PETERSBURG, Fla. –Governor Ron DeSantis joined the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to survey the impacts of the red tide bloom affecting southwest Florida and the Tampa Bay area. Governor DeSantis also provided an update on the state’s response efforts which include funding to cover cleanup costs, increased water quality monitoring and use of innovative technology to continuously image water samples.

“I directed all agencies to take an ‘all-hands-on-deck’ approach to respond to the red tide impacting the Tampa Bay area,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “I want to thank DEP and FWC for their constant presence in response to this bloom. My administration is committed to continue ensuring that local needs are met to address this red tide event.”

“DEP and FWC continue to prioritize frequent, direct coordination with the local governments that are on the front lines of this response effort,” said DEP Interim Secretary Shawn Hamilton. “Governor DeSantis has made it clear that the state is committed to ensuring impacted communities have the support they need today and moving forward. DEP will maintain its presence in the region to ensure continued collaboration and the most comprehensive event response.” Continue reading →

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Following a townhall event focused on the crisis in Cuba on Hannity last night, Cuban-American leaders in Florida are commending Governor Ron DeSantis’ call for the Biden Administration to take action and provide internet access for the people of Cuba who are standing up against communist oppression.

Over a week ago, Governor DeSantis sent a letter to President Joe Biden urging the federal government to provide internet access into Cuba remotely to support those demanding freedom from their repressive Communist government. There has not yet been a response to the letter.

“As the people of Cuba continue to rise against the tyrannical regime, they deserve our nation’s support,” said Lt. Governor Jeanette Nuñez. “The Governor urged the Biden Administration to take immediate action to provide a pathway for unfettered access to the internet, but we have yet to receive a response. My parents fled the oppression orchestrated by the communist Castro regime. As a Cuban-American, I stand with our brothers and sisters on the island who desperately yearn for freedom.”

Attorney General Merrick Garland on Monday formally prohibited federal prosecutors from seizing the records of journalists in leak investigations, with limited exceptions, reversing years of department policy.

The new policy largely codifies the commitment Garland made in June, when he said the Justice Department would abandon the practice of seizing reporters’ records as part of efforts to uncover confidential sources. It aims to resolve a politically thorny issue that has long vexed Justice Department prosecutors trying to weigh the media’s First Amendment rights against the government’s desire to protect classified information.

“The United States has, of course, an important national interest in protecting national security information against unauthorized disclosure,” Garland wrote in his memo. “But a balancing test may fail to properly weight the important national interest in protecting journalists from compelled disclosure of information revealing their sources, sources they need to apprise the American people of the workings of their government.” Continue reading →

Dear friends,

I hope you are enjoying our sunny Florida weather this summer. We are so fortunate to be living in a free, open state, which just happens to have great weather too! We have seen reports that there are one-thousand people a day moving in to Florida. They have seen how prosperous we are and how many opportunities that we have here that may not exist anywhere else in the country. We have one of the best, most affordable education systems in America. We continue to expand school choice and allow families the freedom to determine how and where their students will learn. We continue to invest in our beautiful, natural resources and this fiscal year alone, funding from the legislature totals nearly $300 million, which go in to the Resilient Florida Trust Fund and the Water Protection and Sustainability Trust Fund. Our cost of living is nearly half of that of California’s or New York’s. We do not suffocate our businesses with burdensome taxes and regulation and our citizens can earn a paycheck, free of state income taxes. We are not following the failed, authoritarian policies of mask ordinances or vaccine passports. We do not tolerate rioting, looting, or the destruction of private property by lawless groups of Marxists. Our houses of worship are open and we maintain that the State has no authority to order their closure under the first amendment of the constitution. Continue reading →

MIAMI –Governor Ron DeSantis was joined by Cuban-American leaders and elected officials in Miami for a roundtable supporting the Cuban people who are protesting the regime’s tyrannical grip on the island.

Governor DeSantis called on the Biden Administration to take a strong stance against the oppressive, communist regime that has been using violence against its own people to crush dissent for more than six decades.

Governor DeSantis said, “We stand with the people of Cuba. For far too long, a tyrannical communist regime has oppressed its people and used its power to silence any dissidents. Now, the Cuban people are making their voices heard to demand freedom and an end to this dictatorship. Continue reading →

Dear friends,

In continuation of last month’s column, we will be bringing you some more highlights of the 2021 Legislative Session. Last month was our budget update, and this month will be a highlight of legislation that was sponsored and passed by your Senator of the 12^th District. Overall, we passed thirteen bills, either as stand-alone bills or added to a larger policy package.

