Sarasota and Bradenton lawmakers on Friday wrapped a Legislative Session with a variety of policy achievements as they head into an election year.

State Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, passed measures providing security for Jewish Day Schools around the state, including Sarasota, as antisemitic vandals and incidents rise in the wake of Hamas attacks in Israel. But he also successfully carried a bill that extends research at Mote Marine Laboratory and funds the program in perpetuity. Overall, he called this a "winning" Session.

Meanwhile, Sen. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton, continued his work on Florida’s insurance marketplace. This Session, that included a bill enhancing flood insurance coverage. He also crafted an expansion of the My Safe Home program providing funding for home hurricane inspections and improvements.

“From stabilizing the property insurance market to bring down costs, cutting taxes so families can save more or expanding access to high quality care, the policies and initiatives we passed this session will have a meaningful impact on the families we serve," Boyd said.

In the House, local lawmakers led several important committees this cycle. Rep. James Buchanan, R-Osprey, led the House Agriculture Conservation and Resiliency Subcommittee. Rep. Will Robinson, R-Bradenton, headed the House Civil Justice Subcommittee. Rep. Fiona McFarland, R-Sarasota, managed the House Transportation and Modals Subcommittee.

Rep. Tommy Gregory, R-Lakewood Ranch, wielded the gavel at the powerful House Judiciary Committee, where he co-introduced two petitions for a U.S. constitutional convention. He also carried a high-profile bill regulating teh hemp industry to regulate products focused on intoxication.

His description of this year's Session was simple. "Live healthy, free from the dangers of social media and THC derivatives,” he said.

Meanwhile, Rep. Michael Grant, R-Port Charlotte, finished him last term in the House holding the title of Majority Leader.

The lawmakers handled a number of bills of statewide and local significance. On the latter front, Robinson sponsored a boundary revision for the North River Ranch Improvement Stewardship District in Manatee County, while also tackling a number of real estate and probate issues. Buchanan carried a similar bill about the Three Rivers Stewardship District in Sarasota County.

McFarland, meanwhile, helped craft one of the most high-profile bills in the Senate, handling the digital privacy aspects of a social media bill prioritized by Speaker Paul Renner. That mans she also was the first lawmaker in the area to have a bill vetoed this section, as Gov. Ron DeSantis raised concerns on parental rights. But then McFarland played the same role in creating a replacement bill that bars children under 13 from addictive social media platforms, and required 14- and 15-year-olds to obtain permission to open the account. 

Photo courtesy Florida House: State Rep. Fiona McFarland discusses a social media bill during the Legislative Session.

Sarasota Memorial physicians are among the first in the nation performing pulsed field ablation (PFA), a break-through therapy to treat people with atrial fibrillation, or irregular heart rhythms. Sarasota electrophysiologists Antonio Moretta, MD, and Smriti Banthia, MD, performed the first four procedures at SMH-Sarasota on Thursday using Medtronic’s PulseSelect system, the first PFA device approved for commercial use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of patients with paroxysmal (periodic) or persistent atrial fibrillation (Afib). Traditionally, catheter ablation is a technique in which heart tissue is treated with extreme heat (radiofrequency ablation) or cold (cryotherapy) to destroy the tissue triggering Afib. The break-through PFA delivers fast, controlled electrical pulses through a cardiac ablation catheter to achieve the same therapeutic effect on the heart tissue. Studies suggest it could become a safer alternative to traditional catheter ablation because PFA does not use heat or freezing temperatures, which may reduce the risk of scarring to adjacent, healthy tissue. AF is a progressive condition that affects more than 59 million people worldwide. Without early intervention, the condition can worsen over time, increasing the risk for stroke, heart failure and death. The four patients treated at SMH today were the first group of patients in Florida treated with Medtronic’s new technology since it received FDA approval in December 2023. All four patients are doing well and expected to be discharged within 24 hours. They should be able to return to normal activities within a couple of weeks. 

