>>IT'S BEEN A BUSY WEEK IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

WHAT'S BEEN SIGNED, WHAT'S LEFT BEHIND, AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU?

NEWSNIGHT STARTS NOW.

♪ MUSIC ♪ >>HELLO, I'M DARALENE JONES OF WFTV CHANNEL NINE SITTING IN FOR STEVE MORT.

WELCOME TO NEWSNIGHT, WHERE WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE BIG STORIES IMPACTING CENTRAL FLORIDA AND HOW THEY AFFECT YOU.

WE DO THIS EACH WEEK BY BRINGING TOGETHER A TEAM OF JOURNALISTS FROM DIFFERENT LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS FOR IN DEPTH DISCUSSIONS ON THESE IMPORTANT TOPICS.

JOINING US THIS WEEK ARE GREG ANGEL OF SPECTRUM NEWS 13 AND JOURNALIST MATTHEW PEDDIE.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

>>GLAD TO BE WITH YOU.

>>BIG WEEK IN TALLAHASSEE.

WE'LL START WITH THAT BILL THAT COULD HAVE GREAT IMPACT HERE IN THE SUNSHINE STATE: NET METER CHANGES FOR ROOFTOP SOLAR PANELS.

NET METERING ALLOWS RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS WHO GENERATE THEIR OWN ELECTRICITY FROM SOLAR POWER TO SELL THE ELECTRICITY THEY AREN'T USING BACK INTO THE GRID.

OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, THE NUMBER OF FLORIDA HOUSEHOLDS INSTALLING SOLAR PANELS HAS INCREASED OVER 400%, LEVELING UTILITY COMPANIES CREDITING THOSE CUSTOMERS OVER $4 MILLION TO BUY BACK THE EXCESS SOLAR ENERGY AT A RETAIL RATE.

HOUSE BILL 714 WOULD CHANGE THAT RATE OF COMPENSATION.

FULL DISCLOSURE, WE DO RECORD OUR PROGRAM ON THURSDAY TO AIR ON FRIDAY, SO THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THE MEASURE WILL BECOME LAW MAY BE ANSWERED BY NOW, BUT LET'S DISCUSS THE CHANGES THAT COULD BE COMING HERE.

WE START THAT WITH OUR PANELISTS HERE.

I WANT TO START WITH YOU GREG, BECAUSE... OR MATT.

LET'S START WITH MATT, BECAUSE THROUGHOUT THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, IT'S FELT A LITTLE BIT LIKE DAVID VERSUS GOLIATH IN THIS WHOLE PROCESS ON BOTH SIDES.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE BIG CONTROVERSY HERE?

>>WELL, THE CONTROVERSY IS THAT SUPPORTERS OF SOLAR ROOFTOP SOLAR SAY THEY REALLY WANT THE SORT OF STATUS QUO TO REMAIN.

THAT IS THAT IF YOU PUT SOLAR ON YOUR ROOF, THERE'S INCENTIVES TO DO SO.

THE POWER COMPANIES, FPL PARTICULARLY, THEY'RE SAYING THAT'S NOT FAIR.

ESSENTIALLY THEY'RE SAYING THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING THIS KIND OF INCENTIVE TO PUT ROOFTOP SOLAR ON THEIR ROOFS, THEY ARE KIND OF GETTING A BENEFIT AND THAT EVERYBODY ELSE WHO DOES NOT HAVE THAT ROOFTOP SOLAR IS SUPPORTING THEM.

SO THEY'RE SAYING IT DOESN'T REALLY GIVE YOU A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD.

THAT'S ESSENTIALLY THE CONTROVERSY.

THERE'S OBVIOUSLY ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS AT PLAY TOO, BUT IT'S BOILED DOWN TO THIS AND FOLKS WHO SAY, "WE WANT MORE ROOFTOP SOLAR IN FLORIDA, " THEY'RE SAYING TO THE GOVERNOR, "PLEASE VETO THIS BILL.

DO NOT SIGN IT."

>>AND WHAT ARE REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS SAYING ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT IT'S GOING TO PASS?

>>I MEAN, IT'S INTERESTING WHEN YOU DIG DOWN TO WHAT THE REPUBLICAN LAW MAKERS ARE SAYING.

JEFF BRANDES, FOR EXAMPLE.

HE SAID, "THIS IS A BAD BILL."

HE SAID IT'S GOING TO TAKE A SLEDGE HAMMER TO THE ROOFTOP SOLAR INDUSTRY, BUT THEN YOU HAVE THE LIKES OF JENNIFER BRADLEY WHO SAYS IT'S GOOD AND IT'S GOING TO SORT OF PHASE OUT THE SUBSIDIES THAT WE HAVE AND MAKE THINGS FAIRER IN THE LONG TERM.

>>WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE SUPPLIERS IN ALL OF THIS?

>>WELL, YOU'VE GOT MULTIPLE SIDES TO THIS.

FIRST OF ALL, PART OF THE ARGUMENT FROM CRITICS IS FOLLOW THE MONEY.

WHAT IS THE INCENTIVE FOR THIS PROGRAM?

