2021 Florida Legislature

A House panel on Tuesday voted 12-6 to approve legislation that would protect nursing homes, assisted living facilities, hospitals and physicians from lawsuits related to COVID-19.

Gov. Ron DeSantis tried to contrast Florida with what he described as a “calamitous reality” in other states of closed schools and shuttered businesses.

A pair of new legislative proposals would place a 10 percent THC cap on smokable marijuana and limit THC levels to 16 percent in other medical-marijuana products, excluding edibles.

People with disabilities face significant hurdles as COVID-19 protocols have made it harder for them to attend meetings of the Florida House and Senate.

As the 60-day session begins Tuesday, social distancing and other safety rules will continue to be in place at the Capitol.

The breadth of the liability protections and whether all long-term care facilities should be shielded are among the issues that will considered during the annual legislative session that begins Tuesday.

While the House has not posted details about which bills it will consider during the first week, Speaker Chris Sprowls told reporters he wants to move quickly on the proposal.

Top Republican leaders in the Florida House and Senate acknowledged there could be health care cuts as they struggle to craft a balanced budget amid the economic wreckage caused by the coronavirus.

A Purple Alert would be used for missing adults with certain cognitive or developmental disabilities. A proposal just passed its first House committee stop.

A decision by House Judiciary Chairman Daniel Perez to shelve without discussion five amendments proposed by Democrats caused many leaning toward supporting the bill to back away.