In Tallahassee today, immigration and insurance

TALLAHASSEE — Heading into the midway point of the legislative session, lawmakers are ready Wednesday to tackle immigration, local-government advertising and the dissolving a massive state agency.

In the House, a committee will consider legislation strengthening Florida's immigration laws (HB 219) and allowing local governments to print public notices online instead of in newspapers (HB 1511). The full House plans to consider reauthorizing several special accounts — known as trust funds — that pay for specific programs that help the environment, consumers and road builders.

Several major bills will also be heard by Senate committees as the session shifts into its second half. A bill that will allow property insurance companies to increase rates by 15 percent in three years (SB 876) will receive a hearing in the Banking and Insurance Committee.

Meanwhile, the Senate Commerce Committee will review a bill (SB 1430) that would grant up to $20 million in tax credits to film and TV productions starting in 2011.

A bill that would dissolve the state's personnel agency, the Department of Management Services, will receive a hearing, its last substantive stop before the Senate floor. The bill (SB 1238) would distribute the agency's functions across state government.

Members of the both chambers will spend several hours Wednesday meeting with old colleagues at reunions in the House and Senate.