SUMMARY: In Tampa Bay, residents are discussing two key federal issues: cryptocurrency funding and the war in Ukraine. President Donald Trump announced the creation of a “Department of Government Efficiency” led by Elon Musk, emphasizing the need to cut government spending by one trillion dollars. Meanwhile, Congressman Gus Bilirakis engaged local constituents in dialogue about budget cuts and the importance of reviewing government programs, acknowledging overlaps and inefficiencies. Despite differing opinions, many participants expressed a desire for bipartisan compromise to reduce federal expenses significantly. Bilirakis is committed to presenting the community’s feedback in Congress, reflecting a shared interest in responsible budgeting.
A Pasco County library transformed into the U.S. Capitol building during a Wednesday night workshop, and dozens of ordinary people from across the county became members of Congress. In actuality, the library became the site of an exercise in civics. Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) asked his constituents to divide into small groups and decide what they would fund, expand, or trim in the federal budget over the next decade.
“Granny cams” may be coming to Florida nursing homes.
A House panel on Thursday overwhelmingly voted to approve a bill (HB 223) that would allow long term care facility residents to install electronic recording devices as long as they are willing to foot the bill for installation, removal, and the internet needed to run them.
Nursing home residents who share rooms would have to secure permission from their roommates to use the cameras. Consenting roommates are allowed to put restrictions on camera use and require that the camera be pointed away or prohibit use of specific devices.
If a roommate doesn’t agree, the legislation would require a facility to make accommodations by moving one of the residents to another room.
Rep. Susan Plasencia has filed legislation to allow the use of “granny cams” in Florida nursing homes. (Photo/Florida House of Representatives)
“If you look at the news lately, you’ll see and you’ll find whether there’s a lot of issues happening that people catch on cameras that they otherwise would would not. And they’re horrific scenes happening to people who are elderly, who can’t take care of themselves, and who, even if they could say what happened, people wouldn’t believe it, because maybe they have dementia or Alzheimer’s or something that would cause someone to not believe what they are saying,” bill sponsor Rep. Susan Plasecia, a Republican representing part of Orange and Seminole counties, told members of the House Health Care Facilities & Systems Subcommittee Thursday.
“And so for me, it’s important to speak for them and that’s what brought me here.”
Nineteen states allow camera use in nursing homes, Plasencia said. Florida law, though, is silent on whether electronic recording devices can be used. That means facilities decide whether to allow them.
Plasencia said her bill protects the public and puts “guardrails” into statutes outlining what can and cannot be done.
The vote to advance the bill came over objections of Florida’s long term care industry.
We know that nursing home and assisted living facility cameras help with deterring abuse and neglect and also help with identifying where there can be improvements made to a loved one’s care.
– AARP Florida Associate State Director of Advocacy Karen Murillo
Jen Lawrence, chief nursing officer at Aston Health and a member of the statewide nursing home association, the Florida Health Care Association, said lots of personal things happen in residents’ rooms, including bathing and grooming, psychiatric visits, and meetings with clergy. The cameras, she said, will capture it all.
Moreover, she expressed concerns that the resident’s family or guardian would be responsible for ensuring the roommate’s privacy is protected. “This is a family member of a roommate. How do we trust those folks in controlling what is being videotaped and recorded?” Lawrence asked.
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Maryellen Lalor with the group Protect Florida Seniors testified for the bill, sharing the story of her husband who lived in a nursing home for more than 2 1/2 years before dying. She tried to sneak a camera into her husband’s room after he was admitted but the facility found it and made her remove it. She said she never complained out of fear of retaliation against her husband, knowing he would reside in the facility until he died.
Lalor countered Lawrence’s testimony by telling the subcommittee members that nursing home residents in semi-private rooms don’t enjoy the privacy that people think they might.
“As far as confidentiality, when you’re in a semi-private room and they’re going to do personal care to the other person, the curtain is pulled. When you are meeting with a psychologist or therapist, that person goes right in. The other [resident] can hear, okay? So as far as the concern about hearing other people, everything is exposed.”
FHCA wasn’t the only long term care association to flag concerns. Florida Assisted Living Association CEO Bijou Ikli and Florida Senior Living Association vice president for Public Policy and legal Affairs Jason Hand also expressed concerns.
But Karen Murillo, AARP Florida’s state director for advocacy, argued the bill would improve safety and keep the family members abreast of the care being provided to their loved ones.
“We know that nursing home and assisted living facility cameras help with deterring abuse and neglect and also help with identifying where there can be improvements made to a loved one’s care. AARP is a big advocate of family caregivers, especially those who are far away, and these cameras will provide peace of mind and the ability for family caregivers to be advocates, present, and part of their loved ones’ care,” Murillo said.
Spike in abuse reports
Democratic Reps. Daryl Campbell (left) and Gallup Franklin (right) voted against HB 223 Thursday. (Photo/Florida House of Representatives.)
The legislation comes a year after the Tampa Bay Times reported a spike in allegations of serious violations against Florida nursing homes — between 2019 and 2022, nearly double the reports during the previous six years.
The Times’ reporting showed that in 2022, nursing homes were cited 83 times for putting older adult residents at risk of immediate danger.
Looking ahead
Several of the committee members asked about privacy, how often the agreements between roommates could be altered, who would enforce the agreements, and whether long term care facility staff could access the images being captured.
