Florida Officials Tackle Wildfire Risks, Rate Hikes and Redistricting Tuesday

Florida's wildfire threat, utility rate increases, and the political fight over congressional redistricting are among the issues moving through state government Tuesday, with a slate of meetings and hearings scheduled from Tallahassee to South Florida.

Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson will join the Florida Forest Service at its Valrico Forestry Station in Dover at 11:30 a.m. to brief the public on the state's current wildfire conditions. The discussion has direct relevance to Treasure Coast residents as dry-season fire danger persists across St. Lucie, Martin, and Indian River counties.

At 9:30 a.m., the Florida Public Service Commission opens a conference to examine Florida Power & Light's petition for a rate increase and the utility's proposed Andytown-Oasis transmission lines project in Broward and Miami-Dade counties. The rate case could determine what FPL customers across the Treasure Coast pay on monthly bills for years to come, according to public records.

The Florida Election Canvassing Commission convenes at 8 a.m. to certify results from the March 24 special legislative elections for Senate District 14 and House Districts 51, 52, and 87.

Sen. Rosalind Osgood, D-Tamarac, is holding a legislative update and press conference at 10:40 a.m. in Kissimmee on the upcoming special session on congressional redistricting. The process could reshape political representation for Treasure Coast communities depending on how district boundaries are redrawn.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, Florida chapter, plans a noon press conference in Tampa and Sunrise in response to legislation signed Monday by Gov. Ron DeSantis, officials said.

Rep. Emily Gregory, R-Jupiter, will be sworn into office at 4 p.m. at Palm Beach Gardens City Hall, officiated by former Florida Supreme Court Justice Barbara Pariente. Gregory represents portions of northern Palm Beach County bordering Martin County.

The Florida Department of Education will hold an online public discussion at 1 p.m. on a proposed rule change governing how school districts handle student absences for religious instruction or holidays.

The Florida-Alabama Transportation Planning Organization holds two project-priority workshops — one in Pensacola at 10:30 a.m. and a second in Milton at 4:30 p.m.

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