Death penalty

One of the first bills to pass both chambers this year could be a measure that effectively reinstates the death penalty in Florida. Capital punishment has been defunct in Florida since a January 2016 U.S. Supreme Court ruling struck down the state law allowing judges to issue a death sentence based on a simple 7-5 majority recommendation of a jury. Lawmakers tried to reinstate the death penalty last year by requiring a 10-2 jury vote, but the Florida Supreme Court rejected that in October. Since then, prosecutors have delayed dozens of trials for crimes in which they intend to seek the death penalty.

Both chambers now have teed up bills to move to a unanimous jury for death penalty sentences, as nearly all other states have. state Sen. Jeff Brandes, RSt. Petersburg, would allow more dispensaries, capped at one for every 25,000 citizens in a county. That would mean about 75 in Broward, 55 in Palm Beach County and 105 in MiamiDade, though counties and cities would have the ability to ban dispensaries within their borders. Brandes’ bill would also end the requirement that growing, processing and selling marijuana must all be done by the same organization.

The second plan is favored by the group behind the medical marijuana amendment, but many state senators consider it unlikely to pass either chamber. The amendment’s backers, though, believe the first plan is too restrictive and would violate the constitutional amendment.

State Sen. Frank Artiles, R-Miami, also has filed a bill that would require independent, third-party testing of medical marijuana to make certain it is free of mold, toxins, carcinogens and other unhealthy substances.

Once the Legislature passes laws regulating medical marijuana, it will be up to the Florida Department of Health to put those laws into place and come up with rules and regulations by July. than $1 billion from an agreement signed in 2010.

The Senate bill would expand slot machines outside Miami-Dade and Broward counties to any county where the voters approve them. Eight counties already have done so.

The Senate also would grant the Seminole Tribe craps and roulette while expanding blackjack to pari-mutuel casinos, and it would allow those casinos to stop holding money-losing greyhound races but continue their lucrative casino operations. The Seminoles have rejected this deal, since expansion of slot machines would mean direct competition for some of their casinos outside Broward County.

The House bill largely keeps the status quo, but the Seminole Tribe rejected that bill as well, saying it would mean increased payments to the state with nothing more in return.

The Seminoles won in court the right to continue operating blackjack tables through 2030. With those tables secured, the tribe doesn’t seem to need a deal as much as the state needs one, making any legislation difficult to pass. the state could stand to lose as much as $50 million.

Scott included $608 million from a federal Medicaid program that pays hospitals for charity care. But it’s unknown how the Trump administration will view the program, known as the low income pool, amid a push by Republicans to dismantle Obamacare.

Lawmakers and hospitals have rebuffed Scott’s requests to slash hospital funding in the past. But there will be plenty of pressure to find money in a tight budget year.