCE CRISIS BACK WHEN I WAS TRAINING IN DAYTONA BEACH. AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, AS A FAMILY PRACTICE RESIDENT MY TEACHERS WERE TELLING ME THAT I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO PRACTICE IN THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE BECAUSE I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO AFFORD THE MALPRACTICE INSURANCE. THANKFULLY, BACK IN THE LATE ' 90s, OUR STATE LEGISLATURE INTRODUCED SOME OF THE SAME EXACT POLICIES, THE SAME EXACT APPROACH THAT WE JUST TOOK TOWARDS HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE BACK IN OUR SPECIAL SESSION FOR 2022. SO I HAVE SEEN THIS APPROACH WORK. BY THE TIME I GRADUATED FROM MY RESIDENCY, MY MALPRACTICE PREMIUM WASN'T MY BIGGEST EXPENDITURE. WHEN I TELL MY CONSTITUENTS, I SAY THE FIX HAS ALREADY BEEN APPLIED. NOW YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR IT TO WORK. THE CHANGES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT YOU WON'T SEE IN EFFECT IN THREE MONTHS, BUT I CAN TELL YOU, I WAS DROPPED FROM MY HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE BACK IN MARCH. WE'RE NOW A GOOD COUPLE MONTHS AFTER OUR "FIX.

" WHEN I HIT THE OPEN MARKET TO LOOK FOR HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE I FOUND THE SAME PLAN AT A 50% RATE REDUCTION. SO, MY ADVICE TO CONSTITUENTS IS GET OUT THERE, SHOP AROUND. I USED TO PAY $8,000 A YEAR FOR MY HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE. THIS YEAR I'M PAYING 4,000. SO I KNOW THE CHANGES ARE WORKING. I'M LIVING PROOF OF IT. >> CAN I ADD ONE THING? >> Weeks: PLEASE. >> THIS DISCUSSION, IN MANY DELEGATIONS ACROSS THE STATE IS SO HOSTILE THEY CANNOT HAVE A MEETING LIKE WE'RE HAVING. YOU'VE HEARD FIVE OPINIONS HERE. WE KNOW WE HAVE A PROBLEM. WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE HURTING. WE HEAR IT EVERY DAY, PEOPLE HAVE SEEN THEIR RATES DOUBLE AND TRIPLE ON FIXED INCOMES. IT'S A HORRIBLE SITUATION. BUT IT'S ONE THAT WE ARE SERIOUSLY TRYING TO DO AS IF THEY WERE SETTING GOOD COMMONSENSE POLICY. NO ONE HERE HAS SAID THEY'VE TRIED TO TAKE THIS ISSUE AND POLITICIZE IT. IT'S NOT A POLITICAL ISSUE. IT'S A HARD-NUMBER ISSUE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO RESOLVE. I WANT TO APPLAUD MY COLLEAGUES FOR THE HARD WORK THEY'VE DONE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY EXPLAIN THIS TO THE PEOPLE HERE, AND ASKING THEM TO BE PATIENT BECAUSE HELP IS ON THE WAY. >> Weeks: A CONSTITUENT ALSO SENT THIS IN, I'M NOT SURE FROM WHICH TOWN, BUT HE SAYS, IS THERE ANY POSSIBILITY THAT THE STATE CAN PERMIT OR EVEN ENCOURAGE THE USE OF A CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT WRITTEN INTO INSURANCE POLICIES TO SETTLE CLAIMS, DISPUTES, THROUGH ARBITRATION RATHER THAN LITIGATION IN EXCHANGE FOR PREMIUMS THAT REFLECT THE LOWER RISK? YOU'RE AN ATTORNEY. I'LL THROW THAT TO YOU FIRST, REPRESENTATIVE ANDRADE. >> Andrade: YEAH. INSURANCE COMPANIES RIGHT NOW CAN REQUIRE NONBINDING MEDIATION, ARBITRATION. YOU CAN NEGOTIATE FOR A REDUCTION IN SEVERAL OF YOUR RISKS. I WOULDN'T NECESSARILY RECOMMEND A CONSUMER SIGN AWAY THEIR RIGHT TO GO TO COURT IN THAT CONTEXT, BECAUSE YOU'RE OPERATING IN A SYSTEM WHERE A VERY WELL-HEELED, FINANCED CORPORATION HAS LAWYERS WHO PRACTICE IN INSURANCE DEFENSE EVERY DAY SUDDENLY GOING INTO AN ARBITRATOR'S OFFICE, ANOTHER LAWYER'S OFFICE OR A PANEL OF LAWYER'S OFFICE. AND YOU'RE PROBABLY ON THE BACK FOOT IN THAT SITUATION, WHEREAS YOUR RIGHT TO OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM IS FREE OTHER THAN MAYBE THE COST OF FILING YOUR LAWSUIT AND $40 TO SERVE THE INSURANCE COMPANY. SO I WOULDN'T NECESSARILY SAY THAT'S A GOOD IDEA IN PRACTICE. BUT EVERY TIME YOU SIGN AN EXCLUSION ON A PROPERTY INSURANCE POLICY, YOU'RE TAKING ON MORE RISK TO SAVE MUS MONEY. I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S ANY STATUTORY RESTRICTION ON ANY TYPE OF ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION AGREEMENT IN A CONTRACT RIGHT NOW. >> Weeks: ANYBODY LIKE TO ADD TO THAT? IF NOT, I WILL PIGGYBACK ON A QUESTION FROM A VIEWER. AND KIND OF THE SAME SCENARIO HERE, TALKING ABOUT THE HIGH COST OF INSURANCE. BUT THEY'RE MAKING THE STATEMENT, WE'VE HAD 125% INCREASE IN FIVE YEARS. AND THIS PERSON IS SAYING SHE IS ACTUALLY SAYING, I'M FROM NICEVILLE. I'M TIRED OF PAYING FOR BEACHFRONT SECOND HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE WHEN I HAVE LITTLE OR NO ACCESS TO THE BEACH. SHE'S IMPLYING THAT SHE'S TAKING THE LOAD FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING RIGHT ON THE WATER VERSUS SOMEBODY WHO'S FARTHER INLAND. ANY THOUGHTS, COMMENTS, OR WAYS TO DEAL WITH IT? >> THE ACTUAL NUMBERS SHOW THAT THAT IS NOT CORRECT, THAT YOU HAVE A PROPORT PROPORTIONATE NUF LOSSES INLAND AS ON THE COAST. WE HAD TO ELEVATE AND BUILD UP STRONGER. SO YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE MANY FLOOD CLAIMS LIKE YOU DID BEFORE. WIND STORM, IF YOU HAVE AN IVAN OR IN THIS CASE WE HAD SELLLIE THAT WAS MORE OF A WATER STORM THAT WAS A WINDSTORM, THOSE THINGS SHOULD NOT, FOR A HARDENED HOUSE, SHOULD NOT BE IMPACTED BY A STORM. THAT'S OUR GOAL, IS TO HARDEN HOMES SO PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE LOSSES AND PREMIUMS SHOULD GO DOWN. >> Weeks: