NEWS FROM THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE
Florida House, Senate move forward with bill that would allow pay below minimum wage for certain employees
Read full article: Florida House, Senate move forward with bill that would allow pay below minimum wage for certain employeesThe Florida House and Senate on Tuesday continued moving forward with a proposal that would provide an exemption to the state’s voter-approved minimum wage for certain workers in on-the-job training.
Florida House set to discuss bill that would lower minimum age to purchase guns from 21 to 18 this week
Read full article: Florida House set to discuss bill that would lower minimum age to purchase guns from 21 to 18 this weekThe Florida House could move quickly to pass a controversial bill that would lower the minimum age to purchase rifles and other long guns from 21 to 18.
TELL US: How do you feel about possibly increasing the highway speed limit from 70 mph to 75 mph?
Read full article: TELL US: How do you feel about possibly increasing the highway speed limit from 70 mph to 75 mph?Highway speeds could increase under a bill that has started moving forward in the state Senate. The Republican-controlled Senate Transportation Committee on Wednesday approved a wide-ranging measure (SB 462), filed by Sen. Nick DiCeglie, R-Indian Rocks Beach, that includes boosting the maximum speed on interstates and Florida’s Turnpike from 70 mph to 75 mph.
Florida Senate committee approves proposal to set term limits for county commissioners, school board members
Read full article: Florida Senate committee approves proposal to set term limits for county commissioners, school board membersThe Senate Ethics and Elections Committee on Monday voted 6-2 to approve a proposal (SJR 802) that would put in the Florida Constitution eight-year term limits for county commissioners and school board members. The Legislature in 2023 approved eight-year term limits for school board members, but those limits are not in the Constitution.
Florida Senate panel approves measure adding restrictions to ballot initiative process
Read full article: Florida Senate panel approves measure adding restrictions to ballot initiative processA key Senate panel on Monday approved a measure that would place a number of new restrictions on people and groups seeking to make changes to the state Constitution, the latest move in the Legislature’s years-long effort to curtail the ballot-initiative process.
Florida lawmakers propose constitutional amendment to set county commission term limits, cement school board limits
Read full article: Florida lawmakers propose constitutional amendment to set county commission term limits, cement school board limitsHouse and Senate Republicans are proposing a constitutional amendment about eight-year term limits for county commissioners and school board members.
‘Makes this process better and stronger’: Local lawmaker weighs in as bills to tighten ballot-initiative process advance
Read full article: ‘Makes this process better and stronger’: Local lawmaker weighs in as bills to tighten ballot-initiative process advanceAfter fierce — and expensive — political battles last year about abortion rights and recreational marijuana, Florida lawmakers Thursday began moving forward with a proposal that would place additional restrictions on the ballot-initiative process.
Florida lawmakers approve bill that could place additional restrictions on ballot-initiative process
Read full article: Florida lawmakers approve bill that could place additional restrictions on ballot-initiative processAfter fierce — and expensive — political battles last year about abortion rights and recreational marijuana, Florida lawmakers Thursday began moving forward with a proposal that would place additional restrictions on the ballot-initiative process.
Local lawmakers push for statewide anti-DEI bills that would prohibit local government DEI policies
Read full article: Local lawmakers push for statewide anti-DEI bills that would prohibit local government DEI policiesAs the Florida Legislative session enters its third day, developments are unfolding with the introduction of bills targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies at the local government level.
Florida bill proposes lowering firearm purchase age from 21 to 18 with no exceptions
Read full article: Florida bill proposes lowering firearm purchase age from 21 to 18 with no exceptionsSenator Randy Fine has introduced a bill for the 2025 Florida legislative session that would permit individuals under 21 to purchase firearms. Senate Bill 94, aims to repeal a law that currently prohibits licensed firearms dealers from selling or transferring firearms to those younger than 21.
Proposed Florida bill aims to create efficiency commissioner, remove lieutenant governor position
Read full article: Proposed Florida bill aims to create efficiency commissioner, remove lieutenant governor positionA newly filed bill in the Florida Legislature, House Joint Resolution 1325, proposes eliminating the office of lieutenant governor and replacing it with a new Cabinet-level position: the commissioner of government efficiency.
Florida lawmakers file bill to repeal state’s 6-week abortion ban
Read full article: Florida lawmakers file bill to repeal state’s 6-week abortion banSenate minority leader Tracie Davis, who represents Jacksonville, and House minority leader Fentrice Driskell of Tampa filed a bill on Tuesday to repeal Florida’s six-week ban on abortion.
Florida lawmaker proposes new bill to stiffen state’s laws on dangerous dogs
Read full article: Florida lawmaker proposes new bill to stiffen state’s laws on dangerous dogsState Sen. Tom Wright filed Senate Bill 572 after an 8-year-old boy was mauled to death last month in Volusia County, which Wright represents.
DeSantis continues to criticize immigration bill by Florida Legislature, hopes stronger bill will be passed
Read full article: DeSantis continues to criticize immigration bill by Florida Legislature, hopes stronger bill will be passedFlorida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday continued to blast an immigration bill passed by the Florida Legislature and expressed frustration over politicians' inaction and the need for strong border policies.
‘Not going to get my signature’: DeSantis says he’ll veto Florida’s new ‘TRUMP’ immigration bill after calling it ‘weak’
Read full article: ‘Not going to get my signature’: DeSantis says he’ll veto Florida’s new ‘TRUMP’ immigration bill after calling it ‘weak’As the Florida Legislature holds a special session this week tackling only one issue -- immigration -- Gov. Ron DeSantis hosted a roundtable on Wednesday in Titusville signaling a possible veto of the bill that lawmakers passed on Tuesday night.