THE REALITY IS FOR COMPANIES LIKE FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT, WHICH IS THE MAIN SPONSOR OF THIS BILL, IT'S GOING TO BE MORE MONEY IN THEIR POCKET BECAUSE ULTIMATELY THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY LESS MONEY FOR THE POWER THEY ARE BUYING FROM ROOFTOP SOLAR CUSTOMERS.

THAT'S KIND OF A KEY POINT HERE.

IT'S THOSE HOMEOWNERS AND THOSE BUSINESSES WITH THESE SOLAR PANELS ON THE ROOF.

IT'S ALSO GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT TIME WILL TELL.

WE HEAR THE SKY IS FALLING ARGUMENT FROM CRITICS WHO SAY THIS IS GOING TO DEVASTATE THE SOLAR INDUSTRY.

I THINK ONE THING THAT ALSO HAS TO BE MINDFUL IS THAT UNLIKE THE ORIGINAL BILL THAT WAS FILED THAT WOULD'VE BASICALLY SAID BY THE END OF THIS YEAR, WE WILL BE ABLE TO START DROPPING THE REBATE RATES, THIS HAS PRODUCED NEGOTIATIONS THAT IS EXTENDED OVER TIME WHEN POWER COMPANIES CAN START DROPPING THE REBATE RATE.

THE QUESTION IS BETWEEN NOW AND IN THE YEARS TO COME, WOULD THE LEGISLATURE COME BACK AND REVISIT THIS?

I BELIEVE, MATT, BEFOREHAND YOU WERE SAYING MAYBE ARIZONA...

THEY HAD SIMILAR ITEMS THERE.

THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF THE CLOCK IS TICKING, BUT TO SEE OVER TIME, COULD THEY COME BACK AND RE-TWEAK THIS BILL?

>>MATT, WE'RE THE SUNSHINE STATE, SO IT'S KIND OF INTERESTING THAT WE ARE SORT OF LAGGING BEHIND IN THIS SPECTRUM.

HOW WILL ALL OF THIS IMPACT THE GROWTH OF THE INDUSTRY AND JOBS, EVEN?

>>KEEP IN MIND THE REASON FOR ALLOWING CUSTOMERS TO HAVE ROOFTOP SOLAR TO SELL IT BACK TO THE ENERGY COMPANIES BASICALLY AT RETAIL RATES WAS TO KIND OF GIVE A BOOST TO THAT FLEDGLING SOLAR INDUSTRY AT THE TIME.

THIS WAS A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO NOW.

THE ARGUMENT, OBVIOUSLY, IS THAT IF THEY KEEP THESE REBATES IN PLACE, THEN IT'S JUST GOING TO GIVE US MORE SOLAR AND IT'S GOING TO BE BETTER IN THE LONG TERM.

I WAS READING A STUDY BY A GROUP CALLED CONSERVATIVES FOR CLEAN ENERGY.

THEY'RE SAYING THAT THE SOLAR INDUSTRY DELIVERS ABOUT AN $18 BILLION VALUE TO THE STATE OF FLORIDA, SO IT'S A BIG DEAL.

A LOT OF JOBS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.

THE ARGUMENT AGAINST THIS BILL IS THAT THAT'S GOING TO REALLY KIND OF GUT THE ROOFTOP SOLAR INDUSTRY AND A LOT OF THOSE JOBS ARE GOING TO GO AWAY.

BUT AS GREG WAS SAYING, THERE'S SOME KIND OF WRINKLES TO THAT, SO IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW IT ACTUALLY PLAYS OUT.

>>AND THE INDUSTRY REALLY IS KIND OF YOUNG WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT.

ABOUT 90,000 SOLAR USERS IN FLORIDA WITH ROOFTOP AND THINGS LIKE THAT, SO IT'S BEEN SLOWLY GROWING OVER TIME.

OF COURSE, WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT IS AN INDUSTRY THAT ONLY HAS THE ABILITY TO GROW.

FLORIDA RIGHT NOW RANKS THIRD IN TERMS OF ENERGY PRODUCED BY SOLAR, BEHIND TEXAS, AND CALIFORNIA IS NUMBER ONE.

BUT WHAT, AGAIN, THEY'RE LOOKING AT IS WITH THE CHANGES IN COMPENSATION... BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IT'S KIND OF A DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR TRADE.

IF A PERSON HAS SOLAR ROOFTOP AND THEY DON'T HAVE A BATTERY PACK WHERE THEY CAN ACTUALLY STORE THAT, THEY'RE USING THE ENERGY IN REAL TIME IN THEIR HOME AND WHAT HAPPENS IS COME NIGHTTIME, THE SUN'S NOT HERE, SO THEY'RE NOT GENERATING THAT ELECTRICITY.

THEN WHAT THEY'RE HAVING TO DO TO POWER THEIR HOME IS BUY ELECTRICITY BACK.

WHEN THEY BUY ELECTRICITY FROM THE POWER COMPANY, LET'S SAY THEY SPEND A DOLLAR TO KEEP IT EVEN, THEY ARE ALSO GETTING FULL RETAIL RATE IN THE DAY WHEN THEY'RE SENDING EXCESS ENERGY BACK, SO THEY'RE GETTING A DOLLAR FROM THE POWER COMPANY IN THE DAY, SPENDING DOLLAR AT NIGHT.

