DeSantis signs bill that lays the groundwork for a constitutional challenge, and Florida lawmakers react to a potential aid package for Israel and Ukraine.

DeSantis signs education bills and bars Satanists from serving as chaplains

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 931 into law Thursday, clearing the way for volunteers to serve as school chaplains. During the signing, he said that Satanists need not apply, since they are “not a religion,” according to the governor. 

“Some have said that if you do a school chaplain program, that somehow you’re going to have Satanists running around in all our schools,” DeSantis said at a press conference Thursday. “We’re not playing those games in Florida. That is not a religion. That is not qualifying to be able to participate in this.”

The new law allows school districts to adopt a policy for chaplains to provide support services for public and charter students from kindergarten through 12th grade. According to the parameters of the law, the policy should describe the supports and services that a chaplain could be assigned, require that schools notify parents of the change, and obtain written permission from parents before their children receive any support services from chaplains.

While there are many supporters of the bill, there’s one key critic alluding to how he believes challenges would play out in court.

Supporters say chaplains can help fill the gaps in terms of student services. On the other hand, critics wonder if schools are the right place for religious leaders.

The Satanic Temple is fighting back. They’re pointing to the U.S. Constitution where they say the details matter.

“He can pass a law that allows chaplains in schools, but he’s directly inviting satanic chaplains into public schools," Satanic Temple co-founder Lucian Greaves said. "He can say he’s doing otherwise. He will not prevail in court."

The American Civil Liberties Union is also among the critics of the new law.

In addition, school districts are required to provide a list of school chaplains that are available, along with their religious affiliation.

Any potential chaplain will have to undergo the same background screening a noninstructional school employee would.

The measure passed the state Senate 28-12, and the state House 89-25.

Additionally, DeSantis signed CS 1317, a bill that would clear the way to allow school districts to allow members of patriotic organizations to speak to students and distribute materials on school property.

The new law does say that such organizations should have an educational purpose that promotes civic involvement, and some of the organizations listed in the language of the bill include the Big Brothers Big Sisters of American, the Boy Scouts of America, the Future Farmers of America, and the Marine League Corp. among others.

Similar to HB 931, the patriotic organizations law requires school districts to identify the date and time such speaking engagements will occur, and to notify parents of such activities. Parents also retain the right to withhold consent for their child to attend any such events. 

Both laws will take effect on July 1.

Prosecutor: Jurors will have to use "common sense" to draw conclusions

Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass began his questioning of the prospective jurors in Donald Trump's hush money trial Thursday much the same way he did earlier this week — acknowledging the unusual publicity surrounding the case and asking the group of 18 seated in the box whether it would impact their ability to evaluate evidence fairly.

He called first on a lifelong Manhattan resident who works in law enforcement. “I could be objective,” the man told him.

During subsequent questioning of an attorney who previously said she’d followed the case closely and could still be impartial, the individual told Steinglass that she had since changed her mind.

“I’m worried that I know too much,” she said, adding that she was "worried that it’s going to seep in, in some way."

Steinglass thanked her for her candor and moved on.

Steinglass later acknowledged that no witness will say that Trump directly told them: “Let’s pull the wool over the American public’s eye so I can get elected.”

Rather, the prosecutor said, jurors would have to analyze the evidence and apply “common sense” to draw conclusions.

Florida lawmakers discuss aid packages

Following Iran’s attack on Israel, the path forward for more foreign aid dollars to Israel and other allies like Taiwan and Ukraine remains unclear.

Democrats are seeking an all-encompassing package, while Republicans are calling for separate bills.

As Republican support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia continues to wane, some of Florida’s GOP members of Congress are calling for separate votes on Israel and Ukraine aid.

“We’ve been arguing for a long time that they be dealt with separately. Right? They all deserve a separate vote," Rep. Mike Waltz said. "You’re seeing a lot of Democrats have an issue with Israel aid. We’ve said for a long time that it’s not an either or when it comes to our own border and continuing to stop Putin. But, it is a matter of priorities and we need to see the border in it."

“The problem with tying it to the Ukraine aid is that — as we have said very clearly, and that I don’t think there’s any mystery here, I for one, but not everybody, but I for one, I’m prepared to help Ukraine, but I want to see us deal with the southern border,” Sen. Marco Rubio said.

In February, the Senate passed a $95 billion dollar foreign aid package for Israel, Taiwan and Ukraine.

But far-right House Republicans oppose it. Likewise, the House has passed its own standalone Israel aid that the Senate did not take up.

Some of Florida’s Democrats say the attack on Israel underscores the need to help Ukraine and are seeking to tie aid for democratic allies together.

In a statement, Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick said: “I call on Speaker Johnson to bring the security supplemental aid package to the House floor right away. Time is of the essence for our allies and it is time to reassert American leadership on the global stage.”

Rep. Jared Moskowitz said that while he’d prefer the House take up the Senate’s foreign aid package, he isn’t opposed to the separation of votes.

“If they want to split it up and do separate votes, but the policy is the same, it’s basically the Senate bill just, you know, separated by two or three votes," he said. "You know, I’m happy to do that if that’s what it takes to get it out of this body."

President Joe Biden is urging the House to take up the Senate’s foreign aid package.