From the Capitol

Summertime in Tallahassee usually calls for a slower pace. However, since the Legislature left the Capital City in early May, the Governor’s Office is moving forward with many of his priorities. The Governor has been busy signing legislation, making appointments and gearing up for an early 2020 legislative session.

Florida Cabinet For the first time in history, the Florida Cabinet met outside the State when it held its meeting in Israel on May 29th. The Cabinet presented a proclamation of support for Israel and Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill passed this session that prohibits anti-Semitism in Florida’s public schools and universities.

Criticism that the meeting violated open-government laws resulted in the First Amendment Foundation attempting to halt the meeting via the courts; however, a Leon County judge denied the motion. Though the total cost of the trip is unknown, it has an estimated taxpayer cost of $131,000, plus expenses paid privately through Enterprise Florida. A trade mission was organized between business interests in Florida and Israel as part of this trip. The Governor’s Office anticipates many future agreements between Florida universities and companies and Israeli counterparts.