Legislative Update - February 28, 2022

There are only two weeks left in the 2022 Legislative Session. Committee meetings are winding down.  Tuesday, March 1 is the 50^th day of session and in the Senate, it’s the last day for regularly scheduled committee meetings.  Budget conferencing should begin early this week.  There are $3 billion differences between the House and Senate budgets that need to be reconciled.  And Sine Die is just around the corner!  March 11 is the official end of the 2022 Regular Session.

Meanwhile, last week the House passed legislation that includes a measure (HB 1557) aimed at giving parents more control over what their children are exposed to in schools. The bill includes a provision that prevents teachers from discussing sexual orientation with younger students that has drawn extensive debate and drawn heavy criticism from the LGBTQ community.

The House also passed another heavily-debated education measure (HB 7) that would prevent school curriculum and workplace training materials from including material that promotes the idea that people may be inherently racist, or that people should feel guilty about actions by members of their group in the past. The measure is a reaction to what is known in academia as "critical race theory," which examines the nature of racism, particularly structural racism, in the country's history.

Other bills passed by the House include HB 105, which would allow cities and counties to enact new local restrictions on smoking on beaches, SB 312, which would allow health care practitioners to prescribe certain controlled substances through telehealth services in Florida, and SB 190, which could make it easier for prosecutors to charge people who provide drugs to overdose victims with murder.

Florida among states looking at inflation relief - Soaring inflation in the U.S. is accelerating calls from governors, includinng Florida's, and other state leaders to provide immediate tax relief for cash-strapped residents paying more for everyday items like gasoline, milk and electricity. Leaders in states flush with cash because of higher-than-expected tax revenue, a soaring stock market and millions in unspent federal pandemic aid have been inclined to move to return surpluses to taxpayers. [Source: Bloomberg]

Sticker shocked: Florida gasoline prices hit new high for 2022 - Gasoline prices in Florida hit another high mark over the last week, increasing by 6 cents and setting a new record for the year at $3.51 a gallon, according to AAA-The Auto Club Group's weekly briefing. The increase, nearly a dollar more than last year’s high price, comes after a slight dip in crude oil prices — a determining factor for the cost to consumers at the pump. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]

Legislative …

Bills Are Dying: As Committee Meetings Wind Down, Hundreds of Bills Remain Unheard - As lawmakers get closer to the March 11 end of session the chance for passage is dwindling quickly for bills that haven't made it through committees. Some subcommittees and committees are no longer meeting, and several hundred measures have yet to make it to the floor. Among the bills that haven't had a hearing in any committee is the bill (HB 11) that was the first substantive measure filed for the session, and one that garnered some public attention at the time. The bill would make it a new second degree misdemeanor to approach a law enforcement officer with an intent to harass, impede or provoke the officer or to remain within 30 feet of an officer after being warned to leave the area. The measure was among those filed in the wake of significant protests against law enforcement in 2020, and similar to bills filed in other states. The Senate version of the measure (SB 1872) also hasn't been heard in any of the three committees to which it was assigned.

Governor’s Office worked to pressure Wilton Simpson on anti-union bill — DeSantis’ office pushed conservative groups to compel Simpson into advancing anti-union legislation, a move that included campaign-style ads in the Trilby Republican’s district. Matt Dixon of POLITICO reports that “roughly a half-dozen top DeSantis staffers” started calling groups that supported the bill, which, in part, bans collection of union dues directly from paychecks. Despite support from business groups and passing several times in the House, the proposal frequently died in the GOP-controlled Senate. One of the groups contacted, the conservative Club For Growth, spent $75,000 in ads in Simpson’s SD 10, asking people to urge him to “hear the bill now.” Scott Parkinson, the group’s vice president of governmental affairs, served as one of DeSantis’ congressional staffers.