ULTIMATELY WHAT THIS IS GOING TO DO OVER TIME IS IT'S GOING TO GRANDFATHER FOLKS IN NOW WHO HAVE IT.

SO IF YOU ARE UP AND RUNNING BY 2024, YOU'RE GOING TO BE GRANDFATHERED IN FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS.

YOU'LL GET FULL RETAIL RATE.

AFTER THAT, IT STARTS TO GO DOWN: 75% AND THEN EVENTUALLY 50%.

SO WHILE YOU MAY BE PAYING FPL A DOLLAR TO GET ENERGY FROM THEM AT NIGHT, WHEN YOU SELL IT BACK TO THEM OVER TIME, IF YOU WAIT YEARS, YOU MAY ONLY BE GETTING 50 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR.

WHERE DOES THAT EXTRA MONEY GO?

WELL, ULTIMATELY CRITICS SAY, THAT'S JUST GOING BACK INTO THE POCKETS OF POWER COMPANIES LIKE DUKE AND FPL.

IT IS IMPORTANT MENTION THAT THEY ARE DIFFERENT THAN, SAY, ORLANDO UTILITIES.

THEY'RE DIFFERENT.

>>EXPLAIN THAT.

>>THEY'RE DIFFERENT BETWEEN MUNICIPAL UTILITIES AND FOR-PROFIT UTILITIES, SO THE MAIN BENEFACTORS OF THIS LEGISLATION ARE THE DUKES AND THE FPLS, NOT SO MUCH OF KISSIMMEE OR ORLANDO.

SOME OF THOSE CITY, MUNICIPAL-OWNED UTILITIES.

>>SO THAT COMPENSATION THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, IT REALLY IS GOING TO BE A GAME CHANGER FOR CONSUMERS.

>>KEEP IN MIND THAT THE POWER COMPANIES... A PART OF THIS IS NOT ONLY DO YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOLAR INSTALLED, BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN AGREEMENT BECAUSE YOU'RE TRANSFERRING POWER BACK AND FORTH AND THAT'S PART OF WHAT NET METERING IS, SO YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE POWER COMPANY SAYING, "YES, WE'RE GOING TO CONNECT YOU TO OUR SYSTEM."

BUT AGAIN, AS THE FPLS ARGUE, IT COSTS THEM MONEY TO HAVE THIS INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE AND THAT'S WHY THEY SAY IT'S NOT FAIR FOR NON SOLAR USERS TO BE PAYING FOR THIS SETUP.

>>RIGHT.

I MEAN, THEY HAVE SOLAR FARMS THEMSELVES, RIGHT?

THEY'RE INVESTING IN SOLAR THEMSELVES, SO IT'S NOT LIKE THEY'RE ANTI-SOLAR.

THEY JUST DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF NOT BEING ABLE TO GENERATE SOME REVENUE.

>>WILL THIS HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE LARGE-SCALE SOLAR FARMS?

>>ARGUABLY NOT THIS SPECIFIC BILL BECAUSE IT REALLY IS TARGETED FOR ROOFTOP SOLAR, BUT MATT, AS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT FPL, THEY'VE GOT 50 SOLAR FARM SITES ACROSS THE STATE.

DUKE HAS SOME SOLAR FARMS.

YOU ALSO HAVE THOSE... DISNEY, FOR EXAMPLE.

THEY'VE GOT SEVERAL FARM SITES.

>>DRIVE DOWN THE 429, YOU HAVE- >>RIGHT.

HALF A MILLION PANELS.

ENOUGH TO PRODUCE ELECTRICITY, POWER TWO THEME PARKS THERE.

BUT THIS LEGISLATION IS REALLY FOR THOSE ROOFTOP SOLARS.

THOSE ON TOP OF HOMES AND BUSINESSES.

>>ALL RIGHT.

GREAT.

THANKS GUYS.

WELL, IF YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE A LOOK AT THE FULL TEXT OF HOUSE MEASURE 741 CONCERNING NET METERING, YOU WILL FIND A LINK ON OUR WEBSITE AT WUCF.ORG/NEWSNIGHT.

NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT ANOTHER IMPORTANT VETO FROM THE GOVERNOR'S DESK THIS WEEK.

THE REDISTRICTING MAP AGREED UPON BY THE HOUSE AND SENATE WAS REJECTED BY GOVERNOR DESANTIS ON TUESDAY.

>>CLEARLY THIS IS THE LEGISLATURE AND THEN, IN THIS CASE, THE GOVERNOR'S PREROGATIVE SINCE I HAVE TO PUT MY SIGNATURE ON IT, TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS, SO THEN YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE IT DRAWN BY A COURT.

I THINK WE ALL AGREE THAT WE HAVE TO WORK THROUGH THIS.

AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT IF THE LEGISLATOR'S MAP, LET'S SAY THE SENATE'S MAP, HAD GONE IN, THAT WOULD'VE BEEN CHALLENGED ON SOME OF THE GROUNDS THAT WE'VE ARTICULATED IN THIS MEMO.

