The Senate reconvened at 11:32 a.m., President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, presiding.
Gardiner said the House declined to accept the Senate congressional redistricting offer.
“It’s 11:32 and ticking,” Senate Reapportionment Chairman Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, said.
Galvano said he put in a proposed amendment that would seek to merge the House and Senate plans. He said he thinks there is an opportunity for resolution and the Senate had requested a conference-committee process to negotiate. Galvano said the Senate also passed a resolution to extend the special session. If lawmakers don’t reach agreement, he said the judicial branch will draw the congressional districts.
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
The Senate took up Senate Concurrent Resolution 8B to extend the special session until 6 p.m. Tuesday. The resolution mirrored a resolution (SCR 6B) that the Senate approved earlier Friday and the House rejected. The Senate approved SCR 8B in a voice vote.
HOUSE BILL:
— HB 1B, relating to establishing the congressional districts of the state. Galvano proposed an amendment (284802), which would merge the House and Senate plans. The amendment was adopted. Senators voted 23-5 to approve the bill as amended.
Gardiner said the Senate is “taking one more stab at it.”
He said if the House and Senate don’t come to resolution, the courts will draw the congressional map.
RECESSES: Gardiner said the Senate would stand in informal recess until 11:55 a.m. The Senate went into recess at 11:43 a.m.