Medical Freedom of Speech Bill Approved - A bill that would prevent Florida health care licensing boards from sanctioning Florida doctors for publicly-stated opinions was approved Monday by the House Professions and Public Health Subcommittee. Opponents say the bill politicizes medicine and could cause disinformation to spread while supporters say the legislation merely reinforces the foundational American principle of freedom to offer opinions publicly, including on social media sites. HB 687, called the "Free Speech of Health Care Practitioners" bill, passed on a 12-5 vote and has two more committee stops in the House. A similar Senate companion, SB 1184, is awaiting consideration in its final committee of reference. WFLA / Florida Politics

Effort to Reduce Human Trafficking Moves Forward in Senate - The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice unanimously advanced a proposal aiming to crackdown on human traffickers on Wednesday. SB 760 would revamp the statutory definition of “coercion” and increase penalties from a misdemeanor to a felony charge for anyone caught transporting or owning a location used for prostitution. If convicted, criminals could serve up to 15 years in prison versus the current maximum 60 days in jail. However the sponsor of the legislation, Sen. Lori Berman, told members she plans to clarify the language in order to avoid unintended consequences after concerns were brought to light from public testimony and other lawmakers. The measure has one more committee stop but a similar House bill (HB 521) has yet to be heard in its first assigned committee. Florida Politics

House Health Budget Chair: Hospitals Apparently Doing Fine, Making Money - The largest portion of the proposed budget for the coming fiscal year is the health care section totaling $47.1 billion. It’s a 5.5% increase from the current year budget and includes funding for Medicaid, KidCare and the Agency for Persons with Disabilities. As House budget writers took questions on the proposal on the floor Tuesday, several Democrats raised concerns about what they characterized as a $309 million cut to hospitals during an ongoing pandemic, because the proposal would cut hospital inpatient and outpatient reimbursement rates for hospitals and steer the money to nursing training programs. But the House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee chairman, Rep. Bryan Avila, emphasized that 238 hospitals in Florida will see a net gain of over $1 billion and 67 safety-net hospitals are expected to see a net gain of $740 million. Avila said the House budget focuses its funding for hospitals on efforts to help facilities deal with staffing shortages, which he said is now the primary need, and noted that hospitals, which complained about how much they were going to suffer financially during the pandemic, actually made out fine. Avila said hospitals had huge profits during the pandemic, and that they got additional funding from state and federal government programs during the period as well.

Both chambers agreed to eliminate additional “critical care” hospital funding, but the House went a step further, shifting $100 million currently used to reimburse hospitals toward nurse training programs.

Related: A cut in legislative budget proposals for Medicaid "critical care" funding is a major difference between proposed spending plans that will have to be worked out in conference. Florida Politics

House Health Budget Sub OKs Changes to Nursing Home Staff Requirements - The House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee advanced legislation on Monday that would allow nursing homes to reduce the number of hours devoted to direct patient care provided by certified nursing assistants. HB 1239 would also allow long-term care facilities to assign staff with less training to fulfill a portion of direct care hour requirements. Supporters of the bill say the nursing home industry needs more flexibility when it comes to staffing and caring for residents, especially during a health care worker shortage exacerbated by the pandemic. Opponents claim that facilities are just trying to save money by cutting minimum standards. The proposal passed on a 9-4 vote and has one more committee to clear. A similar Senate version (SB 804) also only has one more committee stop. Towards the end of the meeting, Chairman Bryan Avila, R-Hialeah, noted that the subcommittee might not meet again this session.

“Lawmakers are moving bills allowing non-emergency inpatient care to be delivered at home” via Christine Jordan Sexton of Florida Politics — Florida hospitals would have the ability to use paramedics to offer inpatient services at patients’ homes under a bill that moved through the Senate Rules Committee Tuesday morning. The bill (SB 1222) is now ready for full Senate consideration. Sponsored by Sen. Aaron Bean, the bill is similar to its House counterpart (HB 937), which will next be heard by the House Health & Human Services Committee. The bills authorize certified paramedics working under the supervision of a physician to perform essential life support services, advanced life support services, and additional health care services to acute care at-home patients in non-emergency community settings.