OKAY. LET'S MOVE ON AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT HOMEOWNERSHIP. AND THIS PERSON IS ASKING, WHAT ABOUT APPRAISAL FRAUD? SO, THIS IS ONE HERE. I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHERE SHE'S GOING. I'M GOING TO SUMMARIZE A LITTLE BIT HERE OF WHAT I BELIEVE SHE IS TRYING TO GET ACROSS. SHE SAID, I BET THE MODERATOR ISN'T BRAVE ENOUGH TO BRING UP THE SECOND QUESTION HERE. YOU'RE INCORRECT ABOUT THAT. SHE'S ASKING ABOUT APPRAISAL FRAUD. AND APPARENTLY TRYING -- HER SECOND QUESTION IS TRYING TO TIE IT TO WALL STREET BANKS. SHE REFERENCES A BOOK BY SOMEONE. I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE THEM A PLUG. I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE BOOK. IS THIS SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE AWARE OF, OR AN ISSUE THAT IS A PROBLEM IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA? >> SO, THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT KINDS OF APPRAISALS. I'M ASSUMING THAT THAT QUESTION IS RELATED TO THE APPRAISAL OF THE VALUE OF YOUR HOME AND NOT THE INSURANCE ADR POLICY OF AN APPRAISAL DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCESS THAT ALREADY EXISTS IN MOST CONTRACTS. IF SHE'S TALKING ABOUT SOME KIND OF PLAN WHERE BANKS ARE INCENTIVIZED TO APPRAISE HOMES FOR A HIGHER VALUE, WHAT SHE'S TALKING ABOUT IS THE HOUSING CRISIS ISSUE THAT OCCURRED IN 2007, 2008. I DON'T THINK THAT WE HAVE THAT SAME OCCURRENCE. I DO BELIEVE THAT THE VALUE OF OUR HOMES ARE INCREASING BECAUSE WE HAVE A THOUSAND PEOPLE MOVING FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND WANTING TO BE HERE TODAY. AND ONE OF THE OTHER ISSUES ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS DEMAND FOR HOUSING. AND THAT'S A SELF-INFLICTED PROBLEM THAT WE'VE CREATED BECAUSE WE'VE MADE FLORIDA SUCH AN APPEALING PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO MOVE TO. BUT I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH ANY TYPE OF ORGANIZED APPRAISAL FRAUD OR ANY TYPE OF INFLATION VALUE OF PROPERTIES LIKE WE SAW IN THE EARLY 2000s. >> CLEARLY THOSE WERE ISSUED DURING THE GREAT FINANCIAL CRISIS, BUT AGAIN, IF YOU FOLLOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE NEWS, UNLESS YOU KNOW SOMETHING WE DON'T, THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE SOMETHING THAT'S TOP OF MIND. NOT TO SUGGEST THAT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN OCCASIONALLY OR MAY NOT BE GOING ON SOMEWHERE OR THAT THERE AREN'T BAD ACTORS, BUT IT DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. PROPERTY TAXES, HOWEVER, ARE GOING UP. AND ONE OF OUR VIEWERS FROM PENSACOLA SAYS PROPERTY TAXES HAVE INCREASED TO WHAT HE REFERS TO AS UNACCEPTABLE LEVELS. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO REDUCE THESE TAXES? SHOULDN'T PEOPLE SUCH AS THOSE IN AREAS WITH HOUSES AND BUSINESSES ON BARRIER ISLANDS BE FORCED TO PAY WAY MORE OR MODIFY THEIR HOMES AND BUSINESSES? I THINK HE'S MIXING TOGETHER PROPERTY TAXES AND INSURANCE THERE. SO, KIND OF TWO DIFFERENT BALLS OF WAX, IF YOU WILL. WE'VE COVERED INSURANCE. BUT TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES. PROPERTY TAXES GO UP AS REAL ESTATE VALUES GO UP. ANY COMMENTS ON THAT? >> I'VE GOT A GREAT AMENDMENT THEY SHOULD VOTE ON IN NOVEMBER. [ LAUGHING ] >> WE'RE PUTTING ON THE BALLOT AN AMENDMENT TO INFLATION ADJUST YOUR PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION. THAT'S SOMETHING I FULLY PLAN ON VOTING FOR. $25,000 TAX EXEMPTION, BACK IN 2005 IS NOT THE SAME SAVINGS FOR A HOMEOWNER AS IT WOULD BE IN 2025. AS FAR AS PROPERTY TAXES OVERALL, A LOT OF THAT IS HANDLED LOCALLY, YOUR LOCAL DIFFERENT BOARDS VOTING ON RAISING THE RATE OR A FEE, OR ALTERING IMPACT FEES. WE DID HAVE A FEW LOCAL BILLS ON SOME FIRE DISTRICTS THAT AFFECTED PROPERTY TAXES. BUT I DON'T KNOW. WE DON'T LEVY PROPERTY TAXES AS A STATE. >> Weeks: ANY OTHER COMMENTS? >> WELL, I WOULD MENTION THE TAX COLLECTORS ASSOCIATION FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS HAS BROUGHT BILLS TO THE LEGISLATURE THAT HAVE PASSED THAT CUT THE FEES THAT THE TAX COLLECTORS HAVE. AND THEY CUT THE COST OF VARIOUS SERVICES THEY PROVIDE. SO, I THINK AS FAR AS THE STATE GOES AND AS FAR AS THE LOCAL TAX COLLECTORS GO, WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP THE COST DOWN AS MUCH AS WE CAN. I MEAN, FLORIDA IS AWARE WE'VE GOT A HOUSING SHORTAGE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING SHORTAGE. AND THE LEGISLATURE'S TRYING TO ADDRESS IT IN THE WAYS THAT WE CAN. BUT AS REPRESENTATIVE ANDRADE SAID, THOSE ACTUAL ASSESSMENTS AND COLLECTIONS ARE DONE LOCALLY, NOT BY TALLAHASSEE. >> I THINK IT'S A VALID POINT. NOT AS MUCH IN THE PANHANDLE, BUT IN THE -- BELOW TALLAHASSEE, THE COUNTIES AND THE CITIES ARE PRETTY FLUSH WITH MONEY. THEY'RE VERY COMPETITIVE IN RECRUITING OUR POLICE FORCES AND IT'S BEEN A BIG ISSUE FOR FLORIDA AND HOW DO WE COMPETE WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT. THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION THIS YEAR ABOUT US SPEAKING TO THAT. WE DID THAT ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO WHEN VALUES WENT UP AND THERE WAS NO CONSIDERATION AT THE LOCAL LEVEL FOR REDUCING THE MILLAGE. I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IN