Bill ending New College’s independence advances in Florida House - Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Nobody other than the sponsor spoke in favor of the bill, which would make New College part of the University of Florida, on Tuesday, but it cleared a final House committee and now heads to a vote by the full chamber.Facing significant opposition and not a word of support from anyone other than the bill sponsor, legislation revoking the independent status of New College of Florida and Florida Polytechnic University cleared a final House committee Tuesday after a rushed debate.Lawmakers, students and college officials complained that a bill of such significance to the institutions and communities involved was being jammed through late in the legislative session with limited public input.House Appropriations Committee Chair Travis Cummings repeatedly urged speakers — many of whom had traveled hours to attend the hearing — to cut short their public testimony Tuesday, pushing the bill through the committee in less than an hour and a half. It now heads to the House floor and could be part …