“Carol Milliken: Support SB 1284, HB 823 to encourage next generation of nurses in Florida” via Florida Politics — Legislation this year could make a difference in the lives of numerous Floridians who find themselves in situations similar to the one I have been in — with a strong desire to further my education and advance my career, but without the time or ability to attend a traditional brick-and-mortar school. Senate Bill 1284 and House Bill 823 can open up doors for Floridians, by expanding access to the Florida Postsecondary Student Assistance Grant to students who need more flexible education options to achieve their goals — including nurses like myself. I hope that lawmakers will better understand why the legislation is so important — so we can ensure all Floridians have this same opportunity to earn a degree from the institution that best fits their needs.

Tax Package in House Approps - The House Appropriations Committee unanimously approved the broad tax package on Tuesday that would provide what supporters say is the largest collection of tax cuts in Florida history. HB 7071 includes four sales tax holidays, a reduction in property taxes for some homeowners, and other tax cuts for consumers. The proposal would also give Floridians tax cuts on diapers, baby and toddler clothes for one year, children's books for three months to encourage summer reading, and impact-resistant windows, doors and garage doors for two years. Additionally, Floridians purchasing ENERGY STAR appliances would pay less in sales tax for one year.  The measure received unanimous support in the House Ways and Means Committee last week because provisions in the tax package include bills sponsored by both parties.  

Senate Panel Advances Immigration Bill - An illegal immigration measure backed by the governor that seeks to strengthen Florida’s ban on sanctuary cities was amended in the Senate Appropriations Committee on Monday. SB 1808 would require all state law enforcement agencies, including county jail employees, to take part in the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement program known as 287(g), which trains officers to identify and remove noncitizens. The proposal also prohibits local and state governments from contracting with businesses that transport undocumented immigrants, unless they are transporting them out of Florida. The newly amended legislation clarifies unauthorized aliens and exempts those protected under federal law, such as people in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA program, those with Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, and refugees or asylum seekers who have gone through the legal process to be legally allowed in the United States. After other failed amendments, the bill passed 12-6 down party lines and heads to its final committee stop. A similar House version (HB 1355) is scheduled to be considered in its last committee stop later this week. Florida Politics

“Senate fast-tracks Ron DeSantis immigration priority as House advances measure” via Renzo Downey of Florida Politics — Both chambers are ready to consider legislation to further crack down on illegal immigration, a priority for DeSantis that lawmakers have fast-tracked as the Governor faces re-election. The Senate bill was slated to head to the Senate Rules Committee. But in a rare move Wednesday, the Senate fast-tracked the bill (SB 1808) by scrubbing the need to send it through that panel, preparing it for the floor. Speaking to reporters Wednesday evening, Senate President Wilton Simpson told reporters his chamber did that “so we could get it here a lot quicker … because we want to get it done.”

“Bill swapping out standardized tests for progress monitoring graduates from final House committee” via Tristan Wood of Florida Politics — Legislation to replace standardized testing with a “progress monitoring program” passed its final House committee Wednesday. HB 1193 passed the House and Education employment committee via a 13-5 vote. It is now waiting to be heard on the House floor. The bill would replace the much-maligned Florida Standards Assessment, or FSA, with coordinated screening and progress monitoring. DeSantis and teachers support the proposal. It also places a cap on class time dedicated to state testing at 5%. Students would take more strategic tests three times during the school year, with the first two intended to give students, teachers and parents guidance on how to work on the students’ weaknesses. The final “summative” test, late in the school year, would still provide results in time for students to use summer school to meet standards.