IF THEY GO IN A DIRECTION THAT WE WERE ADVOCATING, IT WILL BE CHALLENGED ON THE OTHER SIDE.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT.

AND SO THAT WILL HAPPEN, BUT IT IS ABSOLUTELY, I THINK, THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE LEGISLATURE TO PRODUCE A MAP THAT CAN ACTUALLY BE SIGNED INTO LAW.

>>MATT, THIS WAS NOT A REAL SURPRISE TO ANYONE AT ALL.

WHAT ARE THE REAL OBJECTIONS TO ALL OF THIS?

>>YEAH.

YOU WOULD'VE HEARD THE GOVERNOR SAYING THIS WEEK THAT HE THINKS THE MAPS, AS PUT FORWARD BY THE LEGISLATURE, ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

WE HAVE THIS PHRASE "UNCONSTITUTIONAL RACIAL GERRYMANDERING," AND HE'S REALLY TAKING AIM AT A SPECIFIC DISTRICT.

THAT'S AL LAWSON'S DISTRICT, WHICH IS A LONG, SNAKING DISTRICT WHICH CONNECTS SOME AREAS WHERE THERE ARE PREDOMINANTLY BLACK VOTERS IN THOSE AREAS.

HE'S SAYING THAT DOESN'T PASS MUSTER AND THAT'S WHY HE HAS SENT THE LEGISLATURE BACK AND SAID, "YOU'VE GOT TO DO A BETTER JOB.

COME UP WITH SOMETHING BETTER."

>>GREG, THE GOVERNOR CREATED A MAP.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN WHAT THE LEGISLATURE PUT FORTH AND WHAT THE GOVERNOR WANTS?

>>WELL, TWO BIG DISTRICTS THERE.

ONE MATT WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT IN NORTH FLORIDA, CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 5 REPRESENTED BY AL LAWSON, WHO IS A BLACK LAWMAKER.

THE OTHER ONE HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, DISTRICT 10, CURRENTLY REPRESENTED BY VAL DEMINGS, A BLACK WOMAN, ALSO A PREDOMINANT DISTRICT WITH BLACK VOTERS.

THE ARGUMENT, EVEN AMONG REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS THAT PASS THEIR OWN VERSION OF THE BILL, ON OUR PODCAST... REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR JASON BRODEUR, SPOKE WITH HIM RECENTLY, AS HE TALKS ABOUT... LOOK, THE VERSIONS PASSED IN THE REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED LEGISLATURE CHECKED ALL THESE BOXES BECAUSE THERE ARE REQUIREMENTS IN PLACE.

THERE ARE LAWS IN PLACE THAT CAN FORM HOW THESE DISTRICTS HAVE TO BE CREATED TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE NOT GERRYMANDERING, THAT THEY'RE NOT CREATING DISTRICTS THAT FAVOR ONE PARTY OVER THE NEXT.

THE GOVERNOR'S VERSION OF THE MAP WOULD ALSO GIVE REPUBLICANS TWO ADDITIONAL SEATS.

>>WHAT IS INTERESTING IS, WITH THE LEGISLATURE REALLY IN THE POCKET OF THE GOVERNOR, IS HOW MUCH PUSHBACK THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN GETTING ON THIS VERY ISSUE.

THERE'S A FOUR-DAY SPECIAL SESSION COMING UP AND IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT COMPROMISE CAN THEY COME TO BECAUSE, SO FAR, THE GOVERNOR SAYS HE WANTS HIS MAP.

THE LEGISLATURE SAYS, "LOOK, THIS HAS BEEN CLEARED BY THE COURTS, THIS HAS BEEN CLEARED BY EVERY HURDLE AND REQUIREMENT.

WE LIKE OUR MAP."

SO IT IS GOING TO BE INTERESTING IN A QUICK FOUR-DAY SPECIAL SESSION WHERE THEY ACTUALLY GET TO.

>>YEAH.

THAT IS TO BE DETERMINED.

IS THIS UNPRECEDENTED TO SEE A GOVERNOR GETTING THIS INVOLVED IN THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS?

>>IT'S PRETTY UNUSUAL.

IT'S A VERY UNUSUAL SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES.

OBVIOUSLY REDISTRICTING IS SOMETIMES FRAUGHT AND OFTEN ENDS UP IN THE HANDS OF THE COURTS, BUT IT'S QUITE STRANGE TO SEE A GOVERNOR KIND OF INSERTING HIS OWN MAPS INTO THE PROCESS AND BEING SO KIND OF BOLD AS TO SAY, "YOU'VE GOT TO BASICALLY DRAW THESE MAPS TO MY LIKING."

JUST SORT OF BACKING UP ON WHAT GREG WAS SAYING, RIGHT NOW THE SPLIT IS, I THINK, 16 DISTRICTS REPUBLICAN, 11 DEMOCRAT.

IF THINGS GO THE GOVERNOR'S WAY, YOU'RE GOING TO END UP WITH 18 REPUBLICAN SEATS AND THEN 10 DEMOCRATS.

IT'S GOING TO BE PRETTY BIG DIFFERENCE THERE.

