Florida lawmakers are considering a cap on the awards for things like pain, suffering, and loss of companionship when someone is killed or seriously hurt by medical malpractice.

Employers who hire immigrants in the country illegally will face tough punishments and gun owners will have more freedoms when more than 200 new Florida laws take effect Saturday.

Fourteen people are facing misdemeanor trespassing charges and are banned from the Florida Capitol for the next year after they were arrested while protesting in Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office on Wednesday.

Three local high school students traveled to Tallahassee Wednesday morning to take their message of prevention directly to lawmakers.

Gov. Ron DeSantis was sworn in Tuesday for a second term, offering a theme of “freedom lives here in our great Sunshine State” to counter “faddish ideology” nationally.

Hundreds of survivors of violent crime are expected to be at the Florida Capitol on Tuesday to demand that lawmakers pass policies that will help them grieve and help them find support.

A controversial bill that would shorten the time period for a woman to have an abortion in Florida cleared its first committee on Wednesday.

The legendary Florida State University football coach died last weekend after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

Gambling opponents from across the state rallied Tuesday at the Florida Capitol, speaking out against the new Seminole Compact awaiting approval from the Legislature.

A federal jury began hearing arguments Tuesday in the trial of a Tallahassee man accused of plotting to violently confront would-be protesters at the Florida Capitol in January.

Hours after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a controversial Republican-backed bill that increases penalties for those who participate in protests that turn violent and makes it harder to take away funding from law enforcement agencies, Democrats took to the steps of the Florida Capitol on Monday afternoon to call the new laws unconstitutional.

The Florida Capitol is expected to remain largely closed to the public for the rest of the legislative session because of the COVID-19 pandemic. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Capitol is expected to remain largely closed to the public for the rest of the legislative session because of the COVID-19 pandemic, as lawmakers get more comfortable meeting face to face. “I don’t think everyone in this building will be vaccinated in the next seven weeks,” Simpson said last week. “We’re going to ask for limited staff attendance, I don’t think every legislator needs to bring one of their staffers in,” Farmer said Friday. People that want to speak before Senate committees must go to the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center, a few blocks west of the Capitol at Florida State University, and appear through a livestream.

About a hundred people arrived Tuesday afternoon at the Florida Capitol to rally against the "anti-riot" legislation. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Demonstrators traveled from Jacksonville to Tallahassee on Tuesday to rally against House Bill 1, which has been dubbed “anti-riot” legislation. Supporters of the bill say it would help crack down on violent protests, while opponents say it’s overkill and could be used to restrict people from peacefully protesting. “We want lawmakers to know that we oppose House Bill 1.”Ben Frazier with the Northside Coalition is among those who say the bill would limit First Amendment rights. About a hundred people showed up Tuesday afternoon at the Florida Capitol to make known their displeasure over the legislation.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida authorities arrested a 61-year-old Tallahassee man in connection with a bomb threat overnight that prompted the closure of the state Capitol “out of an abundance of caution.”Tallahassee police said they arrested Mark Wayne Clark, 61, for making a false bomb threat against state property. Authorities said he was taken into custody at a bar about 3 miles from the Capitol. Capitol Police were notified of a bomb threat before 3 a.m. Thursday and swept through the Capitol grounds but nothing suspicious was discovered by patrols and bomb-sniffing dogs. Florida’s Capitol had been on heightened security since Sunday, when the country braced for potential violence at state capitals in all 50 states. Florida state workers were allowed to return to work at the Capitol following a sweep of the premises.

TALLAHASSEE – Threats of a large protest and violent counter demonstrators on Inauguration Day didn’t materialize at the Florida Capitol on Wednesday. Troopers were stationed under the Capitol, police drones were in the air, the National Guard was on the Capitol’s roof and spotters were on nearby buildings. Len Murray drove in from Ft. Lauderdale, motivated by the riot at the U.S. Capitol two weeks ago. “If violence breaks out, I’m going home,” said Robert Allen, a demonstrator who drove from Brandon to the Capitol. “God told us to come today,” said one of the women, who called herself Angel Paula.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Capitol will be illuminated amber on Tuesday as part of the Biden-Harris inauguration’s national moment of unity and remembrance for the more than 397,000 American lives lost to COVID-19. Florida's Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried requested the capitol lighting, according to a news release from her office. State capitols and town halls across the nation are set to illuminate on Tuesday alongside the first-ever lighting display around the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Poll in Washington. More than 24,136 Floridians have died from COVID-19 since the coronavirus began in March. “It’s my honor to request that Florida’s Capitol be lit in their memory, with hope for brighter days ahead,” Fried said in the news release.