Tech Personal Info Measure Moves in House - Legislation refiled this session targets companies that record consumers' personal information and sell it. Last year, the House and Senate ran out of time trying to work out an agreement regarding the "Florida Privacy Protection Act." The House Judiciary Committee approved a proposal on Wednesday that would require online companies to disclose what type of information they collect on consumers and how they analyze or sell that information. HB 9 would also make it easier for users to block information from being collected and shared. The bill was amended to include a requirement that companies must remove a user's information within 48 hours if requested and if they don't comply, they could be sued. The House measure is now ready for the floor but a similar, yet not identical Senate companion (SB 1864), has yet to move. The Senate version does not contain a private right of action for consumers but instead creates the Consumer Data Privacy Unit within the Florida Attorney General's Office to enforce the law. Numerous organizations oppose the move for reasons such as costly fines and potential senseless lawsuits, noting that businesses that obtain the information of 50,000 or more consumers would be affected. However, most agreed that this session's data privacy bills are better than last year's attempt. Currently, there is no federal protective law regulating internet users' privacy information. Florida Politics 

Senate Confirms Ladapo as Surgeon General Over Dem Objections - The Senate on Wednesday confirmed the appointment of state Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo over the objections of several Democrats who charged he was unqualified to lead the state during a pandemic and was chosen because of his controversial views on the COVID virus that align with those of Gov. Ron DeSantis. "We can't have the third-largest state in the country's top doctor being a yes man to a politician," said Democrat Sen. Jason Pizzo. Ladapo, who was appointed by DeSantis in September, has drawn intense scrutiny throughout the confirmation process and Democrats walked out of one committee hearing because, they said, the doctor refused to answer their questions on the effectiveness of vaccines. Sen. Tina Polsky, another Democrat, said there was a place for radical thought that challenges the mainstream in science. But, during a pandemic, she said, a state's top doctor should follow generally accepted science. She also said that if Ladapo wants to pursue alternative ways of responding to health disasters, he should be able to articulate a plan to do so, but couldn't. "I know that things have been pretty politically charged, but I want to assure everyone that I'm really passionate about health, good health," Ladapo told reporters after his confirmation. "I've been consistently talking good health from the beginning of the pandemic, holistically and not in one particular lane, so that's what I’ll continue doing as the surgeon general." USA Today Network / Associated Press / Tampa Bay Times / Florida Politics / WFSU / New York Times

“House votes to regulate talk of sexual orientation, gender identity in Florida schools” via James Call of USA Today Network — The Florida House boosted the Republican Party’s "culture war" election-year strategy Thursday with a party-line vote on a bill to regulate discussions about sexual orientation or gender identity in public schools. With a largely party-line vote of 69-47, the bill (HB 1557) is on its way to the Senate, where it will be heard Monday in the Senate Appropriations Committee. The proposal has drawn national attention, including a condemnation by Biden, and is backed by DeSantis. It comes as the Governor and Legislature seek re-election later this year, with DeSantis positioning himself as the champion of conservative cultural issues.

“Poll: Florida voters don’t support prohibiting teacher conversations about gender identity or sexual orientation” via Anne Geggis of Florida Politics — The Legislature’s effort to prohibit teachers from encouraging discussions about sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through third grade does not have the support of most voters, according to a new poll. The Public Opinion Research Lab found 49% of respondents oppose the legislation and 40% support it, either somewhat or strongly. Opponents are calling it the “Don’t Say Gay,” bill. Republicans frame the bill (HB 1557), sponsored by Rep. Joe Harding, and a similar Senate version (SB 1834), as a parental rights issue. The numbers who support and those who oppose fall into sharper contrast when separating the results according to whether respondents were Democrats or Republicans.

Governor …

“Ron DeSantis signs into law extended COVID-19 protections for health care providers” via Christine Jordan Sexton of Florida Politics — DeSantis signed into law nine bills, including a highly sought-after bill that extends protections from COVID-19 liability lawsuits for nursing homes, hospitals and doctors. SB 7014 was passed earlier this month, with many Democrats voting against the measure. The current law that shields businesses and health care providers from COVID-19-related lawsuits was one of the first measures passed by the Legislature during the 2021 Session. The law clarifies that to sue a health care provider regarding COVID-19 successfully, the plaintiff must prove gross negligence or intentional misconduct. While general businesses were provided indefinite protections, health care providers were afforded such protection only through March 2022. The bill signed by DeSantis extends protections for health care providers until June 1, 2023.