Our priority legislation was SB 90, relating to Election Administration was passed through both chambers and signed by Governor DeSantis shortly after Session ended. This bill addresses a number of issues related to election administration and vote-by-mail. One provision in SB 90 addresses ballot harvesting so that no person may possess a ballot other than his or her own, those of immediate family members and two other designated individuals. We have tightened up the security around drop boxes. Our bill requires that they only be used during early voting hours, and that they must be monitored, in person, at all times by staff or volunteers of our Supervisor of Elections. Also, the bill expands the timeframe for canvassing vote-by-mail ballots, providing that one vote-by-mail ballot request is good for all elections through the next regularly scheduled general election. Current law states that one request is good for all elections through the next two general elections. This change is necessary to provide voters with more flexibility to decide which method of voting they want to utilize, instead of being locked in for two cycles. Continue reading →

388. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis joined members of the Florida Legislature and Florida’s law enforcement community to support law enforcement canines injured in the line of duty by signing Senate Bill 388.

“Law enforcement K-9s are often the first to put their lives on the line as they work to apprehend dangerous or armed suspects in high-intensity situations,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “From responding to fires to finding missing persons to detecting narcotics or explosives, law enforcement dogs use their unique abilities to rescue victims and detect danger. I’m proud to sign this legislation today to ensure they quickly receive the care needed to recover when injured in the line of duty.”

“I applaud Governor DeSantis and the Legislature on this bill that will help protect our K-9 partners,” said Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Rick Swearingen. “These dogs are a great asset to Florida law enforcement and the communities we serve and enhancing the ability for them to get critical care in the line of duty is important.” Continue reading →

Dear Friends,

The 2021 Legislative Session (and the ensuing Special Session on Gaming) has concluded. It feels good to be back in Senate District 12 with my family and friends. Thanks to Senate President Wilton Simpson, House Speaker Chris Sprowls and Governor Ron DeSantis, we accomplished much and we are very proud of the strong position that Florida is in for the future. For the next two or three columns, we will highlight some of the work we did as a body, on behalf of the citizens of Florida. This month, we will report on the budget.

A quick note: In the last two columns, we have highlighted extensively our elections integrity bill and we are excited to report that the bill was approved by the legislature and signed by the Governor.

The legislature approved a $101.5 billion balanced budget that leaves $6 billion in state reserves, while making key investments in infrastructure, child welfare, and increasing the state employee minimum wage. The budget also included bonuses to our hardworking state and local first responders, teachers, and childcare providers, and nearly $1 billion will be provided to reimburse health care employees and emergency responders for childcare expenses incurred during the pandemic. Continue reading →

In 2015, Edward Caniglia and his wife had an argument at their home Rhode Island. During the argument, Caniglia retrieved an unloaded gun from their bedroom. Mrs. Caniglia left. , Mrs. Caniglia called the police the next day to request a wellness check on her husband. At the home, the sergeant determined that Caniglia was in imminent danger to himself and to others. The police requested that Caniglia go to a hospital for psychiatric evaluation. Caniglia agreed  based on a promise from police that they would not confiscate his guns. The sergeant seized firearms and ammunition from the home. Some time later, Caniglia attempted to get his firearms back from the police department on several occasions.  His requests were denied. Caniglia filed suit in district court against the police department and city officials, alleging violations to the U.S. Constitution and to state law. The firearms were returned to Caniglia. The district court granted the defendants’ motion for summary judgment. On appeal, the U.S. Court of appeal for the 1st Circuit affirmed the district court’s ruling.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody is enlisting more Floridians in the fight to end human trafficking. Attorney General Moody made the announcement today in Sarasota County that all of PGT Innovations will receive anti-human trafficking training through the Highway Heroes campaign. PGT Innovations is the largest private-sector employer in Sarasota County and enlisting the company in the campaign will add more Truckers Against Trafficking certified commercial driver license holders on Florida roadways.

Highway Heroes is a multifaceted outreach campaign including specialized training, awareness materials mailed directly to CDL holders and a website with resources to educate drivers how to identify victims and report suspected human trafficking. The campaign started in October 2020 through a partnership between the Florida Attorney General’s Office and the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Continue reading →