Rep. Hillary Cassel, a Republican from Fort Lauderdale, worried about how visitors, some of whom could suffer from dementia or have vision problems, would know video cameras were being used in the room.
Plasencia committed to continuing to work with members to address their concerns. Reps. Daryl Campbell, a Democrat from Fort Lauderdale, and Gallop Franklin, a Democrat from Tallahassee, voted against the bill.
HB 223 has two more committee stops (Judiciary and Health and Human Services) before it can be heard on the floor.
A companion bill (SB 64) was filed by Republican Sen. Illeana Garcia. It has been referenced to three Senate committees (Health Policy, Judiciary, and Rules) but has yet to be considered.
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Florida Phoenix is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Florida Phoenix maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Michael Moline for questions: info@floridaphoenix.com.
www.thecentersquare.com – By Steve Wilson | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-02-20 12:58:00
(The Center Square) – Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier joined a class action lawsuit against Target on Thursday alleging the retail giant concealed the possible effects on its stock price from its pro-LGBTQ policies.
The lawsuit was filed along with America First Legal, Boyden Gray PLLC and Lawson Huck Gonzalez in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida in Fort Myers.
Uthmeier said the state is joining the lawsuit due to possible effects on the state’s defined-benefit pension plan for state and local employees, which is a Target investor.
The lawsuit alleges Target violated two sections of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 by failing to disclose risks of consumer backlash to its polices on diversity, equity and inclusion and environmental, social and governance. The complaint also alleges that Target misled investors by claiming to monitor those risks.
After Target’s Pride Campaign in 2023, the company’s stock plummeted, losing $10 billion in market value in just 10 days and erasing $25 billion in shareholder value over the course of six months. According to the complaint, that was Target stock’s worst performance and longest losing streak in 23 years.
“Those losses put the retirement accounts of Florida’s teachers and first responders at unacceptable risk,” Uthmeier said in a video posted to X. “Our public servants should not suffer diminished retirement security because companies focused on leftist virtue signaling. No company should be celebrating and marketing the sexualization of our children.
“This is a fight worth having and we will fight to hold Target financially accountable for these wrongful practices and force them to get back to the business of doing business.”
It represents the second lawsuit brought against Target by the two law firms over what they characterize as securities fraud from the company concealing possible fiscal impacts of its LGBTQ activism. The first lawsuit is still active.
“My office will stridently pursue corporate reform so that companies get back to the business of doing business — not offensive political theater,” Uthmeier said in a news release. “We appreciate America First Legal’s assistance in the fight to keep Florida’s investments safe.”
Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis also praised the state joining the lawsuit in a statement.
“We’ve seen time and time again that when companies prioritize performative virtue signaling and wokeness over profitability, they alienate customers, lose market value, and erode shareholder trust — all while pretending their activism carries no financial risk,” Patronis said. “It’s unacceptable and Florida is fighting back on behalf of taxpayers and investors that have had enough.
“Businesses like Target need to focus on the bottom line and do right by their customers, not some ESG overlords. Thank you to Governor DeSantis and the SBA for leaning forward on this issue.”
While legislation has already been filed in the Florida Legislature to ensure all official state documents, maps, and references be changed to reflect President Donald Trump’s executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America,” Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson says he can’t wait that long.
Simpson has directed the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services “as quickly as possible” to enshrine the “Gulf of America” in all department administrative rules, forms, maps, and resources.
“The Gulf of America has helped shape our state and nation’s economy, history, and culture for generations,” Simpson said in a written statement issued on Thursday. “President Trump’s action rightfully recognizes the Gulf of America’s significance to our nation, and I am proud to support this effort and ensure that Florida honors this historic change.”
Simpson is considering a run for governor in 2026 and undoubtedly would like Trump’s support — or at least that he stays neutral. Trump has not backed a candidate so far in the early stages of the race, although he did cite a poll earlier this week showing Southwest Florida U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds leading in a recent poll of Florida Republican voters.
In the statement, Simpson notes that his department has many divisions, offices, and programs that directly pertain to the “Gulf of America,” including divisions of aquaculture, marketing, and food safety.
While Republican lawmakers are rushing to follow up on the president’s executive order changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico, that certainly isn’t where the majority of Floridians — or Americans — are, according to multiple public opinion surveys.
A majority of registered Florida voters — 58% — opposed the idea strongly or somewhat and only 31% expressed support for renaming the Gulf, according to a public opinion survey of 871 registered voters from the University of North Florida’s Public Opinion Research Lab released earlier this week.
A national Marquette University poll released last week found that 71% of respondents opposed renaming the Gulf of Mexico with only 29% favoring the change. A Harvard CAPS–Harris poll from January, also national, found that 72% of registered voters were against adopting the “Gulf of America” name with 28% backing it.
Meanwhile, Trump said Tuesday that he will block the Associated Press from the Oval Office and Air Force One until the news agency stops referring to the Gulf of Mexico.
The news agency notes: “Trump’s order only carries authority within the United States. Mexico, as well as other countries and international bodies, do not have to recognize the name change.
“The Gulf of Mexico has carried that name for more than 400 years. The Associated Press will refer to it by its original name while acknowledging the new name Trump has chosen. As a global news agency that disseminates news around the world, the AP must ensure that place names and geography are easily recognizable to all audiences.”
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