Florida Legislature Opens Annual Session

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The Florida Legislature is starting its annual 60-day session.

Leaders of the Florida House and Florida Senate officially gaveled lawmakers back to work on Tuesday morning. They’re expected over the next few weeks to grapple everything from guns to gambling.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott will give his “State of State” speech later Tuesday and is expected to ask legislators to back a $1 billion tax cut package.

Last year legislators clashed on state spending and Medicaid expansion. The session ended abruptly with many bills dying amid the in-fighting.

House Speaker Steve Crisafulli in his opening remarks promised that legislators would pass several bills they worked on in 2015 including a comprehensive bill dealing with water. He also said the House would come up with own $1 billion tax cut package.