>>TO ILLUSTRATE YOUR POINT, SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP, LIKE IN OUR CONVERSATION WITH SENATOR BRODEUR ON OUR PODCAST, WAS THE GOVERNOR LIVE TWEETING DURING DEBATE ON THE FLOOR THE LEGISLATURE BASICALLY SAYING, "WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DEBATING RIGHT NOW, THAT'S GOING TO BE DEAD ON ARRIVAL WHEN IT GETS TO MY DESK."

>>ALMOST CAMPAIGNING LIVE AGAINST WHAT WAS BEING TALKED ABOUT.

>>AND GRANTED, THEY MOVED AHEAD.

THE LEGISLATURE MOVED AHEAD WITH THEIR VERSION OF THE BILL ANYWAY.

>>DOES THIS PUT THE COUNTIES, THE LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES, IN AN ODD SPOT?

>>YEAH.

I MEAN, IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT.

ESSENTIALLY THINGS ARE PROBABLY GOING TO END UP IN THE COURTS.

I BELIEVE THE GOVERNOR SAID SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT.

HE SAID, "LOOK, THIS COULD END UP IN THE COURTS, BUT I WANT THE LEGISLATURE TO DRAW THE MAP.

I DON'T WANT THE COURTS DRAWING THE MAPS, BUT IT'S GOING TO PROBABLY END UP IN LITIGATION ANYWAY."

>>BUT YOU THINK ABOUT SOME OF THE IMPACT HERE TOO.

THIS IS A CRITICAL ELECTION YEAR.

THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

FLORIDA... BECAUSE OF THE CENSUS COUNT, WE HAVE ONE ADDITIONAL CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

YOU HAVE CANDIDATES TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, "I WANT TO RUN FOR OFFICE, BUT WHICH OFFICE?

WHERE AM I GOING TO RUN TO?"

YOU HAVE SUPERVISORS OF ELECTIONS THAT ARE TRYING TO DESIGN BALLOTS.

YOU HAVE QUALIFYING DATES THAT ARE REALLY RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.

YOU HAVE TO COLLECT SIGNATURES WITHIN THAT DISTRICT.

PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO GET THEIR DUCKS IN A ROW.

FLORIDA IS ONE OF FIVE STATES, I BELIEVE, WITHOUT THESE CONGRESSIONAL MAPS SET IN STONE YET, AND SO THE MORE TIME IT TAKES TO FIGURE OUT WHAT MAP THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE, THAT'S MORE TIME THAT CANDIDATES HAVE TO FIGURE OUT, "AM I GOING TO RUN?

WHERE AM I GOING TO RUN?

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES?

AM I GOING TO GET THE SIGNATURES?"

THINGS LIKE THAT.

>>AND WE'VE EVEN SEEN SOME SHIFTING IN THAT DISTRICT 10 [INAUDIBLE] BECAUSE OF THIS, PROBABLY.

YEAH.

>>YEAH.

I BELIEVE ARAMIS AYALA, FORMER [CROSSTALK] >>SHE'S OUT NOW.

>>SHE WAS GOING TO GO FOR THAT ONE.

NOW SHE'S RUNNING FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL, SO THERE HAS BEEN SOME SHUFFLING.

YOU'VE GOT REPUBLICAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE ANTHONY SABATINI.

HE'S KIND OF BEEN LOOKING AT THAT SEAT THAT STEPHANIE MURPHY IS LEAVING.

SO AGAIN, THE WAY THAT THE LINES...

ULTIMATELY WE'LL SEE HOW THEY ARE, BUT A LOT OF CANDIDATES TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO GO.

BUT STEPHANIE MURPHY, VAL DEMINGS, THOSE ARE THE TWO BASICALLY OPEN CENTRAL FLORIDA CONGRESSIONAL SEATS TOO.

>>WE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LITTLE, BUT FROM A LEGISLATIVE STANDPOINT, WHERE DO WE GO NOW?

WHAT'S NEXT?

>>SURE.

YEAH.

AS GREG WAS SAYING, THERE'S GOING TO BE A FOUR-DAY SPECIAL SESSION.

THE GOVERNOR SAID HE'S CONFIDENT THAT LAWMAKERS WILL KIND OF HAMMER THINGS OUT AND THEY'LL BE ABLE TO GET IT DONE IN THOSE FOUR DAYS.

IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT KIND OF ARGUMENTS ARE PUT FORWARD.

AS GREG WAS SAYING- >>WHAT CAN THEY ACCOMPLISH IN 60 DAYS, MUCH LESS FOUR?

>>RIGHT.

IF THEY THOUGHT THE MAPS THEY HAD WERE GOOD AND THEY TICKED ALL THE BOXES, THEN WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO THAT IS DIFFERENT?

HOW CAN THEY KIND OF DO SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO MAKE THE GOVERNOR HAPPY AND STAY TRUE TO WHAT THEY THINK IS A GOOD MAP?

>>AND TWO, YOU LOOK AT THE VETO PROCESS.

THE GOVERNOR VETOED IT.

CAN THE LEGISLATURE JUST COME BACK IN SPECIAL SESSION?

BUT YOU NEED TWO THIRDS OF TO THE LEGISLATURE TO VETO THE GOVERNOR AND IT'S KIND OF QUESTIONABLE IF THE LEGISLATURE EVEN HAS THAT, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE IN REPUBLICAN CONTROL.