DeSantis, Ladapo Ease COVID Rules - Gov. Ron DeSantis and newly confirmed State Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo released new COVID-19 guidelines for the state of Florida on Thursday. The public health update includes rolling back mask mandate recommendations for employees, advising only isolating for five days and allowing health care practitioners to use alternative treatments when they see fit. The new guidance does not follow the Centers for Disease Control COVID-19 public health recommendations. DeSantis Press Release / WPEC / Sun-Sentinel

“DeSantis urges CPAC supporters to don ‘armor of God’ against wokeness” via Jason Delgado of Florida Politics — In a roughly 20-minute speech, DeSantis blasted the media, academia, and corporations in jarring terms. He asserted that they and others are infected with a “new religion” of wokeness and rank conservatives as “second-class citizens.” DeSantis said that the belief is tearing at the “fabric” of society. It, he added, is a form of “cultural Marxism.” With conservatives cheering him on, DeSantis urged them to don the “armor of God” and the “shield of faith” as they fight to reclaim the nation in 2024. The stakes, he suggested, are high. “Their goal is not to make our country great,” DeSantis decried of “the left,” marking his closest reference to Trump, who coined the phrase “Make America Great Again.”

COVID-19 …

“No more masks at work? DeSantis issues new nonbinding COVID-19 guidelines” via Kirby Wilson of the Tampa Bay Times — DeSantis and Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo unveiled a series of updated COVID-19 guidelines on Thursday in an announcement that touted the move as bucking the CDC. The state’s Department of Health, which Ladapo leads, is now recommending that businesses should stop requiring employees to wear masks. They’re giving doctors a way to complain to state regulators if health care facilities push back on aggressive treatment plans for COVID-19 patients. And they’re advising that Floridians can stop isolating five days after testing positive for the virus as long as they have no fever, and their symptoms are improving.

“Omicron wave all but over as seven-day average for new cases hits 10-week low” via David Schutz of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel — The average for new COVID-19 cases in Florida dropped below 4,000 on Friday to its lowest point in 70 days. In addition to reporting 3,401 new cases Friday, the state added 598 further deaths to its pandemic total. Over the past week, Florida has added 981 deaths, down from the 1,250 reported in the previous seven-day period. There were 3,592 patients infected with COVID-19 in hospitals across the state on Wednesday, the lowest number since Dec. 27. The number of infected patients in intensive care units was 599 on Wednesday, the first time this year, the number has been below 600.

Florida COVID deaths remain high. Falling cases may signal omicron’s end. - Omicron cases in Florida are continuing to fall quickly, but there is no letup in the number of Floridians dying from the variant — and millions across the state remain unvaccinated. Florida health officials reported fewer than 10,000 daily COVID-19 infections for the first time in more than two months. The state’s weekly report, released Friday, showed 42,473 total cases for the week of Feb. 11-17, down nearly 60 percent from the week before. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

Health Care …

Florida Dietitian Licensing Law Backed - A federal appeals court Friday upheld the constitutionality of a Florida law that restricts unlicensed people from giving dietary advice, rejecting arguments that it violates First Amendment rights. A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the challenge filed by Heather Kokesch Del Castillo, who was cited by the Florida Department of Health in 2017 for getting paid to provide dietary advice without being a state-licensed dietitian or nutritionist. Del Castillo ran what the ruling described as a “health-coaching business,” which included offering dietary advice to clients. After receiving a complaint from a licensed dietitian and investigating, the Department of Health alleged that Del Castillo violated a law known as the Dietetics and Nutrition Practice Act. Del Castillo filed the legal challenge, contending that the law violated her speech rights. A federal district judge sided with the department, and the panel of the Atlanta-based appeals court upheld that decision. The 26-page opinion, written by Judge Robert Luck and joined by Judges Elizabeth Branch and Ed Carnes, said the law’s “licensing scheme for dieticians and nutritionists regulated professional conduct and only incidentally burdened Del Castillo’s speech. Because the burden on her speech rights was only incidental, the act’s licensing scheme did not violate her First Amendment free speech rights.”

