In a state so often divided along partisan lines, Democrats and Republicans alike were moved to tears as they gathered in the Florida capitol Thursday to honor the life and legacy of Democratic state Sen. Geraldine Thompson, a longtime legislator, civil rights legend and educator who died on Feb. 13 at the age of 76.

Restitution for decades of abuse at two now-shuttered reform schools where boys were beaten, raped and killed is now in the hands of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Nothing was mentioned about a timeline to actually get a license issued in Thursday’s meeting.

Florida’s Republican-controlled Legislature has approved stiffer penalties against violent protesters.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida voters would be asked to abolish a commission that recommends changes to the state constitution every 20 years under a bill passed by the state Senate on Thursday. The chamber voted 27-12 to place a measure on the 2022 ballot seeking to repeal the Constitution Revision Commission. Lawmakers have criticized the last meeting of the commission, which placed seven items on the 2018 ballot. Voters approved all of them. Democratic Sen. Darryl Rouson, who sat on the last commission, acknowledged that it isn't perfect, but voted against the bill.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Since hemp was approved for hemp cultivation in mid-2019, 729 Florida farmers have been approved to grow the crop. The Department of Agriculture’s Cannabis Director Holly Bell told Senators all but one of Florida’s 67 counties have farmers licensed to grow hemp. In its first year, the state’s hemp industry already includes more than 7,000 retailers, 280 manufactures, more than 200 warehouses, 38 distributors and 15 processors. And with a total of 23,000 acres approved for cultivation statewide, Bell predicts the industry will continue to grow as much as 25% each year. Supporters of Florida hemp like Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried have suggested the industry has the potential to eventually become a $20 to $30 billion industry.

The bill approved 6-1 by the Senate Criminal Justice Committee would allow former inmates at the Dozier School for Boys in Marianna and the Florida School for Boys at Okeechobee to receive state certification that they were victims of physical, mental or sexual abuse. The Dozier reform school opened in 1900 and was closed in 2011. The Florida Legislature formally apologized in 2017 for the physical and sexual abuse alleged to have been committed at the Dozier School for Boys throughout its century-long history. But the bill sponsor said the remains of 40 boys uncovered on the school grounds in 2013 tell a different story. Memorials for the Dozier victims on the school grounds and at the State Capitol are in the process of being designed and built.

Ron DeSantis on Thursday signed 21 bills into law, including measures aimed at better protecting vulnerable children and preventing inappropriate pelvic exams on women. One of the bills signed Thursday is dubbed Jordans Law, after Jordan Belliveau Jr., a 2-year-old boy who was murdered in 2018 in Pinellas County. Supporters of the bill said child-welfare workers missed warning signs before the Pinellas County toddler was murdered. As the number of kids in our child welfare system continues to rise, we cant wait any longer to take action. If the serious flaws within Floridas child welfare system are not fixed, more children will die.DeSantis also signed a measure (SB 698) that will prevent health-care practitioners from conducting pelvic exams on women without written consent.

Florida Surgeon General Scott Rivkees said Tuesday the state has had 68 cases of vaping-related illnesses in 21 counties and one confirmed death. State Sen. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, pressed Rivkees on whether Florida should try to stop the outbreak through a moratorium on the sale of vaping products. Charlie Baker declared a public-health emergency in September and banned the sale of vaping products for four months, a move that has been challenged in court. Rivkees released the details on vaping-related illnesses on the heels of a report that showed increases in the numbers of Florida children who vape. By comparison, 25.6 percent of high school students in 2019 reported having used vaping products, compared to 24.8 percent the previous year.