[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6325384,"mediaKeyId","2333570-e4f4680614cee52eb02d9663575f354c","parentId",2333570,"title","Judiciary committee reports public‑records, trust and property bills; four measures advanced","audioSeconds",4490,"startMs",4986000,"endMs",9476000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2333570-e4f4680614cee52eb02d9663575f354c&start=4986&end=9476","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2333570-e4f4680614cee52eb02d9663575f354c/thumbnail_4986000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6325384/Florida/Judiciary-committee-reports-publicrecords-trust-and-property-bills-four-measures-advanced","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325384-6b6084ec978c382d2fa8a3b8c8a7830d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170629&Signature=dv4C~cspNgR5SkujHGCIVhKRi-iNeMw7R8ku581AYcyY6-GPWXQQzfOCQoyFRD2xNOcu1vFLM5QLiDcL1mr-sR3qBBo3Lo7W~V~bi6EXM9tXZqh71rcxW7N2gP8aWaYVIz64M2OeJC7012eh7dDl7Zw6Qzx9Atlb8kX~TwKwYAadyu6XFT~azjI6EljbLTyHhmRghaRXuW~QXd0tXTRJMcZnx6l9vD6WgW2l09zXkIGilp~oqKzrlXDh9RZBBSsNVsezMcngAn2iippOosCs9lJm2HoziommSsUGWi5aOgTJixrK1VBmA1H4AUPofE-T4XhBcZMN2SkDkrLVtRAWLA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Florida State Legislature","date","2025-02-18T00:00:00Z","article","The Florida Senate Judiciary Committee met and reported four measures favorably after brief sponsor explanations and modest committee debate.

Votes at a glance

- SB 300 (Sen. Rouson), public records; expands an existing exemption for trial court clerks to include clerks of the appellate courts. Committee outcome: reported favorably (roll call; 8 yes, 1 no).
- SB 302 (Sen. Rouson), public records; creates an exemption for personal information of current and former employees of the Judicial Qualifications Commission to protect staff from online doxing and harassment. Committee outcome: reported favorably (roll call; recorded as favorable by the chair).
- CS/SB 262 (Sen. Berman), trusts; technical clarifications to the Florida Trust Code including decanting language, successor trustee actions and consistency with the probate code; committee substitute adopted and reported favorably (9 yes, 0 no).
- CS/SB 322 (Sen. Rodriguez), property rights; creates a nonjudicial process allowing property owners to request sheriff removal of unauthorized persons from commercial real estate (mirrors residential removal procedures), with committee amendments clarifying the complaint form and authorizing reasonable force when necessary; reported favorably (9 yes, 0 no).

What sponsors said:
Senator Rouson told the committee SB 300 expands protections granted last year to trial court clerks, citing threats and harassment from litigants; she said SB 302 responds to similar safety risks for employees who investigate complaints against judges. Senator Berman described SB 262 as a package of remedial, technical fixes to make trust and probate law consistent and to clarify trustee authorities. Senator Rodriguez explained CS/SB 322 extends an existing residential removal form and nonjudicial procedure to commercial properties and added language to allow sheriffs to use reasonable force when necessary.

Committee action and context: each bill was debated briefly and cleared on committee roll calls; several members noted general reluctance to expand public records exemptions but supported targeted protections where employees faced credible threats. The trust bill drew minimal debate and a staff‑recommended clarifying amendment was adopted. The commercial removal measure drew industry support in an appearance form from the Florida Realtors Association.

Why it matters: the bills involve courtroom administration and privacy, trust law technicalities that affect estate practice, and an expedited remedy for property owners facing unlawful occupancies on commercial real estate — all matters that can affect legal practice, real‑estate operations and perceptions of public‑employee safety.