THE COMING YEAR THAT THE LEGISLATURE SPEAKS TO THAT AND MANDATES THAT REPRESENTATIVE ANDRADE IS SAYING. WE HAVE TO BE REASONABLE WITH WHAT WE ALLOW OUR COUNTIES AND CITIES TO CHARGE. >> Weeks: OKAY. FAIR ENOUGH. LET'S MOVE ON TO EDUCATION. ACTUALLY, JUST BEFORE WE WENT ON THE AIR TONIGHT, SOME GOOD NEWS AS FAR AS MONEY FLOWING TOWARDS EDUCATION THIS YEAR. 1.125 BILLION, I BELIEVE, FOR EDUCATION. TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW SOME OF THAT MONEY'S GOING TO BE USED. >> WELL, A LOT OF IT'S GOING TO BE USED FOR VOUCHERS, FREEDOM OF CHOICE. WE'RE GOING TO SEE A RECORD NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WILL MOVE THEIR CHILDREN TO PLACES WHERE THEY FEEL LIKE THEY CAN GET A BETTER EDUCATION. AND THE GOVERNOR IS VERY STRONG ON THIS. THE SENATE SPEAKER INTRODUCED HOUSE BILL 1 LAST YEAR THAT MANDATED THAT YOU COULD TAKE WHAT THE STATE ALLOCATES PER STUDENT AND TRANSPORT IT TO THE SCHOOL THAT YOU WANTED TO GO TO, INCLUDING PRIVATE SCHOOLS. WE'RE GOING TO AGAIN SEE TEACHER'S RAISES GO UP. BUT IT'S NOT ONLY TEACHER'S RAISES. WE'VE SEEN A TREMENDOUS INCREASE IN HEALTH INSURANCE. THE STATE IN MOST CASES HAS EATEN THAT INCREASE. SO THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL BENEFIT FOR BEING A STATE EMPLOYEE THROUGH SCHOOL BOARDS AND OTHER STATE EMPLOYEES. SO, WE'RE NOT DOING BAD AS FAR AS EDUCATION. WE'VE DONE SOME GOOD THINGS. AND I THINK FLORIDA'S A BETTER PLACE IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS THAN IT WAS BEFORE THEN. >> JEFF, I'LL TALK FROM A LEVEL OF PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. I'VE GOT TWO CHILDREN. I SENT MY DAUGHTER OUT OF STATE TO WHAT YOU WOULD CALL A PUBLIC IVY INSTITUTION, WILLIAM AND MARY. VERY EXPENSIVE UNIVERSITY. MY SON, ON THE OTHER HAND, CHOSE TO STAY IN-STATE, FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY. I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE ARE MORE PLEASED WITH THE EDUCATION THAT MY SON HAS RECEIVED FROM FLORIDA ATLANTIC THAN MY DAUGHTER RECEIVED FROM A "PUBLIC IVY.

" SO AGAIN, I THINK WE NEED TO REMIND THE VIEWERS THAT FLORIDA IS TOPS AS FAR AS EDUCATION IS CONCERNED. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO SERVE ON THE HIGHER ED SUBCOMMITTEE IN THE HOUSE. OUR UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES DO AN EXCELLENT JOB EDUCATING OUR YOUTH. AND I HAVE SEEN THOSE STATISTICS. I HAVE SEEN THOSE NUMBERS. MY ADVICE TO PARENTS OF HIGH SCHOOL KIDS IS TO -- IF THERE'S ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO KEEP YOUR CHILD IN-STATE, YOU ARE GETTING THE BEST VALUE IN THE EDUCATION BUSINESS TODAY. >> OF COURSE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HIGHER EDUCATION. I HAVE A CONSTITUENT HERE FROM PENSACOLA. AND HE IS STATING, PENSACOLA STUDENT PERFORMANCE AND ACADEMICS IS A SAD STATE OF AFFAIRS. THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS SOME CHILDREN FOR TEN HOURS A DAY. MANY IN PENSACOLA ARE LOWER-INCOME STUDENTS WHO ONLY HAVE ONE PARENT AT HOME. THE QUESTION IS, WHY ARE WE SENDING KINDERGARTENERS HOME WITH HOMEWORK? I'M NOT SURE THAT FALLS IN YOUR WHEELHOUSE. THE SECOND QUESTION IS -- THIS IS A FAIR QUESTION. WHY AREN'T WE PROVIDING REMEDIAL HELP DURING BEFORE-SCHOOL AND AFTER-SCHOOL CARE? >> WE DO THAT. OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT SPECIFICALLY. I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE ENTIRE STATE, BUT OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT SPECIFICALLY OFFERS BEFORE AND AFTER-SCHOOL HELP. MOSTLY IN THE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL ERA, BUT YOU CAN STAY LATE OR COME EARLY AND IT IS COVERED. THEY HAVE DESIGNATED TEACHERS AT EVERY SCHOOL THAT SIT WITH THOSE KIDS AND HELP THEM WITH THEIR HOMEWORK, OR HELP THEM WITH AN ISSUE THAT THEY'RE HAVING TROUBLE WITH, OR A SUBJECT MATTER. AND THEN WE ALSO AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT HAVE ONLINE TUTORING AVAILABLE FOR THESE KIDS. THEY CAN ACCESS IT THROUGH THE PARENT PORTAL THAT IS ALREADY THERE. I WOULD ARGUE THAT WE DO THAT CURRENTLY. WHAT WE MIGHT NOT DO SO WELL IS COMMUNICATE WITH THE AT-RISK FAMILIES THAT NEED IT THE MOST. AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE STRUGGLE WITH. WE'VE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH FOR MANY YEARS. IF THEY HAVE SUGGESTIONS OF WAYS TO DO THAT THAT WE HAVE NOT IMPLEMENTED, REACH OUT TO ME AND I WILL BE CERTAIN TO ADD THAT TO THE LIST. I SERVE ON THE PUBLIC SCHOOL FOUNDATION BOARD. I'VE BEEN ON IT FOR MANY YEARS. I'M ACTIVE IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. I DON'T DO EDUCATION AT THE STATE LEVEL. I DID THAT ON PURPOSE. I WANTED TO LEARN SOMETHING DIFFERENT SO I COULD HAVE MY HAND IN DIFFERENT POTS. WE DO THAT ALREADY. WE PROVIDE A LOT OF RESOURCES. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT MAYBE SENATOR BROXSON WOULD LIKE TO TOUCH ON THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL INITIATIVE WHERE NOW WE'VE EXPANDED IT FROM NOT JUST ELEMENTARY BUT MIDDLE AND NOW INTO HIGH SCHOOL WHERE YOU HAVE EVERYTHING THAT YOU NEED THERE -- A NURSE ON-SITE. EVERYTHING YOU COULD POSSIBLY IMAGINE. NOT JUST FOR THAT CHILD, BUT FOR THE FAMILY. SO WE ARE WORKING ON WAYS TO DO THAT. WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS A BIG GAP THERE. AND NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE SERVICES OR THE FUNDING FOR THE SERVICES BUT BECAUSE WE NEED TO REACH THOSE FAMILIES. >> AS FAR AS THE RESTRICTIONS, SO, LAST SESSION, 2023, WE PASSED THIS MONUMENTAL NATION-LEADING INITIATIVE ON VOUCHERS. MONEY FOLLOWS THE CHILD. THIS YEAR, BECAUSE OF SOME VALID ARGUMENTS AND PUSHBACK FROM OUR TRADITIONAL GOVERNMENT-RUN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WE WORKED ON DEREGULATING A LOT OF THE RESTRICTIONS THAT PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS HAVE SAID WOULD PUT THEM AT A COMPETITIVE DISADVANTAGE FROM THESE VOUCHER SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND SCHOOLS. WHAT THAT MEANT IS WE'VE ELIMINATED A LOT OF THE CATEGORICALS THAT WE DISTRIBUTED WHAT PORTION OF THE BASE STUDENT ALLOCATION COULD GO TO AND PUT MORE OF THE ABILITY BACK INTO THE HANDS OF COOL BOARDS ACROSS THE STATE. ALL 67 COUNTIES, THE OFFICERS THAT MAKE THOSE DECISIONS. ON TOP OF THE AT LEAST $500 MILLION EVERY YEAR SINCE 2019, WE'VE PUT TOWARDS TEACHER PAY RAISES, WHICH HAS RAISED OUR AVERAGE STARTING TEACHER PAY FROM 40,000 TO $49,000 EVERY YEAR, WE'VE ALSO INCREASED OUR BASE STUDENT ALLOCATION AND REMOVED A LOT OF THE RESTRICTIONS ON THAT FUNDING SO SCHOOL BOARDS CAN MAKE THE DECISIONS THEY WERE ELECTED TO DO. >> Weeks: PLEASE. >> I WOULD POINT OUT THAT I THINK IT WAS TWO YEARS AGO, THE LEGISLATURE RECOGNIZING THAT CHILDREN WHO ARE BEHIND IN READING IN THE THIRD GRADE HAVE A LOWER CHANCE OF SUCCESS. THE LEGISLATURE CREATED A PROGRAM TO PROVIDE FREE BOOKS MONTHLY TO STUDENTS SO THAT THEY COULD WORK ON THEIR READING AND GET BACK UP TO SPEED. AND A LOT OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE STARTED CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS TO HELP STUDENTS WHO WANT TO GET ON A CAREER PATH -- NOT A COLLEGE PATH. AND THAT'S GOING TO BE A TREMENDOUS BENEFIT TO THESE STUDENTS WHETHER THEY GET IN A MEDICAL TRACK, AN AUTOMOTIVE TRACK, A CARPENTRY TRACK. THEY'RE ALL JOBS THAT PAY WELL THAT WE NEED AS A SOCIETY AND OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE IN THAT SPACE TRYING TO HELP THE STUDENTS GET AHEAD. >> JEFF, IF THERE'S A CHANGE IN FLORIDA AND ACROSS THE NATION, DR.

RUDMAN TALKED ABOUT HIS TWO STUDENTS GOING TO COLLEGE. A LOT OF STUDENTS WILL NOT BE GOING TO COLLEGE. IT'S EXPENSIVE. AND SOMETIMES THE RESULT DOES NOT GIVE YOU THE QUALITY OF WORKPLACE EXPERIENCE THAT YOU NEED. WE'RE GOING TO SEE OUR 28 COLLEGES TAKE A LEAD IN VOCATIONAL TRAINING. IT'S GOING TO BE A TITANIC SHIFT IN WHAT WE SEE. BUT WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS GO BACK TO THE EARLY YEARS OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, PEOPLE THAT HAVE NOT BEEN GOOD READERS, THAT HAVE BEEN POOR PERFORMERS AND SAY TO THEM, HANG IN THERE. WE'LL GIVE YOU SOME KIND OF CERTIFICATE OR SOMETHING WHERE YOU CAN GO OUT AND GET A GOOD-PAYING JOB. DON'T GO OUT ON THE STREET. DON'T GIVE UP ON LIFE. IF WE CAN DO THAT, WE CAN ENGAGE THE 28 COLLEGES TO RECRUIT THOSE FOLKS, TO PUT THEM INTO A PLAN WHERE THEY CAN BE A PLUMBER, ELECTRICIAN, OR WORK AT ST ENGINEERING, IT WILL CHANGE OUR SOCIETY. AND YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE LEGISLATURE DIG IN ON THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE, NO MATTER WHAT THEIR GRADE LEVEL, NO MATTER WHAT THEIR GRADES ARE, THEY MAY NOT BE WALKING UP THERE AND GETTING THE AWARD AT THE GRADUATION, BUT THEY'LL BE REWARDED IN THAT THEY WILL HAVE SOMETHING THAT PRODUCES THE AMERICAN DREAM FOR THEIR FAMILY. >> JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT NECESSARILY GREAT AT ENGLISH LITERATURE OR ALGEBRA DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN'T MAKE A GOOD LIVING. I KNOW PLUMBERS WHO DO QUITE WELL, AND OTHER TRADES-TYPE BUSINESSES. I'M GOING TO KIND OF TIE THIS TOGETHER AND THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO A DIFFERENT SUBJECT, BUT IT'S STILL ON PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WHAT IS YOUR STANCE, WHAT ARE THE PLANS FOR LEGISLATION REGARDING BANNING BOOKS AND THE INCLUSION OF RELIGIOUS IDEOLOGY IN THE CURRICULUM AND GENERAL SCHOOL POLICIES? AND ANOTHER CONSTITUENT BASICALLY ASKING THE QUESTION, IF THE CONSTITUTION GUARANTEES SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE, WHY ARE TAXPAYER DOLLARS BEING USED TO SEND STUDENTS TO RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS? SO I'LL WIND THOSE TWO TOGETHER AND LET YOU GUYS COMMENT. WHOEVER WANTS TO TAKE IT. >> I DON'T KNOW THAT WE BANNED ANY BOOKS IN FLORIDA. THAT'S NEWS TO ME. I MEAN, I THINK IT'S BEEN A FUN HOT TOPIC TO TRY TO ADDRESS WITH A LOT OF FOLKS. FIRST AND FOREMOST, IF YOU DON'T THINK THEY WERE VALID INSTANCES, AND ARE VALID INSTANCES OF BOOKS BEING AVAILABLE IN LIBRARIES THAT ARE AGE-INAPPROPRIATE THAT CONTAIN IMAGES THAT YOU AS A PARENT DO NOT WANT YOUR CHILD TO HAVE ACCESS TO WITHOUT YOUR INVOLVEMENT, YOU'RE KIDDING YOURSELF. THOSE BOOKS ABSOLUTELY WERE IN THOSE LIBRARIES. AND BRINGING THAT TO THE FOREFRONT, IT HAS ALLOWED FOR MAYBE SOME BAD FAITH PARTISANSHIP, GAMESMANSHIP. GOVERNOR DESANTIS BROUGHT UP LEGISLATION TO TRY AND ADDRESS THE BOOK CHALLENGE GAMESMANSHIP THAT HAS KIND