Software Glitches, Merger-Related Problems Blamed for Failure to Pay Medicaid Claims - The merger of the two largest Medicaid payment vendors caused software glitches that prevented payments from going out to service providers for more than two months, leading some providers to stop offering care for some of the state's sickest and neediest children, according to the payment vendors and families that rely on Medicaid to pay for their children's health care issues. Fresh Take Florida 

As Florida Republicans push legislation seeking to prohibit health care licensing boards from censoring or censuring doctors who make unconventional public remarks about COVID or promote unproven treatments, the medical establishment is seeing a national push along the same lines. Kaiser Health News 

Hospitals and some elected officials in other states are pushing for more scrutiny into the rates charged by nurse staffing agencies to hospitals, with some states considering caps on what the agencies can charge as the health care industry nationwide deals with staffing shortages. Healthcare Dive

“‘Opioids appear to know no bounds’: Lakeview reports sharp increase in abuse, overdoses” via Jennifer Rich of the Pensacola News Journal — Mental health experts are blaming pandemic devastation for a drastic increase in the rate of drug overdose deaths on a national and local level. There is a clear uptick and correlation between the pandemic and rise of overdose deaths we’re seeing,” said Sweneda McDonald, director of Lakeview Center Medication-Assisted Treatment programs. McDonald said overdose deaths are up 18% since last year, as the pandemic lingers into its third year. She believes more people are self-medicating to handle the isolation and economic impact, especially with opioids.

Campaign and Elections …

Hutson Files Strike-All to Elections Bill - The sponsor of a broad bill making changes to voting requirements filed a new version of the legislation in a "strike-all" amendment set for consideration Thursday in the Senate Appropriations Committee. The new amendment by Republican sponsor Sen. Travis Hutson was praised by Democrat Sen. Annette Taddeo for the addition of a provision she suggested that seeks to punish voting organizations that alter voters' registration forms without their knowledge, a change Taddeo said was necessary after a case in Miami in which Little Havana residents complained their voter registration was switched from Democrat to Republican without their consent. The measure continues to create a new Office of Election Crimes and Security" to initiate investigations into allegations of election law violations or "irregularities." and prohibit "ranked-choice" voting, where voters list preferred candidates in order of preference. The amendment also includes a section that directs the Florida Department of State to come up with a plan to require a Florida driver license, state ID or social security number, or part of such a number to confirm the identity of voters returning a vote-by-mail ballot. The amendment requires the agency to review what other states do, what federal law requires, and to consult with county supervisors of elections. The plan would be submitted to the Legislature next year. Florida Politics / SB 524 / Hutson Strike-All Amendment

“Senate’s elections bill ready for Senate floor” via Renzo Downey of Florida Politics — The Senate could soon vote to establish an election crimes investigations unit, ban ranked choice voting, change vote-by-mail forms and more. After more than two hours of discussion, the Senate Appropriations Committee voted nearly along party lines Thursday to send an elections bill (SB 524) that contains several of DeSantis’ “election integrity” priorities to the Senate floor. Despite the bipartisan agreement that the 2020 election was possibly the smoothest in Florida’s recent history, the bill is Republicans’ second follow-up measure to strengthen Florida’s voting laws. The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Travis Hutson, proposes many changes to several areas of Florida election laws. Sen. Doug Broxson suggested the measure is insurance for the future rather than a reaction to the past.

