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As the COVID-19 pandemic ramps up, the State of Florida has been providing Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami with meals ready to eat (MREs), in order to augment food distribution programs already in place. The state's Emergency Management Operations Center has released MREs normally allocated for natural disasters to be given to families in need at the behest of the emergency management specialist of the Florida Catholic Conference.

Pope Francis has invited Christians throughout the world to join him in prayer in response to the coronavirus pandemic. "Let us remain united. Let us make our closeness felt toward those persons who are the most lonely and tried," said the Holy Father after the March 22, Sunday Angelus.

In the final days of the legislative session, bills are either being taken up and passed by the chambers or are dying. The session is scheduled to end March 13. However, Senate President Bill Galvano and House Speaker Jose Oliva said earlier this week that they expected the session to extend into the third week of March because of delays in negotiating the budget for the fiscal year starting July 1. Passing a state budget is a constitutionally required duty of the legislature.

On Friday, March 6, the full House took up HB 7067 (Education), and Rep. Jennifer Sullivan, chair of the House Education Committee, answered questions on the bill. The proposal would accelerate growth of the Family Empowerment Scholarship (FES) program, which provides scholarships for nearly 18,000 students from low-income families to attend non-public schools this year. In addition to boosting the formula that increases the number of students allowed to participate in the program each year, the bill removes the requirement to attend public school the year prior to participation for students in grades 1 and 2. It also allows students to take up to two Florida Virtual School courses per school year without reducing their basic FES scholarship amounts.

On second reading in the House, HB 7103 (Education), was amended with an FCCB supported measure that provides dual enrollment equity for private school students. Public and home-school students currently do not have to pay for dual enrollment courses at nearby colleges. The provision would make college more affordable for Florida families by increasing access to dual enrollment courses at state colleges and universities for private high school students. Certain courses would be made available without requiring payment by the family or the student's school. HB 7103 was placed on third reading for Monday, March 9.

The Distinguished Catholic Leader Award is presented to a Catholic Floridian whose life and work have deepened respect for life and increased appreciation for the human dignity of the people of Florida. The award is named for and was first presented in 1995 to Thomas A. Horkan, Jr., founding executive director of the Florida Catholic Conference. Ferré is the ninth recipient since the award’s inception.

The Florida House and Senate formally called the 2020 legislative session to order on Tuesday, January 14. For the next nine weeks, lawmakers will work to pass the 2020-2021 state budget and consider a wide variety of bills that will affect communities across Florida.

SB 404 (Stargel) was heard by its second committee of reference, Senate Judiciary. After a lengthy period of testimony and a procedural move by an opponent that could have delayed a vote on the bill, it favorably passed the committee (3-2).

The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee passed (5-2) a bill that would create a new statewide consumer-loan program that could charge interest rates as high as 36 percent on small-dollar loans. Florida statutes consider interest rates beyond 18 percent to be usurious. However, consumer finance loans (installment loans largely accessed by individuals with limited access to capital and traditional financial services) are allowed to charge up to 30 percent under current Florida law.

The 2020 Regular Session of the Florida Legislature is scheduled to begin Tuesday, January 14. Lawmakers will convene in Tallahassee for 60 days to debate and vote on proposed legislation and to pass a state budget for fiscal year 20-21. The annual session is scheduled to conclude on March 13.

The FCCB has identified its public policy priorities for the 2020 Legislative Session, set to begin January 14. Key issues of concern are identified under the advocacy areas of life, education, health care, and family & social concerns.

On Saturday, November 30, communities across the globe dedicated to the abolition of the death penalty and a more civil form of justice will participate in The World Day of Cities for Life / Cities Against the Death Penalty. Specific efforts vary by location, but many cities take part by lighting up major historical, religious, or civic monuments. In turn, those illuminated monuments become symbols of a commitment to creating a world without the death penalty. This annual event has been spearheaded by the Rome-based lay Catholic community of Sant'Egidio since 2002. November 30 coincides with the anniversary of the first death penalty abolition in history, which occurred in the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, Italy on November 30, 1786. Today, the top five nations carrying out executions are China, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the United States.