Kelli Stargel

A legislative budget panel this week gave Gov. DeSantis millions more dollars to pump into storm recovery projects after Hurricane Ian hit Southwest Florida. Ian landed nearly 4 years after Michael slammed into the Panhandle, where recovery continues.

State Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie said it could be three weeks before flood water from the St. Johns River recedes in Central Florida counties.

Lee emerged from a crowded field that included state Sen. Kelli Stargel and state Rep. Jackie Toledo.

It came a week before a new Florida law is scheduled to take effect that would prevent women from having abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

Among the budget items agreed upon is $20 million a year for 30 years to help finance a Moffitt Cancer Center expansion in Pasco County, and suspending state gas taxes in October.

House and Senate negotiators finished reaching agreement Thursday, though a missed deadline will force the legislative session to extend until Monday for the votes.

Instead of shifting away money from 12 districts that required masks, legislation would set up a $200 million reserve fund from which the 55 counties that followed state directives would be rewarded.

The session was scheduled to end on Friday, but state law requires a 72-hour “cooling off” period before lawmakers can vote on the budget.

House Appropriations Chairman Jay Trumbull pointed to the decision to reopen Florida’s economy while other states remained on pandemic lockdown as a reason Florida's budget is in "great shape."

Because of a legally required 72-hour “cooling off” period, the budget is required to be finalized and printed Tuesday for the annual legislative session to end on time Friday.

One involves the ability of transgender women and girls to compete on female school sports teams. Opponents say the other could force school officials to reveal private conversations with students.

It was temporarily postponed during its last committee stop, and its sponsor says there may not be enough time to revisit it this session.