TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (The News Service of Florida) - Florida lawmakers will return to the Capitol on Tuesday to begin preparing for the 2019 legislative session, which starts in March.
Members of the House and Senate are spending three days this week getting training and advice on subjects ranging from ethics, Medicaid, and the state budget to balancing family and work life.
Following the November general election there are more than 40 newly elected lawmakers who will be tasked with voting on Florida's $80 plus billion budget and hundreds of other bills.
Republican State Representative Ray Rodrigues said there are major differences between running a campaign for office and actually serving once elected.
"Frankly, I am glad we are doing this. We didn't have this during my freshman term," said Rodrigues. "I know that when you come in, you know the area that you have some expertise on, but you really don't know much about any of the others. It's a steep learning curve."
New legislators took office three weeks ago and there are six weeks of committee meetings scheduled before the 2019 regular session begins on March 5.