>>YEAH.

THEN THERE'S KIND OF THE THREAT OF LITIGATION LOOMING OVER THIS.

OF COURSE, KEEP IN MIND THAT THE GOVERNOR ASKED THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT TO WEIGH IN ON THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THAT DISTRICT, AL LAWSON'S DISTRICT, AND THEY SAID, "WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT RIGHT NOW."

THERE'S ALREADY, I GUESS, PROBABLY LAWYERS WAITING IN THE WINGS TO SEE HOW THIS PANS OUT AND SEE AT WHAT STAGE THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET INVOLVED.

>>I THINK THAT IS AN IMPORTANT POINT TO BRING UP BECAUSE EVERY STATE IS IN CHARGE OF THEIR ELECTIONS.

EVEN THOUGH THESE ARE FEDERAL SEATS, IT IS ULTIMATELY UP TO THE LEGISLATURE AND THE STATE TO DEVELOP WHAT THEIR CONGRESSIONAL MAPS ARE GOING TO BE.

SO IT'S NOT REALLY A FEDERAL ISSUE IN TERMS OF THAT.

IT REALLY IS IN THE STATE'S HANDS.

>>SPEAKING OF STATES, DURING THAT ANNOUNCEMENT, THE GOVERNOR... WE ALSO FOUND OUT ABOUT A LAWSUIT BEING FILED.

THE STATE OF FLORIDA JOINING 20 OTHER STATES REGARDING THE MASK MANDATES AND FILING A LAWSUIT OVER THIS.

WHAT COULD COME OF IT?

>>THAT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN SOME WINS FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA IN LAWSUITS INVOLVING COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS IN THE PAST AND THERE'S BEEN SOME LAWSUIT...

I THINK RIGHT AT THE START OF THE YEAR, ASHLEY MOODY WITHDREW FROM AN APPEAL AROUND VACCINE MANDATES.

THAT WAS ONE THAT THE STATE OF FLORIDA DID NOT GET IN THE PLUS SIDE.

BUT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF LITIGATION BACK AND FORTH.

QUESTIONS AS TO HOW MUCH OF IT IS JUST FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES AND HOW MUCH IS ACTUALLY GOING TO HAVE A MATERIAL IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF FLORIDIANS.

BUT I GUESS WE'LL SEE, RIGHT?

>>YEAH.

IT'S ALWAYS A TBD.

YOU'RE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

MUCH MORE ON THAT TO FOLLOW, I AM SURE.

ONCE AGAIN, THAT SPECIAL SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE BEGINS ON APRIL 19TH.

AND WE WANT TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE REDISTRICTING OPTIONS AND OTHER ISSUES THAT WE DISCUSS HERE ON NEWSNIGHT THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION WITH US AT WUCF TV ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND INSTAGRAM.

IF YOU HAD ONE TOPIC THAT BECAME A FOCAL POINT OF LEGISLATION THIS YEAR, EDUCATION WOULD HAVE TO BE HIGH ON THE LIST.

IN THE PAST WEEK, SEVERAL BILLS WERE SIGNED INTO LAW BY THE GOVERNOR AND NOW OUR EDUCATORS FACE SOME NEW CHALLENGES.

>>WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS ALL MEANS OR HOW IT'S GOING TO IMPACT THINGS.

THE REALITY OF IT IS THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ARE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO ENGAGE IN SOME RULE MAKING AND BRING THOSE RULES FORWARD AS IT RELATES TO THIS LEGISLATION.

BUT UNTIL SUCH TIME, THERE'S CHAOS IN OUR SCHOOLS RIGHT NOW, AND WE'VE BEEN SEEING IT AT SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS FOR A GOOD PART OF THIS YEAR.

THE IDEA OF FANNING AND ENCOURAGING MORE CHAOS IN THOSE SCHOOLS DOES ONE THING: IT SHORTCHANGES OUR KIDS.

SO WE NEED TO DO MORE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROTECTING OUR STUDENTS' LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT EVERY PARENT KNOWS IS OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE NONPARTISAN AND MUST REMAIN NONPARTISAN.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE TO BE FOCUSED ON KIDS AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERY CHILD IS GETTING THE EDUCATION THEY DESERVE AND NEED.

THE PEOPLE IN OUR SCHOOLS WHO WORK THERE, OUR TEACHERS, OUR STAFF, OUR ADMINISTRATORS, THEY WORK WITH PARENTS EVERY DAY AND THE COMMUNITY TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO MAKE SURE THOSE KIDS ARE GETTING THAT EDUCATION.

>>MATT, OBVIOUSLY THAT PARENTAL RIGHTS AND EDUCATION MEASURE GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION, NOT JUST HERE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

IT MADE NATIONAL NEWS.

SOME HAVE DUBBED IT THE "DON'T SAY GAY" BILL.

WHAT CHALLENGES ARE WE APT TO SEE?

>>RIGHT OFF THE BAT, THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN AND EQUALITY FLORIDA SAY THEY'RE GOING TO FIGHT WITH EVERYTHING THEY'VE GOT TO GET THIS BILL REPEALED.

