zero tolerance

A Florida lawmaker is hoping video of a South Carolina deputy slamming a high school girl to the floor will fuel momentum for his sweeping reforms.

Governor Rick Scott has signed close to 70 bills into law this week—most of them Friday. They include a slew of gun-related measures, a controversial voucher expansion bill, and a bill dealing with medical marijuana.

Charlotte's Web

Among the high profile bills the Governor has already signed includes a bill that would legalize a low strain of marijuana known as “Charlotte’s Web” to help treat seizures.

The Florida Senate passed a slew of measures Thursday, including a bill that could raise the speed limit on certain Florida highways.

Speed Limits Bill

But, Sen. Audrey Gibson (D-Jacksonville) says she’s against the measure because it encourages Floridians and tourists to speed.

“When you increase the speed limit, you ultimately also have to increase the minimum speed limit. And, so we’re encouraging all drivers to drive faster whether they want to or not,” said Gibson.

The Florida Senate teed up several measures Wednesday, unanimously passed a number of measures, and sent some over to the Governor for his signature. That includes a bill addressing juvenile life sentencing, a pair of gun-related measures, and another increasing speed limits.

Speed Limit Bill

About 50 bills got teed up for a vote Wednesday, including a bipartisan bill allowing Florida Department of Transportation officials to change the speed limits on certain highways.

A group of Florida lawmakers passed a slew of measures Tuesday, including a controversial abortion bill. They also moved a series of gun-related measures to the Senate floor, including the so-called ‘Pop Tart’ bill.

Late-Term Abortion Bill

The measure essentially banning late-term abortion is already heading for a floor vote in the House, and now has one more committee stop in the Senate, after it passed the Senate Judiciary Tuesday.

Several gun-related measures will be taken up this week either by a group of lawmakers or the full body. They include controversial measures, like the so-called “Warning Shot” bill and another that allows for someone to carry a gun without a permit during a declared state of emergency. And, there’s another less heated issue dubbed the “Pop Tart” bill.”

Speaking to a Senate Education Committee, bill sponsor, Sen. Greg Evers (R-Baker) started off with a joke.

While the "warning shot" bill got teed up for a vote in the Senate, a couple of gun-related measures have already passed the full House as of Thursday. But after a dust-up between lawmakers, a revived attempt to repeal Florida’s Stand Your Ground law failed again.

NRA's Busy Week

A series of gun-related measures are now heading for floor votes, including a House bill aimed at revising Florida schools’ zero tolerance policies. Both chambers are also expected to take up a measure that seeks to protect gun owners from insurance discrimination.

"Pop Tart" Gun Bill

A measure inspired by the story of a young Maryland boy who got suspended for chewing his Pop Tart into the shape of a gun cleared its first Senate committee Monday. But, some say the bill aimed at loosening Florida schools’ zero-tolerance policies regarding kids and guns goes a little too far.

Over the next few weeks, Florida lawmakers are slated to take up a series of gun-related measures, from fixes to Florida’s Stand Your Ground law to enhancing penalties for insurers who discriminate against gun-owners. But, while some bills appear to be moving quickly through the Legislature, others appear to be stalled in the legislative process.

"Right To Be A Kid" Bill