TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) -- Tuesday lawmakers will officially begin the 2014 Legislative Session.
Thousands of bills have been filed in consideration of passage during the 60 day law making marathon.
Prior to the start of session, lawmakers were already previewing a pricey to-do list involving various programs and initatives. Money is not expected to be much of an issue this session where as the state is seeing a budget surplus of approximately $1.3 billion.
In his State of the State address, Governor Rick Scott is expected to formally announce his request to lawmakers to cut taxes and fees by approximately $500 million. The governor is also expected to make education a focal point in his speech, working to keep tuition rates from rising. The Associated Press reports the governor is asking legislators to repeal laws that allow universities to raise tuition above rates set by legislators.
VIDEO ON THE LEFT: Trimmel Gomes, a veteran reporter for public radio regularly covering the Florida Capitol, appeared Tuesday on WTXL ABC27 Sunrise to preview some of this session's biggest bills and their odds of passing.
EDUCATION
There are multiple bills involving education.
Representative Debbie Mayfield (R-Vero Beach) and Senator Greg Evers (R-Pensacola) have each filed a bill in their respective chamber aimed at at least slowing down the implmentation of Common Core Standards. House Speaker Will Weatherford has also been publicly supportive of expanding a tax credit scholarship program that would allow up to 60,000 low-income children in Florida to receive "vouchers" to attend various private and religious schools.
SEXUAL PREDATORS
A series of bills designed to stregthen sexual predator laws is also expected to be approved by both Chambers. Gomes says there's word that those bill are seen with such priority that they may be passed on the first day of session.
The Associated Press reports one bill would require a mandatory 50-year sentence for people who rape children or who are considered dangerous sexual offenders - double the current mandatory penalty.
Lawmakers will also make changes to a program that allows the civil commitment of sexual predators who have finished their prison sentences in an effort to close loopholes that allow the release of some dangerous offenders.
GAMBLING
Gambling has also remained a high profile issue for lawmakers.
Differences are seen in gambling-related bills from both chambers. The Senate is debating a bill that would not only overhaul gambling regulation in the state, but would also allow at least two new casino resorts in South Florida. The House is considering a bill that includes an overhaul of state gambling laws, but would not allow the new casinos.
Whether new casinos are allowed would impact a current deal the state has with the Seminole Tribe and could risk hundreds of millions of dollars the tribe's casinos generate for the state.
OTHER ISSUES
Medicaid, Red Light Cameras, Same Sex Marriage.
There are a mariot of issues that are expected to keep lawmakers busy this session. The question becomes, what bills make it and which ones don't?
WTXL ABC27 will have continuing coverage of the 2014 legislative session on air and online at WTXL.tv.