THE QUESTION, OF COURSE, IS, HOW ARE THEY GOING TO DO THAT?

ON THE OTHER HAND, TOO, PART OF THE CHALLENGE AND PART OF WHAT OPPONENTS TO THE BILL BROUGHT UP DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION WAS SOME OF THE LANGUAGE IN THERE IS QUITE FUZZY, AND SO WHAT YOU'VE SEEN IS TEACHERS SAYING, "WE ARE NOT ENTIRELY SURE WHAT THIS MEANS FOR US.

WHAT CAN WE SAY AND CAN WE NOT SAY IN CLASS?"

THEY'RE SAYING THAT'S A CHILLING EFFECT, REALLY, ON HOW THEY TEACH THEIR CLASSES.

YOU HAVE SOME TEACHERS WHO ARE SAYING, "LOOK, I'M JUST NOT GOING TO CHANGE WHAT I'M DOING.

I THINK THE WAY I'M TEACHING IS THE RIGHT WAY TO GO AND I'M GOING TO KIND OF KEEP TALKING TO THE KIDS ABOUT SOME OF THESE ISSUES IF THEY ARISE."

OTHERS ARE SAYING, "I DON'T WANT TO RISK ANYTHING HERE."

SO SOME QUESTION MARKS OVER EXACTLY WHAT IT MAY ENTAIL BECAUSE PARENTS NOW, THEORETICALLY, HAVE THE RIGHT TO SUE A SCHOOL DISTRICT IF THEY SAY THINGS HAVE KIND OF BEEN DONE IN AN UNTOWARD FASHION.

>>WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF VOCAL PARENTS ATTENDING SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, SO THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO CONTINUE.

>>AND CONSIDER NOW THE POLITICALIZATION OF NOT ONLY EDUCATION, BUT SCHOOL BOARDS, THE GOVERNOR EVEN WEIGHING IN SAYING HE MAY THROW SOME WEIGHT BEHIND SOME SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES.

YOU'VE ALSO GOT SOME OF THE TERM LIMITS.

ARE THERE LIMITATIONS TO 12-YEAR TERMS ON THE SCHOOL BOARD?

WHAT'S INTERESTING WHEN YOU LOOK... ORANGE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD, FOR EXAMPLE.

EIGHT MEMBERS THERE, THE MAJORITY OF THEM WERE ELECTED IN 2018.

SO EVEN AN IMPACT OF SUCH A LAW LIKE THAT, IT MAY BE SOMEWHAT LIMITED.

ARGUABLY SOME CRITICS WOULD SAY THERE ARE TERM LIMITS IN PLACE BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS TO VOTE, AND SO YOU CAN VOTE SOMEBODY IN OR VOTE SOMEBODY OUT.

>>WE ALSO HAD HOUSE BILL 1467 WHICH HAS BEEN CALLED "CURRICULUM TRANSPARENCY".

WHAT'S THAT ALL ABOUT?

>>YEAH, THAT'S AN INTERESTING ONE.

IT'S KIND OF ON THE SAME LINES AS THE PARENTAL RIGHTS AND EDUCATION BILL WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT.

MY READING OF IT IS GIVES PARENTS AND STUDENTS, IN FACT, A LITTLE MORE SAY SO IN WHAT CAN BE TAUGHT AS FAR AS WHAT TEXTBOOKS CAN BE TAUGHT, WHAT BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE SCHOOL LIBRARY.

IF THERE IS A COMMITTEE THAT'S BEING FORMED TO EVALUATE SOME OF THESE WORKS, THEY'VE ACTUALLY GOT TO GIVE PARENTS AND STUDENTS A LITTLE MORE INPUT INTO THAT WHOLE PROCESS, SO WE COULD SEE MORE OF WHAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO WHERE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT BOOKS.

YOU'VE SEEN SOME PRETTY FIERY SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS WHERE PEOPLE HAVE BROUGHT THINGS UP AND OPPONENTS SAYING, "LOOK, DON'T TAKE THESE BOOKS OFF THE SHELF.

THAT'S GOING TO BE A TREMENDOUSLY DAMAGING THING TO DO."

IF ANYTHING, I THINK THINGS ARE GOING TO GET ONLY MORE HEATED AS WE MOVE AHEAD.

>>WE TOUCHED ON THIS BRIEFLY JUST A MOMENT AGO, BUT HOW ARE OUR EDUCATORS IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS JUGGLING ALL OF THIS?

ALL OF THESE ISSUES, THESE LAWS, ARE UNDOUBTEDLY GOING TO BE VERY CHAOTIC FOR THEM HAVING TO FIGURE OUT, "OKAY, WHAT CAN WE LEAVE IN BLACK AND WHITE ON PAPER TO BRING INTO THE CLASSROOM AND WHAT DO WE HAVE TO TAKE OUT?"

>>IT SEEMS LIKE TEACHERS SAY THEY FEEL LIKE THEY ARE CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE THE MOST BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT SURE...

DOES SOMETHING THEY SAY, DOES SOMETHING PART OF THE LESSON VIOLATE IT?