Barbara Ford-Coates has filed to run for re-election this November. Ford-Coates was first elected as Tax Collector in 1984 and has been re-elected nine times. "Serving as your Tax Collector has been an honor and an exciting challenge," Ford-Coates said. The Sarasota County Tax Collector’s Office is responsible for collecting property, business & tourist taxes, issuing drivers’ licenses & vehicle registrations, hunting & fishing licenses, as well as other state and local services. Results matter, and under Ford-Coates' leadership, the office provides these services efficiently and with exceptional customer service. With a staff of 100 exceptional individuals, and a budget of $10+million, Ford-Coates maintains the lowest cost per capita of all Tax Collectors in Florida. Mrs. Ford-Coates has been honored numerous times for her dedication and accomplishments. Governor Lawton Chiles appointed her to the 1998 Constitution Revision Commission. In 2008, she was named the Outstanding Tax Collector in the United States. When the Girl Scouts celebrated their centennial, Ford-Coates was named one of 100 Girl Scout Greats, and in 2016, she was named by Thomson Reuters as a Public Sector Champion for Excellence in Office Leadership. “I hope the voters want to keep the same quality of service and efficiency they have experienced when visiting my office," Ford-Coates shared. 

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The Office of Angelina “Angel” Colonneso, Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller for Manatee County is hosting its annual Operation Green Light event for from 8:30 a.m. to Noon on Saturday April 6. This in-person event will take place at the Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller’s office located in downtown Bradenton at 1115 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton, FL 34205. Since 2016, beginning with Driver License Reinstatement Days, the Clerk’s office has helped hundreds of customers become eligible for driver license reinstatement. "Operation Green Light isn't just about regaining your license; it's about seizing control of your future," remarked Angel Colonneso, Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller for Manatee County. "Possessing a valid driver’s license means more than just mobility; it signifies increased time, freedom, and opportunity. It's a privilege we aim to restore. I urge everyone to capitalize on this event and embark on their journey back to the road." This upcoming event is an opportunity for Manatee County customers with suspended driver licenses to pay overdue court obligations, including traffic tickets, while saving up to 30 percent in collection agency fees. Call the Clerk’s Traffic department at (941) 741-4060 or the Financial Recovery department at (941) 741-4067 for event questions. 

Nautilus Homes, the renowned luxury builder based in Sarasota, has clinched five prestigious awards from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) in recognition of its exceptional work on "Island Breeze," a 6,100-square-foot residence on Siesta Key that masterfully balances style, craftsmanship, sustainability, and low maintenance. The accolades were presented at the NAHB National Awards and Best in American Living Awards (BALA) during the International Builders’ Show held in Las Vegas on February 28 and 29. These national awards are known for spotlighting the pinnacle of creativity and talent in the building industry and honor professionals who redefine excellence for homes and communities across the United States and Canada. 

Experienced architect Sarah Lyons, AIA, has opened her own firm, S.Ly architecture LLC, in Sarasota. She brings more than 14 years of experience at renowned architecture firms including SOM, Pelli Clarke & Partners, and HOK. Lyons has worked on notable projects including the $1.1-billion terminal complex at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, the 12,000-employee American Airlines headquarters campus in Dallas, and the two-million-square-foot Wolf Point development in Chicago. S.Ly architecture LLC is based in Sarasota, but Lyons works on projects across Florida. She’s currently working on building renovations on the campus of New College of Florida, mixed-use developments with Belpointe LLC, and on a new concept for public garden inspired retail project on Marco Island. Lyons obtained a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Rice University and a master’s degree in advanced architectural design from Columbia University. She also serves on the Southface Advisory Board and Sarasota County Development Services Advisory Board and is a member of Leadership Sarasota’s class of 2024.For more information about S.Ly architecture LLC, visit slyarchitecture.com. 

Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Ron Turner has designated six early voting locations for the March 19 Presidential Preference Primary (PPP). Turner is reminding voters that the PPP is for registered Republican Party voters only since the state Democratic Party already selected its candidate for the party’s nomination for president. Any registered Republican voter may choose to vote early in person. WHEN: Saturday, March 9 – Sunday, March 17, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., daily at any early voting site. WHERE: Sarasota elections office, Terrace Building, 2001 Adams Lane; Venice elections office, R.L. Anderson Admin Center, Rm 114, 4000 Tamiami Trail S; North Port elections office, Biscayne Plaza, 13640 Tamiami Trail; North Sarasota Library, 2801 Newtown Blvd, Sarasota; Fruitville Library, 100 Apex Road, Sarasota; Gulf Gate Library, 7112 Curtiss Ave, Sarasota. “In Florida, there are three ways to vote: by mail, early in person and on election day,” Turner said. “Early in person voting offers convenience to voters because they can vote at any early voting site in Sarasota County. And new for 2024, we have added the Gulf Gate Library as a convenient early voting site.” Voters who opt to vote early must present photo and signature identification upon check-in at the early voting site and prior to voting. For more information or assistance, call the elections office at 941.861.8619 or visit SarasotaVotes.gov. 

Products from WINDOOR and PGT Custom Windows and Doors, part of the PGT Innovations (NYSE: PGTI) family of brands, were displayed prominently in all four homes during the season five premiere of the popular HGTV show Rock the Block, which aired Monday, March 4. The show was filmed on location in November 2023 in Treasure Island, Florida. Hosted by Ty Pennington, the television series features well-known HGTV renovation stars who compete against one another to renovate identical properties and maximize their value. For the first time in the show’s history, four teams that have been on the show in the past and lost are competing for redemption in the renovation showdown — Bryan and Sarah Baeumler from Battle on the Beach, Keith Bynum and Evan Thomas from Bargain Block, Lyndsay Lamb and Leslie Davis from Unsellable Houses, and Page Turner and Mitch Glew from Fix My Flip. During episode one, the teams competed for best kitchen. Home No. 1, being renovated by Page Turner and Mitch Glew, featured the WINDOOR countertop bifold and won the night’s competition. Additionally, home No. 2 featured the WINDOOR bifold; home No. 3 featured the WINDOOR bifold and the PGT 770 sliding glass door; and home No. 4 featured the PGT casement window. The teams were given six weeks and a $250,000 budget to transform four waterfront homes, each featuring a pool and boat dock, into luxury residences that feature stunning design and glass products. All four of the coastal homes on this season of Rock the Block feature WINDOOR specialty doors and entry doors, as well as PGT windows, sliding glass doors, French doors, and patio doors. Blake Building, a PGT Innovations builder partner, was the general contractor for the homes.  

Pictured: WINDOOR's Countertop Bifold Window featured in home No. 1 renovated by Page Turner and Mitch Glew.

Get ready for summer travel. The Office of Angelina “Angel” Colonneso, Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller for Manatee County, is opening its doors on a Saturday to accept passport applications. On Saturday, April 6, from 8:30 a.m. to noon, the Clerk’s passport division will assist first-time passport applicants for adults and minors, renewal of adult passports (issued more than 15 years ago), and renewal of minor passports. To help customers save time at the passport counter, the Clerk’s office recommends that customers fill out their passport applications in advance. Passport applications are available for download through the U.S. Department of State’s website at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/forms.html. In addition to the application, all applicants must be present and bring the following items with them: A check or money order made payable to the U.S. Department of State. Please visit https://www.manateeclerk.com/departments/passports/ for a list of fees to determine the amount of your check or money order; A second form of payment for Clerk of Court fees. Forms of payment accepted include cash, check, credit or debit card; A valid government-issued ID; Original proof of citizenship (for first-time applicants and minors under the age of 16); Expired passport book/card (for renewals only). Passport photos are available on-site for an additional cost.For questions about the Clerk’s office's upcoming passport event or general passport questions, call the passport division at (941) 741-4022. 

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