OF RAILROADED THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO EMPOWER PARENTS TO BE INVOLVED IN THEIR CHILD'S EDUCATION AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. AS FAR AS THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE, I BELIEVE IF YOU'RE PAYING TAXES INTO THE SYSTEM AS A PARENT, YOUR CHOICE OF WHERE YOU'RE SENDING YOUR CHILD TO SCHOOL SHOULD NOT MAKE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOU ACCESSING A BASE STUDENT ALLOCATION, AN AMOUNT THAT WE AS A STATE SAY WE SHOULD COMMIT TO YOUR CHILD'S EDUCATION VERSUS NOT. SO I DON'T SEE THAT AS A SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE ISSUE. IIT'S EMPOWERING PARENTS TO BE S INVOLVED IN THEIR CHILD'S EDUCATION AS POSSIBLE. >> I'M HAPPY TO JUMP IN AS WELL. I PRIDE MYSELF ON BEING A BIG FIRST AMENDMENT GUY. THE MEDICAL FREEDOM BILL I TALKED ABOUT WAS A FIRST AMENDMENT BILL. I READ ANOTHER FIRST AMENDMENT BILL THIS LAST SESSION HAVING TO DO WITH ENTERTAINERS AND CONCERTS, ETC. I'M A BIG BELIEVER IN THE FIRST AMENDMENT. LIKE REPRESENTATIVE ANDRADE AND MY COLLEAGUES SAID EARLIER, YOU'RE KIDDING YOURSELF IF YOU THINK OBSCENITY IS COVERED BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT. OF COURSE TO ME, THE BIG LITMUS TEST IS IF A PARENT CANNOT READ THAT BOOK OUT LOUD AT A SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, IF THEY GET SHOUTED DOWN AND SAID, YOU CAN'T READ THAT DURING THE MEETING, WHY WOULD YOU ALLOW A SECOND-GRADER TO READ IT IN THEIR LIBRARY AT SCHOOL? THAT'S THE LITMUS TEST TO ME. >> Weeks: LET'S MOVE ON AND TALK ABOUT UTILITIES AND CLIMATE CHANGE AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. A COUPLE OF CONSTITUENTS SENDING IN SOME QUESTIONS. AND ONE OF THEM, WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT THE VULNERABILITY OF OUR POWER GRIDS? THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN TALKED ABOUT NATIONWIDE FOR MANY YEARS. YOUR THOUGHTS. IF ANYONE WANTS TO ADDRESS THAT, OR IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S COME BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE. >> I THINK THAT'S A PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION ISSUE MORE THAN THE LEGISLATURE. WE DON'T REGULATE THE UTILITIES. >> WELL, WE DO HAVE SOME LIMITED AMOUNT. TWO YEARS AGO, MAYBE THREE YEARS AGO, THREE SESSIONS AGO I GOT A LOT OF FUN FLAK FOR BEING THE ONLY PERSON TO COSPONSOR A BILL SAYING IF YOU HAVE SOLAR PANELS ON YOUR ROOF, YOU SHOULD BE PAID FOR THE WHOLESALE VALUE OF THE KILOWATT THAT THE POWER COMPANY IS FORCED BY LAW TO BUY BACK FROM YOU. WHAT THAT MEANT WAS IF YOU HAVE SOLAR PANELS ON YOUR ROOF, YOU GET PAID FOR THE VALUE TO HAVE E KILOWATT AND YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE TO PAY FOR THE GRID THE SAME WAY YOUR NEIGHBORS HAVE TO, IN THE RETAIL RATE THEY HAVE TO USE AS A HOMEOWNER THAT DOESN'T HAVE SOLAR PANELS ON THEIR ROOF. THE LIMITED AMOUNT THAT WE DO HAVE OF A SAY IN THAT COMES FROM THE COST RECOVERY AFTER A HURRICANE TO REBUILD THE GRID. AND THE UNDERSTANDING OF WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING THAT GRID. THESE ARE COMPANIES THAT HAVE A MASSIVE MONOPOLY AND CONTROL IN THE MARKET. THEY ARE 1000% RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING AND UPGRADING AND INVESTING IN THAT GRID. MY FIRST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, 2019, WE PASSED A LAW SAYING THEY HAVE TO UNDERGROUND AND STORM HARDEN THEIR GRID SYSTEM. THAT RESULTED IN SOME HIGHER COST, BUT TO HARDEN IS EXPENSIVE. AND IT DOES COME WITH A COST. BUT THESE -- EVERY COMPANY FROM DUKE TO SOUTHERN TO TCO IN TAMPA ALL HAD TO SUBMIT THEIR PLANS TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION ON HOW THEY WERE GOING TO HARDEN THEIR FACILITIES TO HOPEFULLY YIELD LONG-TERM SAVINGS WHEN STORMS DO COME IN THE FUTURE. >> Weeks: OKAY. A QUESTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE. FLORIDA IS THE STATE MOST THREATENED BY IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE, STRONGER STORMS, RISING SEAS, EXTREME HEAT. WHY HAVE THE THE MAJORITY OF THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE REFUSED TO ADDRESS THE CAUSE AND HELP FLORIDIANS TRANSITION TO SOLAR ENERGY? A CONSTITUENT IN PENSACOLA. >> CALIFORNIA HAS WILDFIRES. THEY'RE AFFECTING BY CHANGING CLIMATE. THEIR INSURANCE RATES ARE GOING UP. I DON'T SEE DEMOCRATS BLAMING GAVIN NEWSOME FOR THE WEATHER. >> Salzman: IN MY DISTRICT, THE POWER COMPANY WENT FROM COAL-BURNING, WHICH IS HOW THEY USED TO DO IT. AND WE ARE DOING THINGS TO ADDRESS THAT. LOCALLY, OUR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCIES, STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL, HAVE BEEN VERY ENGAGED. I HAVE SEVERAL FACTORIES IN MY DISTRICT. SO, I HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM. WE TALK REGULARLY, ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE ESTUARIES AND WATER QUALITY. I WOULD LOVE FOR SENATOR BROXSON TO TALK ABOUT THE DOLLARS WE'RE ALLOCATING TOWARDS OUR ENVIRONMENT. WE'VE DONE A RECORD NUMBER. WE DON'T IGNORE THAT. THIS REPUBLICAN MAJORITY HAS DONE MORE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND FOR LOOKING FORWARD FOR FLORIDIANS THAN ANYBODY'S DONE IN A LONG TIME. >> WELL, THE CHALLENGE -- THAT'S SO FULL OF QUESTIONS