What’s next: each measure was reported favorably and will be scheduled for further Senate consideration under the chamber’s process.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Committee on Judiciary 2/18/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Judiciary Committee reported four measures favorably, advancing two public‑records exemptions, trust‑code technical clarifications and a commercial property removal procedure.","taxTitle","Judiciary , Standing Committees, Senate, Legislative, Florida","taxId",26952,"location","Florida","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6325388,"FDVA says veteran population and benefit claims are growing; plans Collier County nursing home with adult day health care",446,2775000,3221000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2333570-e4f4680614cee52eb02d9663575f354c&start=2775&end=3221","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2333570-e4f4680614cee52eb02d9663575f354c/thumbnail_2775000.jpg","/articles/6325388/Florida/FDVA-says-veteran-population-and-benefit-claims-are-growing-plans-Collier-County-nursing-home-with-adult-day-health-care","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325388-dab11edad5e9a341fa78540aea15fc73/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170629&Signature=GBvaumYmFSJ~FhMBmPCiNq5aifVv11TDA30ijvlbN2VmWfk4oLNd0E0lhji10w5VdKAeYMN6NJq09UftBTGeCzUPdx~ORdCWmvipyE8rqJzgipXgc~ynoMInjSNvYQ7wS-CRSEfUs6AhTu810euoHPzott3~uEzkLQ2RVkJSN1qQ1DphsxU-XXUyx73n-91Rs3k4ZpkLKl4RWofpy8BbOvVXRhi8HA4h6vJsWR2WtxFQ2YoPa1ePTqpk3zrF6qFtbXk-~ixjyPTga3Tycwzri9JYGqfLRsArIZLZ9T9ryEWfRnNHCf9~WFtHvLYK3lIl8f-EC75nyRA0q7C54i6~vA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Major General James Hartsell, director of the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs, briefed a Senate committee on FDVA outreach, benefit claims and the status of state veterans nursing homes, telling senators Florida recently became the second‑largest veterans population in the United States.

Hartsell said the state’s veteran demographic is shifting: older World War II, Korean and Vietnam cohorts are shrinking while Gulf War and post‑9/11 era veterans are a growing share of in‑migration to Florida. He said the department is focused on being ‘‘the premier point of entry’’ for veterans seeking benefits, health care or employment services.

Key FDVA figures cited to the committee:

- FDVA employs roughly 75 state veteran service officers who handled about 245,000 claims last year, including about 45,000 new claims; Hartsell said the new claims yielded roughly $260 million in benefit awards.
- FDVA reported an estimated return on investment of federal dollars to state spending of about $41 in federal benefits for every $1 of state funding (Hartzell said the current trend was about 53:1).
- The department operates multiple state veterans nursing homes and domiciliary facilities and said occupancy is high; Hartsell described two deficiency‑free surveys during the past year.

On long‑term services and supports, Hartsell previewed a Collier County project that will include a 20‑bed skilled nursing unit with memory care and incorporate adult day health care for about 40 veterans, outpatient therapy and a community wellness center. He said local Collier County partners committed about $9.5 million to cover the adult day health care component and raised roughly $30 million toward the project’s local cost share; Hartsell said the state would provide roughly $10 million of the remaining state share for the project as described to the committee.

Hartsell told senators FDVA’s outreach also includes 875 veteran outreach events last year and a statewide network of benefit counselors embedded in VA medical centers and community outpatient clinics to connect patients to claims and benefits. He also highlighted the department’s Hope Navigators — case manager‑style positions tied to the First Lady’s HopeFlorida initiative — and the Florida Veterans Foundation’s role in funding items such as benefit guides and emergency assistance.

Why it matters: FDVA’s figures document growing federal benefit flows tied to in‑migration and suggest demand for non‑institutional services such as adult day health care. Planned Collier County facilities may serve as a model for co‑locating community supports with nursing home care.