Ron DeSantis on Friday evening activated the Florida National Guard to assist state and local law enforcement agencies, following FBI warnings of potentially violent protests in state capitals this weekend in advance of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration. The governor’s executive order mobilizing the guard was issued “in response to reports of potential civil unrest,” DeSantis’ office said in a press release. It also came as authorities in Washington, D.C., Tallahassee and other state capitals prepare for potential protests this weekend or early next week. Local officials on Thursday ordered Tallahassee City Hall and the Leon County Courthouse, which are each across the street from the state Capitol, to close Tuesday and Wednesday in anticipation of possible protests. Asking DeSantis to mobilize troops in Tallahassee, Dailey on Friday pointed to National Guard members who will be in Washington to help with the inauguration.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A Tallahassee man of plotting to “violently confront protesters” at the Florida Capitol on Sunday appeared before a federal magistrate Friday afternoon, on several charges including making threats to kidnap or injure. The affidavit contains screenshots of Baker’s online activity, it appears all of his social media accounts have been removed, except for his youtube page, which contains videos condemning police, President Donald Trump and even President-elect Joe Biden. Ron DeSantis call in the Florida National Guard to help protect the Capitol. Florida State University and Florida A&M University have also indicated they will increase police presence on campus next week. The FBI has been aware of Baker’s social media threats since October, according to court documents.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – More than two dozen loyal Republicans gathered in the Senate chamber of the Florida Capitol on Monday afternoon and cast the state’s 29 votes in the Electoral College for President Donald Trump. The 29 electors -- many of them current or former elected or party officials -- were submitted to Gov. Ron DeSantis on Aug. 31 and earned a seat in the chamber when Trump won the most votes in Florida in the Nov. 3 election. Had Joe Biden carried the state, a slate of 29 prominent Democrats selected as that party’s electors would be voting Monday instead and, based on the certified popular vote, Biden will win 306 electoral votes to 232 votes for Trump. That fact made Monday a bittersweet day for Dr. Roy Hinman, of St. Augustine, who case one of Florida’s 29 votes for Trump.

Ron DeSantis spoke about the hot button issue of reopening schools during the fall semester. A little over a week ago, Richard Corcoran, the states education commissioner, issued an order for all schools to reopen for in-person classes during the fall. The order also instructs school districts to follow the advice of state and local health officials as well as executive orders issued by DeSantis. I know a lot of parents are have a lot of anxiety about just the situation, generally, and then of course, whats going to happen with the school year, DeSantis said during the news conference. Starting Aug. 10, middle and high school students will be in-school some days and at-home learning online the other days.

At the Florida Capitol in Tallahassee, Giordano crossed paths Thursday with Lori Alhadeff, who lost her 14-year-old daughter Alyssa in the Parkland school shooting. Giordano and Alhadeff are linked over their grief of losing children and working to get lawmakers to make schools safer, albeit in different ways. Alhadeff was back to urge lawmakers to require panic buttons at schools to more quickly summon for help. Ron DeSantis, public schools would be required to have a tub or other large container filled with cold water at the sidelines during all games and practices. The proposed law would also require schools to train personnel on how to recognize signs of heat-related ailments, including potentially deadly heat strokes, and to take life-saving actions.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - A historic trial at the Florida Capitol next week will decide whether the sheriff in charge during the Parkland shootings in South Florida gets his job back. The family of Meadow Pollack, one of 17 killed in the Parkland massacre, were making the rounds meeting with senators who will ultimately vote to re-instate or uphold the suspension of former Broward Sheriff Scott Israel. "They are pretty passionate about seeing Sheriff Israel removed from office, but I found them to be very respectful," Lee said. Many, if not all of the families affected by the shooting, will be represented in Tallahassee next week. He failed to follow up on a tip this kid was going to be a shooter.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Attorney General Ashley Moody on Friday morning led the first meeting of the Statewide Task Force on Opioid Abuse's first meeting, which was held in the Florida Capitol. That's why the task force includes law enforcement, addiction experts and mental health professionals. Moody, who is chair of the task force, said any recommendations will be based on proven methods and data. While opioids are the main focus of the task force, some members expressed a desire to be more proactive in addressing other drugs gaining popularity, such as methamphetamine. Miami Judge Steve Leifman, who is a member of the task force, believes the task force's work might help stop the next drug crisis before it happens.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - As state lawmakers return to the Florida Capitol for the first round of committee weeks, one of the most pressing issues is hurricane recovery, especially from Hurricane Michael. Effects of the storm, which hit nearly a year ago, are still being felt in the Panhandle. In many ways, the Panhandle has lived up to its nickname, "The Forgotten Coast." A survey conducted this summer found 1 in 3 Floridians aren't even aware the storm hit in 2018. Legislators also are looking at ways to speed up insurance claims and prevent contractors from overcharging for storm repairs.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - An African American state representative has said she will push for the relocation of the monument dedicated to Confederate soldiers that sits on the grounds of the Florida Capitol. The obelisk-style monument was dedicated in 1882 and moved onto the grounds of what is now the Old State Capitol in 1923. "Floridians served all across the theaters of war," said David McCallister with the Sons of Confederate Veterans. But for social justice advocate Lakey Love, who often holds protests on the steps of the Old Capitol, the monument has a different meaning. She said she'd support moving it inside of the Old Capitol, which is now a museum, or to a Confederate cemetery.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A groundbreaking ceremony was held Tuesday in the Florida Capitol courtyard for the state's new Fallen Firefighter Memorial. A key feature of the memorial will be the names of all the firefighters in the state who have died in the line of duty, including six from 2014. The ceremony featured Gov. Rick Scott, Cabinet members and a number of family members of fallen emergency personnel. The State Fire Marshal's office has partnered with various firefighting agencies across the state to help fund the memorial, which was approved through a resolution by Scott and the Cabinet last year.