The battle over ballot initiatives heats up

Politico

11-03-2025

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Good morning and welcome to Tuesday.
The fallout from ballot initiative battles on abortion access and recreational marijuana could result in new limits placed on the administration of Gov. RON DESANTIS.
Last fall, DeSantis — who was strongly opposed to both measures — used the full force of state government to oppose both campaigns. That included spending taxpayer money on ads warning about the dangers of marijuana and pushing back on the abortion amendment that would have undone the state's six-week ban.
At the time, many leading Republicans did not support either measure‚ and incoming state Senate President BEN ALBRITTON signed off on using money from the Senate Republican political account to target the marijuana effort. But privately, some Republicans were not comfortable with the idea of using taxpayer money to fight the initiatives.
Now, state Sen. JENNIFER BRADLEY, a Fleming Island Republican, wants to ban such state spending in the future. Bradley, who said she voted against the two 2024 measures, got the Senate to add the prohibition Monday to a sweeping bill dealing with ballot initiatives. That bill (SPB 7016) would impose new restrictions on future amendment drives, a top priority for the governor this session.
'It's a matter of good government,' Bradley said after the Senate Ethics & Elections Committee approved her amendment and then advanced the bill. She said taxpayers should not foot the bill even on public service announcements that are supposed to be limited to factual information. 'That seems like a pretty conservative position to me.'
The language Bradley pushed for is similar to a restriction the Legislature — and DeSantis — put on local governments in 2023. That law blocked cities and counties from sending out any kind of communications on local referendums.
The state has never provided a full breakdown of how many millions were actually spent trying to defeat the two amendments — something Bradley said she supported trying to figure out. Albritton, however, last year did not seem too interested in having the Senate spend time delving into that matter.
The question is whether the prohibition on state spending will make it to DeSantis' desk. State Sen. ERIN GRALL, the Vero Beach Republican helping shepherd the overall bill on initiatives, said she was concerned Bradley's amendment was too broad and would scuttle anti-drug PSAs in the future. A House bill also cracking down on initiatives does not include the ban.
Just add this to the list of items that could create tension between the Legislature and the governor between now and early May when session ends.
— Gary Fineout
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... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ...
TODAY — Surgeon General JOE LADAPO is set to speak at a health committee meeting in Miami against adding fluoride to drinking water, reports Douglas Hanks of the Miami Herald.
DESANTIS FAVE TALKING POINT ON CHOPPING BLOCK? — 'State senators introduced a sweeping higher education package Monday that would repeal a tuition break for out-of-state students who attend college in Florida because their grandparents live here, as well as targeting DEI language,' reports Andrew Atterbury of POLITICO.
'The legislation, SB 1624, appears to be an attempt to clean up language in state law that could be considered diversity, equity and inclusion, as the Trump administration targets DEI efforts nationwide. It unanimously passed an initial hearing before the Committee on Education Postsecondary, with two Democrats absent for the vote.'
DISMISSED DEFAMATION SUIT — 'A state judge has agreed to toss a defamation lawsuit filed against the Florida GOP by the medical marijuana company that backed last year's failed ballot initiative on legal recreational pot,' reports POLITICO's Arek Sarkissian.
'Gadsden County Circuit Court Judge Ronald W. Flury on Friday granted a Republican Party of Florida motion to dismiss a case filed late last year by Trulieve, which contributed the vast majority of the roughly $150 million in campaign dollars supporting Amendment 3 … The opposing campaign launched a commercial claiming Trulieve, along with the handful of other state-licensed Florida medical marijuana companies, had written the measure to double down on a longstanding state ban on growing pot at home and create a monopoly on the adult-use market.'
WAGE BILL ADVANCES — 'Those who work in apprenticeship, internship or work-study programs could be paid less than minimum wage under legislation that cleared a Senate panel Monday,' reports Gray Rohrer of USA Today Network — Florida.
'The bill (SB 676) would allow employees to check a box when applying for the job allowing them to be paid less than Florida's current $13 per hour. An amendment to the bill added in the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee will require the parent or guardian of a worker under age 18 to approve the sub-minimum wage pay.'
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT — 'A man convicted of kidnapping a woman in Miami and later strangling her to death is set to be executed next month under a death warrant DeSantis signed Monday,' reports The Associated Press.
ARTS GROUPS WAIT ON THE SIDELINES — 'Proposed changes to the way Florida's arts organizations receive state funding have leaders of cultural nonprofits watching developments in Tallahassee with a mix of wariness and hope,' reports Matthew J. Palm of the Orlando Sentinel.
— 'Undocumented immigrants cost Florida taxpayers $660 million, new report says,' by Ana Goñi-Lessan of USA Today Network — Florida.
— 'Juul Labs suit: AG announces $79 million settlement over marketing to kids claims,' by Jackie Llanos of the Florida Phoenix.
— 'Fly-by-night government: Committee finds State of Florida paid out-of-state employee $42,000 to commute to Tallahassee,' by Michelle DeMarco of the Florida Trident.
— 'Union seeking $5,000 raise for state correctional, probation officers,' reports Jackie Llanos of the Florida Phoenix.
