The Florida Legislative session ended March 9, 2018. The session lasted 60 days starting on January 9. The short duration of the legislature is a result of Florida’s Agrarian past where farmers would be available to serve during the winter, since that is their slow time.
This was an eventful session where the legislature was thrust into the national spotlight by protests from a few of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas students advocating for gun control. They did pass gun control legislation in this session including raising the minimum age to purchase a gun to 21 and creating a 3 day waiting period to purchase weapons.
Rep. Blaise Ingoglia provided an update on the State of Florida’s budget. The budget contains funding for several projects in Hernando. The Hernando Beach fire station received $1.2 Million for a new facility. The Brooksville Fire Department received $353,150 for renovations. The Hernando County School District’s Project seaHORSE received $205,000 to provide mental health services to middle school children. The Calienta Street Stormwater & Roadway Improvement Project received $260,000. The Cyril Drive Roadway Improvement Project received $1.3 million. The last two projects are to alleviate flooding issues.
The City of Brooksville was seeking appropriations for some stormwater projects, but funding did not come through this session.