Capitol Update – November 20, 2020

Lawmakers, both returning and newly elected, returned to Tallahassee this week to participate in the 2020 Organizational Legislative Session where new leadership took over and newly elected members where sworn in. This year's Session was markedly different than prior years because of Covid. Guests and non-essential personnel were strictly limited from attending, making for a somewhat surreal scene in and around the Capitol that is usually packed and bustling in any other year for this event. It is still unclear how the Legislature will handle the necessary gathering of lawmakers, staff, and lobbyist in the midst of the pandemic, but leaders have announced they have have contracted with Florida based healthcare organizations, Tampa General Hospital and the University of South Florida in an effort to create guidelines and protocols for upcoming committee weeks and session.