What’s next: FDVA will continue outreach and planning; the collier project described to the committee will proceed through conventional procurement and construction approvals and any budget requests for new state funding will be considered in future fiscal cycles.","Major General James Hartsell, FDVA commandant, told a Senate committee Florida is now the nation’s second‑largest veterans population, reported increases in claims and federal benefit inflows and outlined a Collier County project that will include adult day health care co‑located with a state veterans nursing home.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6325393,"Florida National Guard outlines operations and asks federal review of force structure; Senate memorial reported favorably",4962,2064000,7026000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2333570-e4f4680614cee52eb02d9663575f354c&start=2064&end=7026","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2333570-e4f4680614cee52eb02d9663575f354c/thumbnail_2064000.jpg","/articles/6325393/Florida/Florida-National-Guard-outlines-operations-and-asks-federal-review-of-force-structure-Senate-memorial-reported-favorably","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325393-ee10f7b5fbdbf3ee5f6b9db0c3b27c82/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170629&Signature=KKhKvy2~4JyKSvPCRCrb18hEs3Qj~TMQSy988MGMznowlDY-e37D1IgTUrvWrHL7Fx~9X0hhGTfceUfXT5jZUh1En0hHeO9YANiB1mmyH2TrsMSjGnb2W-2iVEkqnUsyKd0dU92m323tJOW4xlCpjZbvGS3ZdTw3fdTFWZEX~oJ91kev~YJC-2wmBB4SL0p5XR3F3HjGPRwU6ciR~A4ZPfDFs5megc3XhZdDltC0z~1N5fTgKDWUWHbGkvNaDA66tMsMQifLrXypEem8uH5PGmA728ok6wslWXOb4muMF9iYo4Y7JUSIA~4KoQTiJI~pzf4tR~BHPbo4mXLCQ-PqoA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Florida National Guard told a Senate committee it faces sustained high operational tempo at home and abroad while continuing a multi‑year effort to modernize facilities and grow its force. Colonel Jason Hunt, speaking for Major General James Haas and the Department of Military Affairs, described force structure, deployments and state support during recent hurricanes.

Hunt said the Florida Guard’s mission set includes federal deployments, state emergency response and community support. He described approximately 12,300 assigned guardsmen across the state, six major subordinate commands, 62 community armories and responsibility for more than 82,000 acres and 900 buildings. He also reported more than 450 personnel currently deployed overseas and roughly 1,200 members preparing to deploy in coming months.

Domestic activity was a central theme: Hunt recounted three consecutive hurricane responses in 2024 that mobilized thousands of guardsmen (3,500 for Hurricane Debbie, 4,000 for Helene and 6,800 for Milton), generating thousands of missions and tens of thousands of man‑days. He told the committee Florida ranks near the bottom nationally for guard personnel per population — a condition he said increases operational burden for responding units. ‘‘We are an undersized force,’’ he said, noting Guardsmen currently average roughly 93 days of duty per year when mobilized.

Committee members praised the Guard’s response and asked about infrastructure growth. Hunt pointed to new and upgraded facilities — including new armories in Immokalee and Zephyrhills and major construction at Camp Blanding — and credited state funding and the governor’s involvement in recent projects.

Separately, Senate Memorial 314 — carried by Chair Wright — asks the National Guard Bureau to reexamine Florida’s force‑structure allocation, which committee members said is based on outdated population ratios. The committee recorded a favorable report on SM 314. Chair Wright and several senators urged further advocacy in Washington to increase approved force structure for Florida.

Why it matters: the briefing highlighted the Guard’s dual federal‑and‑state workload and framed a formal request (SM 314) for federal review of force structure as a response to increasing disaster demands and population growth in Florida.

