Antisemitism would be defined in Florida law under a bill whose sponsor warned that an increase in acts against Jewish people will lead to extremism against other groups.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has directed the state’s university system to make it easier for out-of-state students facing antisemitism and other religious harassment in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war to transfer to Florida campuses.

Legislatures returning to session in states across the U.S. early in 2024 will consider condemning the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel — and some could take even bigger steps.

Republicans promoting claims of widespread voter fraud in at least two politically important states are turning to a new tactic to appease voters who falsely believe the 2020 presidential election was stolen.

Parents of public-school students in kindergarten through fifth grade will be able to request that children be retained in their current grade levels for the 2021-2022 school year under a bill signed into law Tuesday by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – In an attempt to limit high out-of-pocket costs for people with diabetes, a Senate panel on Wednesday approved a bill that would place a $100 cap on cost-sharing requirements for 30-day supplies of insulin. The bill cleared the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee unanimously. Diabetes is caused by the body’s inability to create enough insulin or properly use the insulin it does produce. According to a 2019 study published by JAMA Internal Medicine, the average list price of insulin nearly tripled between 2002 and 2013, and cost sharing, or out-of-pocket, costs per prescription doubled over a 10-year period. Cruz’s bill will next go to the Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee.

“I do believe that the children who have had the biggest COVID learning slide have been the ones who are learning remotely. The federal government requires 95 percent of Florida students in grades 3 through 8 to sit for math and English-language arts exams. The Biden administration and Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran both appear to be forging ahead with a plan to keep standardized testing in place for the current school year. The commissioner said Monday that roughly 65 percent to 70 percent of Florida students are back in classrooms getting in-person instruction. Under the bill, that customized plan could include mid-year promotion to the next grade, summer school or supplemental education support.

Amid fears that a “COVID slide” will hamper Florida pupils’ learning gains, a key Senate panel on Wednesday signed off on a proposal to allow parents to retain K-8 students in their current grade level for the next school year. The Senate Education Committee unanimously approved the proposal (SB 200), which would require parents to submit a written request to district school superintendents to keep students in their current grade level. With the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve all seen how school districts and students have all been pushed into uncharted territory this year. Berman said that, under her proposal, parents would be required to submit a request to district school superintendents by June 30, but superintendents would have discretion to approve late requests. Ad“This bill allows parents of students in grades K-8 to make the decision to allow their child to repeat the school year for one year only --- just for the next school year.

“People are calling my office desperate, yelling, screaming,” State Sen. Lori Berman said. Based on the last reported numbers, there were more than 40,000 Floridians classified as being overdue for their second shot. To the dismay of some lawmakers, the health department decided Wednesday to stop publishing those statistics. “No one is overdue for their second dose, but rather, will be eligible for their second dose,” he said. “So that we can provide clarity and comfort and answers to Floridians that are waiting their turn,” Eskamani said.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Two Democratic state senators Friday called on Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration to continue reporting the numbers of COVID-19 cases on a daily basis. DeSantis spokesman Fred Piccolo told Spectrum News that the governor’s office was mulling whether to keep publishing COVID-19 infection reports daily or move to “a modified schedule like all the other reports of infectious diseases.”Piccolo made the remarks after the state did not post daily information last Saturday because of what the Florida Department of Health said was a technical problem. Also as of Friday, 15,830 Florida residents had died from the virus, an increase of 94 deaths from Thursday. “Make no mistake, this political stunt would be an affront to the public’s health and right to understand case trends,” the Democratic senators said in a joint press statement.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Time ran short Tuesday, delaying a vote in a Senate health-care panel on a controversial bill that would require minors to get parental consent before having abortions. The Senate Health Policy Committee met for 90 minutes to discuss the bill (SB 404), but Democrats on the panel proposed 15 amendments. While the committee didn't take public testimony on the bill, the meeting drew supporters and opponents to the Senate. Senate Health Policy Chairwoman Sen. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, said she will put the parental-consent measure on the committee's agenda when it meets again next month. Along with the Health Policy Committee, the bill would need to go to the Senate Judiciary and Rules committees before it could get a vote in the full Senate.

However, Kelly was unable to provide information about the exact number of teachers who have chosen to be trained and armed in schools. A recent survey of school officials by The Wall Street Journal found that only seven of Florida's 67 school districts had approved or would consider allowing teachers to participate in the guardian program. But many districts resisted the idea of armed teachers. Kelly's presentation was part of an update for lawmakers on how school districts are carrying out school-safety laws passed in 2018 and 2019, which include state mandates for school mental-health services. However, he said there's a long way to go before all public school personnel are trained as required in state law.