A business group pushing the House version of assignment of benefits reform is releasing video testimonials by consumers who feel they were harmed by AOB abuse, FloridaPolitics.com reports. Read more:  http://floridapolitics.com/archives/257438-coalition-enlists-consumer-testimony-support-aob-reform

A Florida appeals court ruled Friday that an insurer’s failure to meet the 120-day deadline to deny the compensability of an injury claim waived the insurer’s intoxicated-worker rights.  Louise Esola reports for Business Insurance. Read more:  http://www.businessinsurance.com/article/20180226/NEWS08/912319442/RetailFirst-Insurance-Company-not-off-hook-for-claim-over-suspected-Neptune-Fish

Because cities and counties in Florida employ almost all first responders, they will incur almost all of the costs of the benefit, THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA reports via FloridaPolitics.com. Read more:  http://floridapolitics.com/archives/257529-league-cities-drops-opposition

Senate budget chief Rob Bradley confirmed late Monday that a deal between the House and the Senate on budget allocations had been reached. Budget conferencing could begin as soon as today, FloridaPolitics.com reports. Read more:  http://floridapolitics.com/archives/257367-legislative-leadership-2018-allocations

Prosecutors and legitimate rehab centers are pushing Congress to change laws that they say actually protect the shady sober homes by preventing states from enacting tough regulations.  Paul Van Osdol reports for WTAE.com. Read more:  http://www.wtae.com/article/feds-investigating-pittsburgh-ties-to-fraudulent-drug-rehab-centers-in-florida/18730592

Special session whispers were already circulating about Tallahassee even before the school shooting created the need for an urgent review of gun-related proposals, FloridaWatchdog.org’s John Haughey reports. Gun control push bogs down quickly in Senate GOP-led Senate panel approves gun …

Current psychologists and law enforcement say after years of insufficient funding and short staffing, the state has “a long way to go.”  The Tampa Bay Times’ Emily L. Mahoney reports for “The Buzz” blog. Read more:  http://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2018/02/26/after-parkland-florida-looks-to-mental-health-programs-and-campus-officers-as-fixes-but-its-underfunded-both/

The powerful head of the Senate Appropriations Committee, state Senator Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, has refused to give it a hearing, and without his support, and with time running out, the chances of it passing this year are slim.  Lawrence Mower …

A staunch conservative who is known for sponsoring gun rights bills, Steube is likely to be a strong contender for the District 17 congressional seat, which covers a conservative part of the state and has nearly 57,000 more registered Republicans …

It would allow high school students to count credits earned in approved apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs toward their graduation.  Jeffrey Solocheck writes for the Tampa Bay Times. Read more:  http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/gradebook/2018/02/26/can-you-guess-which-education-bill-is-moving-unscathed-through-the-florida-legislature/