What’s next: the memorial was reported favorably and the Guard’s testimony gives committee members a record to use in follow‑up advocacy for more federal force structure and continued state investment in readiness and infrastructure.","Florida National Guard officials briefed a Senate committee on force size, deployments and disaster response; a separate memorial asking the National Guard Bureau to examine Florida’s force‑structure allocation (SM 314) was reported favorably by the committee.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6325396,"Senate committee advances Burgess bill to study veterans' awareness, add adult day health care planning",1047,996000,2043000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2333570-e4f4680614cee52eb02d9663575f354c&start=996&end=2043","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2333570-e4f4680614cee52eb02d9663575f354c/thumbnail_996000.jpg","/articles/6325396/Florida/Senate-committee-advances-Burgess-bill-to-study-veterans-awareness-add-adult-day-health-care-planning","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325396-dd547cee2864705a17602c8e2daa90ff/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170629&Signature=N26ylTPt14oxl7K87lkIDTdF0HbupHi8Pt5gMPaNWFONuVTb-TcOyVarPbCLU5x8TvMHVibyDVmS8uXYaE7pGh-yws6JbbhClEaGpgfPEi0KEMIGEyTIeGpSocWjQPYJ~VUZrM8PZoSTaJR2e~E1kNF-LMcSuOFZeHBCZJlb5bZiMhKfr7KUQPCfkX2k8YOiG6Ws8edti8Nd1kXdFxYxazoTEaIC-DtRvJUJCdmcQ6e9xdchZBpeC-trEnOEWiiI9IXAGr12BnOFRs3w4zTOhNOZyvjac6T0rDROTOsN4KNozgFXpmSEsiCR~624Tw4yVOYYUKey9Qrht8GxEli~Ew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Florida Senate committee on military and veterans affairs on a voice vote reported SB 116 favorably after sponsor Senator Jay Burgess said the bill would sharpen recognition in the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame, expand a Department of Veterans Affairs health survey, add mental‑health training to a suicide prevention pilot and direct the department to develop a plan for adult day health care facilities for veterans across the state.

The bill reduces the maximum annual nominations to the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame from 20 to five, Burgess told the Committee of Military, Veterans Affairs, Space and Domestic Security, saying the change ‘‘is to make more of an honor and distinction for those who are nominated and to make the process more manageable for the council.’’

Burgess said the bill expands the FDVA health survey and coordination efforts to measure whether veterans are aware of existing federal, state and community programs, and requires FDVA to evaluate veterans’ health literacy and recommend ways to increase knowledge of benefits and services. ‘‘Benefits are only as good as those to those individuals that actually know they exist,’’ Burgess said, describing the measure as follow‑up to earlier outreach work he led as FDVA executive director.

The bill also would add mental‑health training to the department’s veterans suicide prevention training pilot so veterans service organizations (VSOs) and others can better identify indicators of serious behavioral health needs and route veterans to clinical care.

On long‑term care, the bill directs FDVA to prepare a plan to establish adult day health care facilities statewide to serve veterans and their families, specifying recommended sites, the populations to be served and anticipated costs to build and operate the facilities. FDVA Deputy Executive Director Bob Vostalos told the committee the department has identified sites — including Port St. Lucie and the Lake City domiciliary — with space to add adult day health care and said federal construction funding typically is not available for those facilities.

Multiple veteran service organizations and nonprofit providers filed appearance forms or spoke in support during the meeting. Dan Hendrickson of the Tallahassee Veterans Legal Collaborative and Jorge Morales Lopez of Endeavors both told the committee their organizations support SB 116’s provisions for outreach, care coordination and adult day services.

The committee recorded a roll call for the measure. Senators cast unanimous recorded votes in favor; the committee chair announced SB 116 \"reported favorably.\" The bill will move forward to the next committee or floor consideration under Senate procedures.

Why it matters: the bill targets several pieces of the veterans services system at once — public recognition, outreach and awareness, behavioral‑health training for frontline veteran advocates, and planning for non‑institutional long‑term care — and it mandates a department study and plan that could influence future budget requests or local partnerships for adult day health care.

What’s next: SB 116 was reported favorably by the committee and will appear on subsequent Senate committee or floor calendars as prescribed by Senate rules.","A Florida Senate committee unanimously reported SB 116 favorably after sponsor Sen. Jay Burgess outlined provisions to shrink Veterans Hall of Fame nominations, expand an FDVA survey on veterans' awareness of programs, add mental‑health training to a suicide‑prevention pilot and direct FDVA to plan statewide adult day health care for veterans.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Judiciary committee reports public‑records, trust and property bills; four measures advanced

FDVA says veteran population and benefit claims are growing; plans Collier County nursing home with adult day health care

Florida National Guard outlines operations and asks federal review of force structure; Senate memorial reported favorably

Senate committee advances Burgess bill to study veterans' awareness, add adult day health care planning