ON TOP OF QUESTIONS. HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN A ROBUST FACADE AND COME BACK ON ENERGY? BECAUSE THE ALTERNATIVES ARE SO EXPENSIVE AND SO HARD TO PRODUCE. AND HOW DO YOU BE COMPETITIVE IN THE WORLD ECONOMY? CHINA AND INDIA, AND THESE OTHER COUNTRIES ARE NOT DOING NEAR WHAT WE'RE DOING TO TRY TO DEAL WITH GLOBAL WARMING. AND WHAT IS GLOBAL WARMING? WHAT'S THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF IT? WE'RE BURNING A LOT OF FOSSIL FUEL. WHEN YOU BURN IN 200 YEARS WHAT'S ACCUMULATING IN BILLIONS OF YEARS, IT COULD HAVE AN IMPACT. HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT? THE DEBATE IS IT COULD BE 2-10%. SOME SAY IT'S 50%. UNTIL WE CAN RESOLVE THOSE BIG QUESTIONS, I DON'T THINK YOU'LL SEE THE LEGISLATURE CUT BACK ON PEOPLE EATING, DRIVING, GOING TO WORK, AND RAISING THEIR KIDS UNTIL WE HAVE A CLEAR PATH OF HOW WE DO THAT. >> WE'VE INVESTED MONEY IN CAPTURING FROM LANDFILLS, WASTEWATER, THE NATURAL GAS THAT COMES OFF OF PLANTS. WE'VE INVESTED IN THINGS LIKE LOOKING AT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE THAT CAN SUPPORT HYDROGEN IN THE FUTURE, FP&L, PART OF THEIR SHIFT TO NATURAL GAS IS BECAUSE THOSE PLANTS CAN BE CONVERTED WHEN THE TECHNOLOGY CATCHES UP TO HYDROGEN-POWERED PLANTS. I DON'T THINK SOLAR IS NECESSARILY THE SOLUTION WITHOUT BATTERIES. AND IF YOU TELL ME THAT BATTERIES ARE GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, I'VE GOT A BRIDGE SOMEWHERE ELSE TO SELL YOU. >> YEAH. >> BUT WE ARE DOING THINGS TO BE FORWARD-LOOKING, IT'S JUST WHAT'S THE ROLE OF THE GOVERNMENT. >> JEFF, WHAT REALLY BOTHERS ME IS WHY WE NEVER TALK ABOUT NUCLEAR. CHINA IS BUILDING 36 NUCLEAR PLANTS. THEY'LL HAVE THEM ONLINE IN FOUR YEARS. IT TAKES US 25 YEARS TO GET THE APPLICATION APPROVED. FRANCE IS DOING VERY SIMILAR PROPORTIONATE TO THEIR POPULATION. BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A SOLUTION FOR GLOBAL WARMING, NONE OF THESE PEOPLE EVER MENTION THE CHEAPEST ENERGY FORM THAT'S OUT THERE AND WE HAVE PLENTY OF IT. THAT'S NUCLEAR. WE'VE GOT TO REVISIT THAT ISSUE. IT CAN SOLVE AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF ENERGY PROBLEMS. IF NOT, WE'RE GOING TO BE PAYING THE PIPER FOR WHEN CHINA AND THESE OTHER COMPANIES BEGIN TO EXPORT ELECTRICITY. >> YOU'RE LIKELY TO CONTINUE TO SEE TALK ABOUT THAT. I BELIEVE NATIONWIDE YOU'RE STARTING TO SEE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN FAVOR OF MOVING TOWARDS MORE CLEAN ENERGY, START TO PUT NUCLEAR INTO THE RECIPE AS FAR AS HAVING A DISCUSSION. TO YOUR POINT, THE LIKELIHOOD IS THAT PROBABLY WILL BE DISCUSSED A LITTLE BIT MORE. A QUESTION SPECIFICALLY FROM A CONSTITUENT TO YOU, SENATOR BROXSON. THE TOWN OF CENTURY IS CONTINUALLY IN FINANCIAL AND POLITICAL TURMOIL, TO THE POINT THEY HAVE BEEN CHIDED. AT WHAT POINT SHOULD A COMMUNITY BE RESTRICTED FROM RECEIVING GRANTS OR HAVE THE GOVERNMENT DISSOLVED, ALLOWING A COUNTY GOVERNMENT TO TAKE CONTROL? >> WELL, CENTURY IS -- IT'S HARD TO RUN A CITY ON $500,000 OF AD VALOREM A YEAR. THEY DON'T HAVE THE TAX BASE TO SUPPORT A ROBUST CITY. AS FAR AS WHAT THE STATE WILL DO, I WOULD CERTAINLY HOPE THE STATE WOULD NOT ABANDON THOSE FOLKS. THEY DIDN'T CREATE THE PROBLEM. THE ECONOMY CREATED THE PROBLEM. AND WOULD I LIKE TO SEE THEM TURN THE CITY OVER TO THE COUNTY? ABSOLUTELY. WILL THEY DO THAT? THAT'S NOT MY DECISION. BUT THEIR PROBLEMS ARE GROWING EVERY DAY. WE SAW RECENTLY ABOUT THE POTABLE WATER. AND I KNOW THAT THE CENTURY PRISON IS LOOKING AT CREATING THEIR OWN WATER SYSTEM. THAT WILL NOT BE GOOD FOR THE CITY OF CENTURY. SO, THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH A CITY ADMITTING IT'S NOT WORKING AND WE NEED HELP. AND EVALUAT EVIDENTLY THAT IS NA CONVERSATION THEY WANT TO HAVE. >> Salzman: A COUPLE THINGS WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE HAD THE INSPECTOR GENERAL TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE GRANTS THAT THEY'VE BEEN GIVEN IN THE PAST FEW YEARS. ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT WAS HELPING THOSE THAT WERE NOT HELPED. MYTRICT IS THE NORTH END. IT'S NOT THE SEXY PART OF TOWN. IT'S A RURAL COMMUNITY. I WANTED TO BRING SOME LIGHT TO PARTS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT WEREN'T LOOKED AT FOR A LONG TIME AND I PARTNERED WITH THE SENATOR AND SAID I WANT TO HELP CENTURY. AND SO WE DID THAT. WE GOT THEM A RURAL DESIGNATION. WE'VE DONE SOMETHING THEY'VE NEVER HAD BEFORE. WE'VE OPENED A LOT OF DOORS FOR THEM. WE'VE GIVEN THEM A LOT OF MONEY, MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. WE DIDN'T JUST HAND IT OVER. THAT'S A MISNOMER. A LOT OF THE MONEY IS RAN THROUGH THE COUNTY. SO STEVEN BERRY SIGNS OFF ON A MAJORITY OF THE MONEY THAT IS GOING TO CENTURY. SO, WHILE THEY'RE HAVING A HARD TIME, A LOT OF THE MONEY THAT THEY HAVE IN HAND IS GOING THROUGH THE COUNTY, OR THE AGENCIES THAT ARE PROVIDING THOSE DOLLARS HAVE ALREADY -- THEY'RE ALREADY UNDER THE IMPRESSION THEY NEED TO OVERSEE IT. >> Weeks: I WANT TO ADDRESS WITH YOU, REPRESENTATIVE RUDMAN, TELL ME AND OUR VIEWERS ABOUT THE CASSIE CARLY LAW. >> Rudman: THANK YOU, JEFF, FOR BRINGING THAT UP. IF YOU ASK ME, THAT'S BEEN MY GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT IN MY SHORT TIME IN THE FLORIDA