Florida Legislature will tackle immigration bill in special session — but not the way DeSantis wanted
Read full article: Florida Legislature will tackle immigration bill in special session — but not the way DeSantis wantedFlorida lawmakers gaveled in the special session Gov. DeSantis asked for on Monday, then quickly gaveled out of it and started their own, News4JAX sister station WKMG reported.
Gov. DeSantis calls for special session, proposes reform to petition, amendment process
Read full article: Gov. DeSantis calls for special session, proposes reform to petition, amendment processGov. Ron DeSantis on Monday morning announced plans to reform Florida’s petition and amendment process, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability.
Florida Democrats are jumping ship and joining the GOP. What does it mean for state politics?
Read full article: Florida Democrats are jumping ship and joining the GOP. What does it mean for state politics?Two Florida House Representatives, Hillary Cassel and Susan Valdés, recently announced they were leaving the Democratic Party to join the GOP.
‘Ensuring health care shouldn’t be partisan': Florida House Minority Leader urges KidCare expansion
Read full article: ‘Ensuring health care shouldn’t be partisan': Florida House Minority Leader urges KidCare expansionRep. Fentrice Driskell, Democratic Leader of the Florida House of Representatives, is urging action on the expansion of the Florida KidCare program.
Florida state senators have started filing bills for 2025. Here are the new laws that could be coming
Read full article: Florida state senators have started filing bills for 2025. Here are the new laws that could be comingState senators are off to a quick start filing bills as they gear up for the 2025 legislative session, which begins March 4.
Debbie Mayfield’s attempt to return to Florida Senate highlights loophole in state’s term limits
Read full article: Debbie Mayfield’s attempt to return to Florida Senate highlights loophole in state’s term limitsFlorida Rep. Debbie Mayfield has announced her candidacy for Florida Senate District 19, a seat she previously held before reaching the state’s term limits.
Lax helmet laws have killed more than 20,000 motorcyclists, study shows
Read full article: Lax helmet laws have killed more than 20,000 motorcyclists, study showsState laws that allow motorcyclists not to wear helmets are costing lives every year, according to a new study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Courts grapple with Florida’s gun age laws
Read full article: Courts grapple with Florida’s gun age lawsWith a federal appeals court poised next week to hear a challenge to a Florida law that bars people under age 21 from buying rifles and other long guns, the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday at least temporarily allowed a Pennsylvania gun restriction on young adults.
Incoming Florida Senate president calls for David Shoar to drop out of race against Tom Leek
Read full article: Incoming Florida Senate president calls for David Shoar to drop out of race against Tom LeekOn Tuesday at the RNC in Milwaukee, the incoming head of the Florida Senate called on former St. Johns County sheriff David Shoar to drop out of a Florida Senate race.
New Florida law will dramatically impair anti-corruption efforts, Jacksonville ethics official says
Read full article: New Florida law will dramatically impair anti-corruption efforts, Jacksonville ethics official saysA new state law signed into effect Friday has the Jacksonville Ethics Commission sounding the alarm.
Judge to decide on Florida’s law restricting teachers’ use of personal pronouns
Read full article: Judge to decide on Florida’s law restricting teachers’ use of personal pronounsA federal judge on Friday heard arguments in a court battle over a law restricting educators’ use of personal pronouns and titles in schools, in one of a series of challenges to Florida policies targeting LGBTQ people.
New Florida bill could require sellers to disclose flood risk information at or before the time of the sale
Read full article: New Florida bill could require sellers to disclose flood risk information at or before the time of the saleAccording to FloridaFloodInsurance.org, Florida is more likely to flood than any other state because of its flat terrain.
Social media, insurance, hemp: 10 of the biggest issues in the just closed 2024 Florida Legislative session
Read full article: Social media, insurance, hemp: 10 of the biggest issues in the just closed 2024 Florida Legislative sessionThe 2024 legislative session ended Friday with an annual hanky-drop ceremony in the rotunda between the House and Senate chambers. Here are snapshots of 10 big issues from the session
Gov. DeSantis to get bill that makes it easier to shoot bears, claim self defense
Read full article: Gov. DeSantis to get bill that makes it easier to shoot bears, claim self defenseA bill passed by the Florida House aims to make it easier for people to shoot bears on their property under the claim of self-defense. The bill would provide self-defense protections to individuals who kill bears, as long as they can reasonably prove that their actions were necessary to prevent imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury. Critics argue that the bill is based on fear rather than facts and does not include mechanisms to prevent excessive killings of bears.
Activists rally in Tallahassee to call for changes in Florida prisons
Read full article: Activists rally in Tallahassee to call for changes in Florida prisonsFamilies, advocates and lawmakers will hold a rally Thursday at the state capitol to call for changes inside Florida prisons as two bills to address the issue are stalled in the Florida Legislature.
Florida Senate likely to pass high-profile bill blocking children under 16 from social media
Read full article: Florida Senate likely to pass high-profile bill blocking children under 16 from social mediaThe Florida Senate is ready Thursday to pass a high-profile bill that seeks to prevent children under age 16 from creating accounts on what lawmakers say are “addictive” social-media platforms.
‘Vile’ and ‘bigoted’: Local Republican lawmaker raises concerns over monuments bill after comments from supporters
Read full article: ‘Vile’ and ‘bigoted’: Local Republican lawmaker raises concerns over monuments bill after comments from supportersSenate President Kathleen Passidomo on Wednesday raised questions about the fate of a proposal to protect historic monuments and memorials after several lawmakers voiced outrage over comments Tuesday by supporters of the bill.
TELL US: Do you think Gov. DeSantis’ proposal to combat homelessness will work? Why or why not?
Read full article: TELL US: Do you think Gov. DeSantis’ proposal to combat homelessness will work? Why or why not?Governor Ron DeSantis announced he's working with the Florida Legislature to combat homelessness by moving bills through the legislative session.