HOT NEWS AND MEDIA
Florida lawmakers Monday night passed a measure that could help expand charter schools known as “schools of hope,” as Republicans continue trying to boost school choice and Democrats warn about harm to traditional public schools. The schools of hope proposal appeared to die before the…
TALLAHASSEE — Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier quickly appealed after a federal judge Tuesday issued a preliminary injunction blocking a 2024 state law aimed at keeping children off social-media platforms. Uthmeier, who is the defendant in a lawsuit filed by two tech-industry groups, filed a…
The State Board of Education on Wednesday unanimously approved appointing Anastasios Kamoutsas, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ deputy chief of staff, as Florida’s next education commissioner. Kamoutsas will succeed outgoing Education Commissioner Manny Díaz Jr., who is slated to become interim president of the University of West…
TALLAHASSEE — When lawmakers begin budget conference talks Tuesday, a couple of priorities of Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, and House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, likely will already be off the table. Lawmakers aren’t expected to approve Albritton’s “rural renaissance” plan, which seeks to bolster…
Three hurricanes in 66 days landed in Florida in 2024. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts 2025 in the Atlantic Basin will be above normal, not good news for America’s southeastern tip that hopes to duck everything from Andrea to Wendy. “NOAA and the…
Citing his state as an example, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday urged lawmakers in Ohio to pass a joint resolution calling for congressional term limits. Ohio’s House Joint Resolution 3 would call for an Article V Convention of the States to “to call a…
Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday he will sign bills to prevent local governments from adding fluoride to water supplies and prevent aircraft from releasing chemtrails. DeSantis said the fluoride prohibition, which is included in a broader bill (SB 700), is designed to prevent “forced medication.”…
Though they will have to return to Tallahassee to hammer out a budget, Florida lawmakers Friday night finished most of the business of the 2025 legislative session. Here’s a look at 10 big issues from the session — some that passed, some that didn’t and…
Florida lawmakers Thursday gave final approval to a bill that would make a series of changes related to charter schools, including allowing charter schools to have stricter codes of conduct than traditional public schools. The Republican-controlled House voted 86-25 along almost straight party lines to…
First-time employment claims in Florida decreased slightly last week, with the U.S. Department of Labor estimating 5,660 claims were filed. The estimate, released Thursday, was down from a revised count of 6,060 claims during the week that ended April 19. Since the first week of…
The Florida Legislature passed its farm bill this week that officials say could be the most expansive farm-related measure in the state’s history. Senate Bill 700 was passed 88-27 in the House of Representatives on Tuesday and is now headed to Gov. Ron DeSantis for…
The Florida House on Tuesday gave final approval to a bill that would back away from a requirement aimed at starting high-school classes later in the morning. The Legislature in 2023 passed a law that would prevent high schools from starting earlier than 8:30 a.m.…
A proposal that would allow the Florida Farm Bureau to offer largely unregulated health coverage to farmers is headed to Gov. Ron DeSantis. The House on Tuesday unanimously passed the bill (SB 480), which was approved by the Senate on April 3. The bill would…
The House on Tuesday put a new price-tag on its growing tax package, which differs from a Senate proposal. The House Budget Committee voted 20-8 to approve the package (HB 7033), which is projected to cut state and local revenue by $5.008 billion next fiscal…
A funeral will be held Friday for Tiru Chabba, who was one of two men killed last week during a mass shooting at Florida State University. The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Friday in Greenville, S.C., according to a news release Wednesday from…
The Florida House on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved a plan that aims, in part, to ease financial strains on condominium owners, setting up negotiations with the Senate before next week’s scheduled end of the 2025 legislative session. The House and Senate bills address condo-safety laws passed…
A Florida measure that would decide what entity pays for the relocation of utilities in rights of way of roads and public rail lines was approved by the Senate Committee on Appropriations on Tuesday. Senate Bill 818, sponsored by Sen. Stan McClain, R-Ocala, was rewritten…
The Florida House made clear Wednesday it doesn’t want golf courses and resort-style lodges in state parks. House members unanimously passed a bill (HB 209) that stemmed from a public outcry last year about a now-shelved plan that would have put golf courses, lodges and…
A bill aimed at preventing a return of efforts to build golf courses, pickleball courts and resorts in state parks is ready to go to the full Florida House. The House State Affairs Committee on Tuesday unanimously supported the measure (HB 209), which sponsor John…
According to a recent report by the American Legislative Exchange Council, Florida’s energy affordability was ranked only 37th best, the worst among Southeastern states due to its overdependence on one fuel type and numerous weather-related outages. The fourth annual report, Energy Affordability, compared the states…
Florida Senate President Ben Albritton wants to spend $200 million to help the state’s ailing citrus industry as it faces the issues of population growth, hurricanes and an invasive disease that ruins the fruit. The Wauchula Republican whose district constitutes the heart of Florida’s citrus…
Florida’s struggling citrus industry got a little good news Tuesday with increased production estimates for the current growing season. While the industry still faces a historically low harvest, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released a report that estimated Florida will produce enough oranges to fill…
A Senate committee Tuesday approved a wide-ranging bill that includes preventing local governments from adding fluoride to water supplies. The Senate Agriculture Committee unanimously supported the bill (HB 700), which involves a series of issues related to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.…
Spouses and children of Florida National Guard members could take advantage of an expanded tuition assistance program in a new bill that was reported favorably by a Senate committee on Tuesday. The Senate Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security approved Senate…