Budget leads major issues in Florida Legislature's last week
TALLAHASSEE (AP) - The Florida Legislature careens into its final scheduled week with a host of major issues still to be settled, including a roughly $90 billion state budget that is the only bill lawmakers must pass.
Agreement on the budget would need to be reached by Tuesday, giving legislators the required 72-hour "cooling off" period before Friday's scheduled end of the 60-day legislative session.
Unsettled major issues include the "sanctuary cities" ban bill that would require local law enforcement agencies to cooperate with federal authorities on detaining undocumented immigrants.
Others include: a new private school voucher program, a Canadian prescription drug importation program, permitting more classroom teachers to carry weapons, voting rights for most ex-felons, making texting while driving a primary traffic offense, and authorizing three major toll highways in rural areas.