HOUSE. AS YOUR VIEWERS PROBABLY KNOW, MY COMMUNITY OF NEVAR BEACH LOST ONE OF OUR OWN A COUPLE YEARS AGO, WHEN I WAS RUNNING FOR OFFICE. I REMEMBER THE DAY. I WAS OUT KNOCKING ON DOORS IN CRESTVIEW WHEN I GOT WORD THAT A YOUNG LADY HAD GONE MISSING IN WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A CUSTODY EXCHANGE GONE BAD. YOU KNOW HER BODY WAS FOUND IN A SHALLOW GRAVE IN ALABAMA. THERE'S A TRIAL PENDING ON THAT. BUT I GOT TO MEET SOME OF CASSIE'S FRIENDS. THEY INFORMED ME ABOUT THE SITUATION. WE TALKED ABOUT CASSIE'S UNIQUE SITUATION AND HOW PERHAPS THAT COULD HAVE ENDED DIFFERENTLY. CASSIE'S FRIENDS HAD A LIST OF ITEMS THEY FELT COULD HAVE BEEN HELPFUL IF THEY WERE WRITTEN IN FLORIDA STATUTE. WE MET AT THE DONUT HOLE IN INLET BEACH, FLORIDA. I SAT DOWN WITH CASSIE'S -- MORE OR LESS HER GODMOTHER IS WHAT SHE USED TO CALL HER. ON A PAPER NAPKIN WITH JUST A PEN AND A PENCIL, WE WROTE DOWN SOME OF THE HALLMARKS OF WHAT BECAME THE CASSIE CARLY LAW. AND I APPRECIATE YOU MENTIONING THAT, BECAUSE THAT LAW WAS ACTUALLY SIGNED INTO BEING ONE WEEK AGO. AND SO NOW, ACROSS THE STATE OF FLORIDA, EVERY COUNTY MUST DESIGNATE AT LEAST ONE SAFE CUSTODY EXCHANGE LOCATION FOR THOSE FAMILIES WHO HAVE, YOU KNOW, CONTENTIOUS CUSTODY DISPUTES, THAT SORT OF THING. OBVIOUSLY, IF THERE'S ALREADY VIOLENCE INVOLVED, OBVIOUSLY THAT'S GOING TO BE A DIFFERENT ISSUE. BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHERE SOMETIMES TEMPERS GET THE BEST OF THEM. SOMETIMES YOU CAN SEE THE EMOTION RUNNING HOT EVEN DURING THE COURT PROCEEDINGS. SO THIS GIVES JUDGES AN ALTERNATIVE. YOU DON'T HAVE TO EXCHANGE CHILDREN AT THE GAS STATION OR AT THE WALMART IN DESTIN, WHERE CASSIE WAS SUPPOSED TO EXCHANGE. SHE WAS TRICKED INTO EXCHANGING HER CHILD ON A DARK, SECLUDED BEACH IN A PARKING LOT THAT WAS NOT VERY WELL-LIT. SO, HOPEFULLY THIS LEGISLATION WILL PREVENT FUTURE CASSIE CARLYS. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THAT TO THE VIEWERS' ATTENTION. >> Weeks: ANOTHER TRAGIC INCIDENT THAT HAS OCCURRED IS WHAT HAPPENED WITH A LOCAL DOCTOR WHO WAS PERFORMING SURGERY ON HIS SPOUSE AND THINGS WENT TERRIBLY WRONG. DO YOU WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT GOING TO GET INTO ALL THE DETAILS. pensacolanewsjournal.com, MOLLY HAS DONE A GREAT JOB ADDRESSING SOME OF THE ISSUES. BUT I THINK THE TWO OF YOU HAVE BROUGHT UP THE IDEA MAYBE THERE SHOULD BE SOME RESTRICTIONS ON, YOU KNOW, WHAT A SURGEON CAN OPERATE ON, AS FAR AS FAMILY MEMBERS. >> Salzman: THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAVE ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT IN THAT PARTICULAR SITUATION AS BROUGHT TO LIGHT. ONE THING I FIND MOST INTERESTING IS THE FACT HAD HE CO -- THATHE COULD OPERATE ON AY MEMBER, HE COULD SELF-INSURE, AND HE HAD VICTIMS. THEY WERE PATIENTS, BUT I THINK THEY WERE VICTIMS, SIGN ARBITRATION AGREEMENTS IN THE MIDDLE OF SIGNING THE HIPAA AGREEMENTS, SOMETHING THAT THE SUPREME COURT HAD RULED TO BE ILLEGAL IN FLORIDA AND THE FLORIDA MEDICAL ASSOCIATION DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT THERE WAS A WORKAROUND TO THIS OPERATION THAT THE DOCTOR WAS DOING. SO, MAKING ARBITRATION AGREEMENTS ILLEGAL ALTOGETHER JUST BY LAW, BY STATUTE, NOT BY SUPREME COURT RULING IS IMPORTANT. SHOULD YOU BE ABLE TO SELF-INSURE IF YOU'RE DOING SURGERIES IN YOUR OFFICE? THAT'S SOMETHING I'M WORKING WITH THE FMA ON TRYING TO CREATE A BALANCE THERE. AND THEN, OF COURSE, OPERATING ON A FAMILY MEMBER. THERE'S SO MANY PIECES OF THAT THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO LIGHT. I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE PARTNERSHIPS OF ALL OF THE AGENCIES AND FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH ME SINCE IT HAPPENED IN NOVEMBER. BUT WE'VE BEEN PASSING LAWS IN FLORIDA TAKING LITTLE CHIPS AT THE BLOCK AWAY FROM THESE ISSUES. REPRESENTATIVE CABRERA HAD A BILL THAT MADE IT -- PROVIDED MORE FINES FOR PEOPLE DOING IN-OFFICE BUTT IMPLANT SURGERIES. THE MOST BIZARRE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING, BUT THEY'RE DOING IT BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH IT BECAUSE IT'S A TINY FINE. SO WE'RE TRYING TO FIND A BALANCE THERE. HOW DO YOU CREATE SOMETHING THAT PROVIDES ENOUGH CONSEQUENCES TO STOP THIS BAD BEHAVIOR WITHOUT INTERRUPTING THE MARKET AND CREATING AN ISSUE FOR THE PHYSICIANS THAT ARE TRYING TO PROVIDE SERVICES. >> Weeks: REPRESENTATIVE ANDRADE? >> Andrade: MY ONLY INVOLVEMENT HAS BEEN THE VICTIM'S FATHER GAVE ME A CALL. HE WAS FRUSTRATED WITH SOME THINGS GOING ON AT THE STATE TWO MONTHS AGO. WE TALKED FOR A WHILE. WE BROUGHT UP THE FACT THAT THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION WAS ALREADY RECOMMENDING THAT THERE BE REGULATIONS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA ABOUT THE OPERATION ON FAMILY MEMBERS, ESPECIALLY IN THESE CONTEXTS. THAT WAS SOMETHING AS A LAY PERSON I THOUGHT WAS ALREADY ON THE BOOKS. SO, THAT WAS THE EASIEST COMMITMENT I COULD HAVE MADE. YOU KNOW, THE LAST TIME WE DID THIS I DID NOT HAVE A DAUGHTER. THE TWO THINGS THAT ARE VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE LAST TIME WE DID THIS IS WE NOW OWN A NEW BRIDGE, THANKS IN LARGE PART TO SENATOR BROXSON. AND IN MY LIFE I HAVE A 17-MONTH-OLD DAUGHTER.

