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{"id":66146,"date":"2021-03-01T18:00:35","date_gmt":"2021-03-01T22:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/?p=66146"},"modified":"2021-03-01T17:30:36","modified_gmt":"2021-03-01T21:30:36","slug":"a-session-unlike-any-before","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/2021\/03\/01\/a-session-unlike-any-before\/","title":{"rendered":"A Session Unlike Any Before"},"content":{"rendered":"

Florida lawmakers begin their annual 60-day session Tuesday.<\/p>\n

It is the 123rd session since statehood, but it will be different than any ever held before, as the Capitol remains closed to most visitors over COVID concerns.<\/p>\n

<\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>The flowers are freshly planted and the grounds newly pressure washed, but little else will be the same in the first full legislative session of the pandemic.<\/p>\n<p>In years past, sessions would bring a thousand or more people a day to the Capitol, but this year, the building remains closed to most of the public.<\/p>\n<p>Senate Committee rooms remain off limits.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 {\n\t\t\t\tmargin: auto;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 .gallery-item {\n\t\t\t\tfloat: left;\n\t\t\t\tmargin-top: 10px;\n\t\t\t\ttext-align: center;\n\t\t\t\twidth: 33%;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 img {\n\t\t\t\tborder: 2px solid #cfcfcf;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 .gallery-caption {\n\t\t\t\tmargin-left: 0;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes\/media.php *\/\n\t\t<\/style>\n\t\t<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-66146 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/still0301_00000\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"113\" src=\"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Still0301_00000-200x113.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Still0301_00000-200x113.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Still0301_00000-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Still0301_00000.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/still0301_00014\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"113\" src=\"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Still0301_00014-200x113.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Still0301_00014-200x113.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Still0301_00014-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Still0301_00014.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/still0301_00022\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"113\" src=\"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Still0301_00022-200x113.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Still0301_00022-200x113.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Still0301_00022-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Still0301_00022.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>In-person testimony is now remote via video from a mile away, but you still have to be in the capital city.<\/p>\n<p>Even long-time lobbyists find it unnerving.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s surreal. I don\u2019t even feel like I am talking to anyone,\u201d said insurance lobbyist Mark DeLegal.<\/p>\n<p>The House is allowing a limited number of people on a first come basis to testify before committees.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t\t\t#gallery-2 {\n\t\t\t\tmargin: auto;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-2 .gallery-item {\n\t\t\t\tfloat: left;\n\t\t\t\tmargin-top: 10px;\n\t\t\t\ttext-align: center;\n\t\t\t\twidth: 33%;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-2 img {\n\t\t\t\tborder: 2px solid #cfcfcf;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-2 .gallery-caption {\n\t\t\t\tmargin-left: 0;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes\/media.php *\/\n\t\t<\/style>\n\t\t<div id='gallery-2' class='gallery galleryid-66146 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/still0301_00018\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"113\" src=\"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Still0301_00018-200x113.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Still0301_00018-200x113.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Still0301_00018-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Still0301_00018.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/still0301_00020\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"113\" src=\"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Still0301_00020-200x113.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Still0301_00020-200x113.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Still0301_00020-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Still0301_00020.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/still0301_00010\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"113\" src=\"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Still0301_00010-200x113.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Still0301_00010-200x113.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Still0301_00010-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Still0301_00010.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>Opening day Tuesday will be off limits to all visitors.<\/p>\n<p>A coalition of groups is calling on both chambers to allow live remote testimony from anyone anywhere in Florida.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPublic testimony is not working,\u201d said Carol Boyd with the Southern Poverty Law Center.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe idea that you would open it up to any person that wanted to testimony anywhere in the world is pretty ridiculous,\u201d said Senate President Wilton Simpson.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t\t\t#gallery-3 {\n\t\t\t\tmargin: auto;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-3 .gallery-item {\n\t\t\t\tfloat: left;\n\t\t\t\tmargin-top: 10px;\n\t\t\t\ttext-align: center;\n\t\t\t\twidth: 33%;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-3 img {\n\t\t\t\tborder: 2px solid #cfcfcf;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-3 .gallery-caption {\n\t\t\t\tmargin-left: 0;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes\/media.php *\/\n\t\t<\/style>\n\t\t<div id='gallery-3' class='gallery galleryid-66146 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/still0301_00007\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"113\" src=\"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Still0301_00007-200x113.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Still0301_00007-200x113.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Still0301_00007-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Still0301_00007.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/still0301_00019\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"113\" src=\"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Still0301_00019-200x113.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Still0301_00019-200x113.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Still0301_00019-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Still0301_00019.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/still0301_00021\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"113\" src=\"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Still0301_00021-200x113.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Still0301_00021-200x113.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Still0301_00021-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Still0301_00021.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>Florida\u2019s Constitution doesn\u2019t allow lawmakers to meet virtually, but there will be an effort to change that this year.<\/p>\n<p>Legislators, staff and reporters are tested each week before being allowed inside the Capitol.<\/p>\n<p>With all the precautions, the 2021 session will be different from the past; except fo the politics that will permeate every discussion.<\/p>\n<p>Two pandemic related committees are examining how to keep the state safe and open if a future pandemic were to hit.<\/p>\n<p>A Senate Committee voted Monday to put a time limit on how long a Governor\u2019s executive order can remain in place.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Florida lawmakers begin their annual 60-day session Tuesday. It is the 123rd session since statehood, but it will be different than any ever held before, as the Capitol remains closed to most visitors over COVID concerns. The flowers are freshly planted and the grounds newly pressure washed, but little else will be the same in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66146"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=66146"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66146\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":66147,"href":"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66146\/revisions\/66147"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=66146"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=66146"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flanews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=66146"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}