YOU HAVE ATTORNEYS WHO HAVE ALSO SAID THE LAWS ARE SO BROAD AND SO VAGUE THAT EVEN THOUGH, ON THE SURFACE, PARENTS CAN SUE A SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE REALITY IS CAN THEY REALLY?

WHAT TEETH IS THERE IN THE LANGUAGE OF THE LAW?

ULTIMATELY IT DOES SEEM LIKE TIME WILL TELL.

WE ARE IN A HEATED POLITICAL ELECTION CYCLE.

NOBODY KNOWS FOR CERTAIN, EVEN THE LAWMAKERS WHO WROTE THESE, WHAT THE INTENT IS, WHAT THE LANGUAGE ACTUALLY IS.

IN THE END, AS SOMETIMES IS SAID, "THE LEGISLATURE CAN MAKE IT AND THE LEGISLATURE CAN CHANGE IT," SO GIVE IT TIME BECAUSE NOBODY IS CERTAIN AND THAT INCLUDES LAWMAKERS THEMSELVES.

>>SO WE DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES IF SOMEONE FEELS THAT THE RULES HAVE BEEN BROKEN.

>>RIGHT.

I THINK, AS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WITH THE REDISTRICTING, THINGS COULD JUST END UP IN THE COURTS.

MAYBE THAT'S WHERE WE'LL GET SOME DEFINITIVE ANSWERS ON THIS.

>>YEAH.

IT'S VERY STRESSFUL, I'M SURE, FOR EDUCATORS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS, TRYING TO SORT ALL OF THIS OUT.

DO YOU THINK THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE PARENTS GOING TO SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS AND QUESTIONING WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE CLASSROOMS?

>>THAT'S CRYSTAL BALL GAZING A LITTLE BIT.

I WOULD SAY YES.

AS GREG WAS SAYING, THEY'VE BECOME KIND OF THESE SUPERCHARGED CAULDRONS OF POLITICIZATION.

I DON'T SEE THAT GOING AWAY.

IN SOME WAYS, THEY'VE BEEN HIGHLIGHTED BY LAWMAKERS SAYING, "LOOK, WE WANT TO FOCUS PEOPLE ON SCHOOL BOARDS."

THIS IS IMPORTANT.

YOU'VE HEARD LAWMAKERS SAY, "PARENTS, YOU NEED TO BE MORE INVOLVED IN THESE, " SO I DON'T SEE ANY OF THOSE DEBATES GETTING ANY MORE CALM.

>>IT'S HARD TO SAY.

WE'VE ALL COVERED VARIOUS COMMISSION MEETINGS, SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS, HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA FOR MANY YEARS.

HOW OFTEN DO YOU SHOW UP IT'S REPORTERS AND THE COMMISSIONERS AND THAT'S IT, SO ULTIMATELY, IF YOU CARE, YOU'VE GOT TO SHOW UP.

>>I THINK WHAT WILL BE INTERESTING TOO IS SOME OF THE LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICS HAVE HOME RULE.

DOES THAT PLAY A PART IN ANY OF THIS?

>>YEAH.

THAT'S ALREADY BEEN TESTED, RIGHT?

WE'VE SEEN THAT, ESPECIALLY WITH THOSE SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT HAVE PUSHED BACK AGAINST THE GOVERNOR'S...

SOME OF THOSE DECREES DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC AND NOW ARE FACING THE CONSEQUENCES TO THAT.

SO PROBABLY MORE TESTING OF THOSE BOUNDARIES.

HOW MUCH AUTHORITY DO SCHOOL BOARDS HAVE?

MAYBE THERE'S SOME CHANGES AFOOT THERE TOO.

>>MATT, FINALLY ONE PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT APPARENTLY EVERYONE LOVES: THE FINANCIAL LITERACY MEASURE.

>>YEAH.

ACTUALLY, THIS IS A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT HAS BEEN SOME TIME IN THE MAKING.

THEY GOT A VERSION OF IT KIND OF PASSED A COUPLE YEARS BACK WHEN IT WAS AN OPTION TO TEACH A STANDALONE FINANCIAL LITERACY CLASS.

NOW FINALLY, IT'S BECOME MANDATORY.

THE IDEA IS TO GIVE STUDENTS, BEFORE THEY DEPART HIGH SCHOOL, BEFORE THEY GRADUATE, SOME OF THOSE FINANCIAL TOOLS THAT ARE GOING TO [INAUDIBLE] SO THEY DON'T GO INTO THE WIDE WORLD AND NOT HAVE THE SKILLS TO, FOR EXAMPLE, AVOID GOING BANKRUPT.

SO AS YOU SAY, A BILL THAT EVERYBODY LOVES AND NOW WE'LL SEE IF IT ACTUALLY HAS SOME LEGS AND GIVES THESE KIDS GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO BE FINANCIALLY LITERATE.

>>YEAH.

THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS WEEK.

MY THANKS TO GREG ANGEL OF SPECTRUM NEWS 13 AND MATTHEW PEDDIE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US AS ALWAYS AND WE'LL SEE YOU HERE NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT AT 8:30 HERE ON WUCF.

FROM ALL OF US HERE AT NEWSNIGHT, TAKE CARE.