House Panel Passes New Congressional Map - The House Congressional Redistricting Subcommittee passed a new congressional map last Friday morning on a 14-7 party-line vote. HB 7503 now heads to the full House Redistricting Committee before it can be considered on the floor. Florida Politics

Legislative Lawyers Defend Maps - House and Senate attorneys filed briefs over the weekend defending the constitutionality of new legislative maps, and arguing the Florida Supreme Court shouldn't put in place district boundaries that haven't been approved by the Legislature. Florida Politics 

Is it DeSantis versus Fair Districts? The redistricting conflict between the governor and the Republican-led Legislature came into sharper focus last week as the conservative activist group Judicial Watch emerged to defend the governor’s map. But, after confirming that the governor’s office paid for the hotel and airfare to have Richard Popper testify before the House committee, Republicans on the panel then grilled him about his understanding of Florida law.

The committee rejected his argument, and approved their own congressional map. Next stop: the full committee meets on Thursday. Will a compromise emerge, or is the governor preparing to argue that the Fair Districts standards of the Florida Constitution conflict with the federal court’s interpretation of redistricting law and should be invalidated?

DeSantis leads in polls: A Mason Dixon poll out last week found that 53% of Florida voters approved of the governor’s job performance and, when matched up against all three Democratic challengers, he could defeat them all.

The poll said that 44% of Florida Democrats back Charlie Crist, St. Petersburg congressman and former governor; 27% support Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, and 3% support Miami Sen. Annette Taddeo. A whopping 26% of Democrats, however, are undecided.

If today were Election Day, Gov. Ron DeSantis would win a second term by 20 points, according to a poll conducted by the Public Opinion Research Lab at UNF.

The PORL poll showed DeSantis taking a massive lead against the two leading Democrats running to replace him. If U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist is DeSantis’ opponent in the November ballot, the incumbent will win 55%-34%. If Agricultural Commissioner Nikki Fried is the Democratic nominee, DeSantis would win 55%-32%.

In a further blow to the Democrats’ chances, only a third of those polled said they approve of the job President Joe Biden is doing, whether somewhat or strongly, with 57% disapproving, including 46% who said they strongly disapprove.

But a lot could change in the eight months between now and Election Day, said UNF professor and PORL faculty director Michael Binder.

“A lot of Democratic voters still don’t know who they would vote for, so I would expect that lead to narrow between now and November,” he said.

As far as the Democratic Primary, Crist leads at 27%, followed by Fried at 19%. At 4%, Sen. Annette Taddeo was tied for third with little-known candidate David Nelson Freeman. The true leader, however, was “unsure.”

“Crist has eight points on Fried in the Governor’s primary, but we still have 38% of registered Democrats in this survey who are undecided,” said Binder. “These folks likely won’t make up their minds for a while, so this will be a pretty muddled picture until later in the summer.”

The UNF PORL was conducted Feb. 7-20. It has a sample size of 685 registered voters and was conducted and a margin of error of plus or minus 3.74 percentage points.

“Charlie Crist shrugs off weak numbers in poll versus DeSantis” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — A leading Democratic candidate for Governor attempted Thursday to take the air out of polling that showed him down more than 20 points to DeSantis. New polling showed DeSantis with a 21-point lead over Crist, 55% to 34%. Even Democratic respondents seemed to like DeSantis. One in four Democrats polled chose him over Crist, a former Republican seeking a return to the Governor’s Mansion under his current party label. Crist said he hadn’t seen the poll before he shot it down. Even with 34% support, Crist was two points ahead of Fried in polling against DeSantis, who had 55% support against Fried head-to-head.

“DeSantis fuels U.S. Presidential run speculation with CPAC speech” via David Smith of The Guardian — DeSantis, the right-wing Republican Governor of Florida, has fueled speculation about a future US Presidential run with a high profile speech lambasting Biden, the media and what he termed “wokeism.” DeSantis, an ally and possible rival to Trump, delivered the attack at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), the biggest annual gathering of grassroots conservatives in the US. DeSantis spoke in Orlando in his home state, but the broad and national sweep of his address, which did not mention Trump by name, was consistent with eyeing a potential White House run in 2024 or 2028.