ON THURSDAY — The Florida Senate is holding a memorial for the late state Sen. GERALDINE THOMPSON (D-Orlando).
PENINSULA AND BEYOND
TIME CHANGE — 'When it comes to support for making daylight saving time permanent, one group on the Hill seems to constantly spring forward: Florida Republicans,' reports POLITICO's Isa Domínguez.
TOWN POISED FOR ELIMINATION — State Rep. JASON SHOAF (R-Port St. Joe) introduced legislation to abolish White Springs, an 140-year old North Florida town that was once a tourism hub in the 19th century, and transfer all of its assets to Hamilton County, reports USA TODAY NETWORK — Florida's James Call. The proposal comes after an audit revealed that the town lacked up-to-date financial records, leaving auditors unable to assess the town's 'financial condition.'
— 'Florida school shooting thwarted, police say,' by The Hill's Lauren Irwin.
CAMPAIGN MODE
TODAY — Local elections are happening in Palm Beach and Broward counties. Anthony Man of the South Florida Sun Sentinel has the details.
ALSO TODAY — Florida Attorney General JAMES UTHMEIER is kicking off his 2026 campaign to keep his seat with a fundraising event at The Governor's Inn, reports Janelle Irwin Taylor of Florida Politics.
FINE SLAMS WEIL — State Sen. RANDY FINE (R-Melbourne) slammed his Democratic congressional opponent, JOSH WEIL, after a staffer working on behalf of the campaign was arrested for burglary and theft.
During a press conference outside the Florida Senate, Fine also criticized Weil's past. He referred to Weil, a teacher, as 'dangerous,' citing his conversion to Islam and an incident roughly 10 years ago in which Weil improperly restrained a student.
Fine called Weil 'a dangerous man, unhinged, violent and supporting a radical anti-American ideology that views Donald Trump as a, as he put it, 'threat to the nation.''
In response to Fine's statements concerning the arrest, Weil's campaign manager WENDY GARCIA wrote in a text to POLITICO that the staffer was 'hired by and worked for a third-party contractor' and 'is no longer authorized to do any work on behalf of our campaign.'
'This is an unacceptable incident and we support the justice system working to deliver accountability,' she wrote. Weil also texted, saying, 'We're going to continue running a strong campaign focused on the issues that matter to Florida's working families.'
Fine himself was ordered to take anger management courses last year after he allegedly cursed and raised his middle finger during a virtual court hearing. Fine denied the allegations and said the pictures were doctored.
— Isa Domínguez
BOOK REVELATIONS — 'In 'Revenge: The Inside Story of Trump's Return to Power,' journalist Alex Isenstadt [a POLITICO alum] details what he says was the Trump campaign's plot to derail DeSantis' 2024 primary bid in the most vicious way possible,' reports Nikki Schwab of The Daily Mail.
The book says: 'Trump didn't just want to stop DeSantis from winning the Republican nomination … He wanted to destroy him and make it impossible for him to run for anything ever again … Trump told aides that he would have endorsed DeSantis as his successor if the governor had waited another four years to run for president. But DeSantis had burned the relationship down and destroyed his political career, Trump concluded.'
TRUMP-MENTUM — Fabrizio & Associates, the Trump campaign firm hired by Florida gubernatorial candidate BYRON DONALDS, has new polling out that puts Donalds ahead of Florida first lady CASEY DESANTIS 'nearly 2 to 1' in the Republican primary, reports Florida Politics' Jesse Scheckner. The results come after Trump's endorsement of Donalds, which boosted his favorability.
— ''Wake up Democrats!': Frustration boils over with party's response to Trump,' by Steven Lemongello of the Orlando Sentinel.
TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP
— 'Trump's $5 million gold citizenship card: What South Florida advisers say about the plan,' by David Lyons of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
— 'National wildlife refuge workers in Florida hit by President Trump, DOGE firings,' by Jeff Burlew of the Tallahassee Democrat.
DATELINE D.C.
SPENDING DEADLINE — The House is poised for a floor vote on the continuing resolution today in a bid to avoid a partial government shutdown and fund the government at current levels through September, report POLITICO's Lisa Kashinsky and Mia McCarthy. Democrats and several GOP holdouts say they'll be voting no on the package, with Rep. CORY MILLS (R-Fla.) among those who are undecided.
DOE PROBE — The University of South Florida and the University of Tampa are among 60 colleges and universities being investigated 'over their responses to reports of antisemitic harassment and discrimination on their campuses,' reports POLITICO's Bianca Quilantan.
— 'Jury is out on Rubio in Senate, as some lose faith,' by Laura Kelly of The Hill.
TRANSITION TIME
— ROB LOREI is stepping down as the longtime host of the WEDU program 'Florida This Week' after a cancer diagnosis, reports the Tampa Bay Times' Gabrielle Calise. He will continue to work with WEDU in a series titled 'Perspectives,' which will feature interviews 'with notable guests, exploring personal stories, experiences and worldviews.'
— The Florida Democratic Party has named NANCY METAYER BOWEN as vice chair of Haitian American voter engagement, per Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics.
— MATT HELMINTOLLER will be leading Corcoran Partners' Space Coast office, reports Drew Wilson of Florida Politics.
— CHARLES TRUXAL is now chief of staff for Rep. KAT CAMMACK (R-Fla.). He most recently was legislative director for Rep. MORGAN LUTTRELL (R-Texas).
ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN
— 'Drunken golf cart ride in The Villages ends with woman dead, driver jailed, cops say,' per the Tampa Bay Times.
BIRTHDAYS: Alejandro Miyar with Berger Singerman ... Janet Scherberger, former communications VP at Tampa International Airport and former Tampa Bay Times reporter.