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Florida Senate Releases Protocols For Organizational Session

Florida state Senate president Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, was applauded by his fellow senators Tuesday, after expressing his disappointment with the Florida House for ending its session three days early, instead of working through the budget clash.
Steve Cannon
/
AP Photo
The Florida Senate remodeling includes this artwork on the fifth floor gallery photographed at the start of session on Tuesday Jan. 14, 2020, in Tallahassee, Fla. The Florida Senate on Tuesday unveiled a gleaming new piece of art at one of its most-visited corridors in the state Capitol, after removing an old mural that included the Confederate flag. (AP Photo/Steve Cannon)

The Florida Senate begins its Organizational Session in mid-January. Lawmaking will look a lot different next year due to the coronavirus, with the state senate releasing precautionary rules.

Every Senator must be tested for COVID-19. The session starts on Jan. 11 and ends on Feb. 19. During that time district staff based outside of Tallahassee won’t be able to travel to the capital.

Families and special guests of lawmakers must be pre-registered in order to attend in-person. The capitol will remain closed to the public. And face coverings must be worn at all times. While on the floor, Senators must wear solid-colored masks with no pattern or logo other than the Senate Seal on it.

Senate leaders developed the protocols with help from infectious disease and infection prevention experts from Tampa General Hospital and the University of South Florida.

The House is starting their organizational session on Nov. 17.

Blaise Gainey is a State Government Reporter for WFSU News. Blaise hails from Windermere, Florida. He graduated from The School of Journalism at the Florida A&M University. He formerly worked for The Florida Channel, WTXL-TV, and before graduating interned with WFSU News. He is excited to return to the newsroom. In his spare time he enjoys watching sports, Netflix, outdoor activities and anything involving his daughter.