Sixty Days for 3.20.23 — A prime-time look at the 2023 Legislative Regular Session

From Florida Politics

What’s inside? All things Session.

Sixty Days — A prime-time look at the 2023 Legislative Regular Session: The Last 24 Justice Ricky Polston is stepping down from the Florida Supreme Court, effective March 31. The conservative jurist, who has served on the state’s high court for 14 years, submitted a resignation letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis. Polston didn’t give a reason for his resignation Monday.

At 67, Polston had at least eight more years on the bench before facing retirement, which is mandated by the state constitution for justices once they reach the age of 75. The Judicial Nominating Commission, once DeSantis convenes it, will review applicants and select three to six names for DeSantis to choose. Here’s your nightly rundown. No-go: Democrats in the Legislature don’t want to lower the age for purchasing long guns. And secretly, they don’t think Republicans do either. DeCentralize: The Governor is calling on the Legislature to ban the use of centralized bank digital currencies (CBDC). Radioactive roads: Florida lawmakers are considering legislation (SB 1258) to study whether radioactive phosphogypsum can be recycled and used in the state’s road construction projects. No they/them: A bill (SB 1320) that would change the rules around the use of preferred pronouns at Florida’s public schools advanced through the Senate Committee on Pre-K-12. Safety first: A Senate committee is moving forward bills to protect children from car accidents (SB 1374) and parents from nefarious violence (SB 1286). K

OA CYA: A bill (HB 1323) giving campground owners immunity from civil liability if a camper or their pet is injured or killed on a campground was approved by the House Civil Justice Subcommittee. Baby box: Legislation (SB 870) to authorize “baby boxes” for infant surrenders is advancing in the Senate. Quote of the Day “I don’t know what goes into paying hush money to a porn star to secure silence over some type of alleged affair I just, I can’t speak to that.” — Gov. Ron DeSantis, on Donald Trump’s payment to a porn star.