I CANNOT IMAGINE M MR. ELLINGTON'S EXPERIENCE AND HER FAMILY'S EXPERIENCE THE PAST TEN MONTHS. SO THAT WAS THE EASIEST COMMITMENT I COULD HAVE MADE, TO GET WORKING ON A BILL TO TRY AND MAKE SOMETHING MEMORABLE AND SOMETHING POSITIVE OUT OF THIS HORRIFIC CIRCUMSTANCE. >> Weeks: SINCE YOU'RE A PHYSICIAN, DO YOU WANT TO COMMENT? >> I DO APPRECIATE THAT, BECAUSE I DO THINK YOUR VIEWERS NEED TO UNDERSTAND. SO, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A BAD DOCTOR HERE. AND I CAN SAY THAT BECAUSE AS A PHYSICIAN WHO'S PRACTICED IN FLORIDA SINCE 1997, I'VE GOT A SPOTLESS MEDICAL LICENSE THAT I'VE HELD FOR 27, 28 YEARS. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT A PHYSICIAN THAT OPERATES ON A FAMILY MEMBER IN THE KIND OF SITUATION THAT MY COLLEAGUES ARE DISCUSSING, THIS IS UNETHICAL. THIS IS IMMORAL. THIS GOES AGAINST THE HIPPOCRATIC OATH. SOMETIMES WE DO HAVE TO, KIND OF, TEMPER THINGS. BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE A COLLEAGUE IN THE FLORIDA HOUSE. HER FAVORITE SAYING IS SOMETIMES BAD NEWS LEADS TO BAD LAWS. WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL THAT WE'RE NOT HURTING THE GOOD DOCTORS IN THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF THE ACTIONS OF A COUPLE BAD APPLES. BUT I CAN MAKE YOU AND MY COLLEAGUES THIS PROMISE RIGHT HERE TONIGHT. WE ARE NOT GOING TO PROTECT BAD DOCTORS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT. >> Weeks: REPRESENTATIVE MANEY? >> Maney: I WANTED TO CHANGE SUBJECT BEFORE WE RUN OUT OF TIME. I WANTED TO MENTION, FLORIDA HAS AND HAS HAD FOR YEARS A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS. WE HAVE TWO LAWS BASICALLY DEALING WITH THAT. A 50-YEAR-OLD BAKER ACT LAW. A 33-YEAR-OLD SUBSTANCE ABUSE LAW. THIS YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME WE'VE HAD A MAJOR REWRITE -- NOT YET SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR, SITTING IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE. BUT WE'VE REALLY MADE A MAJOR IMPROVEMENT, SUBJECT TO THE GOVERNOR, ON OUR PROCESSES. THE LEGISLATURE MADE A $50 MILLION COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT THAT STARTING IN THE JULY IN THE GOVERNOR DEGREES. AGREES. SO, LOTS OF FAMILIES DEAL WITH FAMILIES OR FRIENDS WHO HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. IT'S BEEN AGGRAVATED WITH COVID. THE JAILS AND PRISONS ARE THE LARGEST MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. AND THIS PAST LEGISLATURE REALLY TOOK A BIG BITE AT THAT APPLE. I THINK IT'S A MAJOR ISSUE. I WAS WAITING FOR YOU TO ASK THAT QUESTION. >> Salzman: ME, TOO. >> Maney: WANTED TO BRING IT UP BEFORE WE RAN OUT OF TIME. >> Weeks: I'M GLAD YOU DID. WE ARE ALMOST OUT OF TIME. BEFORE WE CLOSE THE PROGRAM OUT, I WANT TO SAY TO SENATOR BROXSON, IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH YOU FOR -- YOU AND I HAVE DONE THIS FOR MAYBE 14 YEARS, SOMEWHERE IN THAT BALLPARK. I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE DEAL IS. NEITHER ONE OF US HAVE AGED, IT DOESN'T APPEAR. CERTAINLY NOT YOU. YOU LOOK GREAT. CONGRATULATIONS ON A WONDERFUL CAREER. YOU'LL FINISH OUT. YOU'VE DONE A LOT FOR THIS AREA. I'VE GOT ONE MINUTE LEFT. WHAT'S BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR POLITICAL CAREER? >> Broxson: YOU KNOW, IT'S WORKING WITH THIS DELEGATION AND ALL THE DELEGATIONS. WE HAVE TO BE DIFFERENT IN THE PANHANDLE. WE HAVE SEVEN PEOPLE THAT ARE REPRESENTATIVES AND THREE SENATORS. WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO BE IN DISPUTE WITH EACH OTHER. WE HAVE TO FIGHT AGAINST THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE A DIFFERENT LIFESTYLE THAN WE DO. MAYBE THEIR SENSE OF COMMON SENSE IS DIFFERENT THAN OURS. AND ALEX, THANK YOU FOR THE KIND WORDS. BUT REALLY, WHAT MAKES US GO IS THE FACT THAT WE REPRESENT SUCH GREAT PEOPLE THAT HAVE GREAT COMMON SENSE AND BELIEVE IN AMERICA. AND I THINK WE'VE SENT THAT MESSAGE LOUD AND CLEAR THAT WE LIKE THINGS. WE LIKE TRADITIONAL THINGS. WE LIKE FAMILY. AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS SUPPORT PEOPLE THAT LOVE THEIR FAMILIES AND WANT TO SEE THEM SUCCESSFUL IN LIFE. >> Weeks: WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE IT. I THINK YOU HAVE PROBABLY BEEN A PART OF EVERY ONE OF THESE OVER THE YEARS. YOU'VE ALWAYS SHOWN UP AND ANSWERED QUESTIONS. AND WE APPRECIATE THAT. I KNOW THE VIEWERS AND THE CONSTITUENTS OF NORTHWEST FLORIDA APPRECIATE IT. AND WISH YOU ALL THE VERY BEST. I'M ASSUMING YOU'RE PROBABLY OUT OF THE ELECTIVE OFFICE BUSINESS AT THIS STAGE, BUT I'M SURE YOU'RE GOING TO BE INVOLVED IN MANY OTHER THINGS IN NORTHWEST FLORIDA TO CONTINUE TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY BETTER. >> Broxson: THANK YOU. YOU'RE A GREAT MODERATOR. YOU'RE THE BEST. >> Weeks: THANK YOU, SENATOR BROXSON. I APPRECIATE YOU SAYING THAT. VERY KIND OF YOU. REPRESENTATIVE MANEY, REPRESENTATIVE RUDMAN, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. FIRST TIME. HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT YEAR. REPRESENTATIVES ANDRADE AND SALZMAN, THANK YOU. WISHING YOU THE BEST. THANK YOU TO OUR VIEWERS AND CONSTITUENTS FOR PARTICIPATING. OUR GUESTS THIS EVENING HAVE BEEN MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL NORTHWEST FLORIDA LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION. SENATOR DOUG BROXSON AND REPRESENTATIVES SALZMAN, MANEY, RUDMAN. THANK YOU TO LISTENERS AND PARTICIPANTS. WE APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT. THIS PROGRAM WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON AT WSRE.ORG AND ON THE PBS VIDEO APP AND YouTube AND OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. I'M JEFF WEEKS WISHING YOU ALL THE VERY BEST. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING. I HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT SUMMER AND ENJOY ALL THE SUNSHINE THE STATE OF FLORIDA HAS TO OFFER. GOODNIGHT, EVERYONE. ♪

Legislative Review: Dialogue with the Delegation is a local public television program presented by WSRE PBS