Lawmakers Seek to Curb China Land Purchases

Lawmakers Seek to Curb China Land Purchases

By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Senate has started fast-tracking a proposal that would bar the sale of agricultural land and property within 20 miles of military bases to interests tied to the Chinese government or other nations on a list of “countries of concern.” The bill (SB 264), […]

Florida Senate Passes Affordable Housing Plan

Florida Senate Passes Affordable Housing Plan

By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Moving quickly on priorities of Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, Florida senators Wednesday passed measures aimed at spurring more affordable housing for workers and boosting a trail network and wildlife corridor. Senators unanimously approved what has been dubbed the “Live Local Act” (SB 102), which includes […]

DeSantis Vows to ‘Swing for the Fences’

DeSantis Vows to ‘Swing for the Fences’

By Jim Saunders & Ryan Dailey, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Drawing a national spotlight as he prepares for a potential White House bid, Gov. Ron DeSantis opened the annual legislative session Tuesday by touting the state’s accomplishments and vowing to “swing for the fences so that we can ensure Florida remains number […]

Local Utilities – Including Tallahassee – Could See More State Regulation

Local Utilities – Including Tallahassee – Could See More State Regulation

By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Tallahassee TALLAHASSEE — Florida House and Senate members last week filed proposals that would increase state regulation of many municipal electric utilities. The proposals would ramp up the Florida Public Service Commission’s regulation of municipal utilities that serve electric customers outside of city boundaries. While the commission has […]

Florida Jobless Claims Remain Low

Florida Jobless Claims Remain Low

By The News Service of Florida First-time unemployment claims in Florida continued a downward trend, with fewer claims recorded last week than during any non-holiday shortened week since Hurricane Ian hit the state in September. The U.S. Department of Labor on Thursday released a report that estimated 5,034 claims were filed in Florida during the […]

Fried to Lead Embattled Florida Democrats

Fried to Lead Embattled Florida Democrats

By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Nikki Fried, the last Democrat to hold a statewide office in Florida, was selected Saturday to chair the Florida Democratic Party as it looks to recover from its latest disastrous election cycle. Fried emerged the winner in a four-way contest at the Sheraton Orlando North […]

Voucher Expansion Backed in Senate

Voucher Expansion Backed in Senate

By Ryan Dailey, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — The Senate began moving forward Tuesday with a proposal that would make every Florida student eligible for state-backed vouchers that could be used for private-school tuition and various other expenses, while opponents argued the measure would harm traditional public schools. The Senate Education PreK-12 Committee […]

Judge Tosses Challenge to Education Law

Judge Tosses Challenge to Education Law

By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — For the second time in less than five months, a federal judge has rejected a lawsuit seeking to block a controversial Florida law that restricts classroom instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation. U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor on Wednesday issued a 21-page decision dismissing […]

Lawmakers to Target ‘ESG’ Investment Decisions

Lawmakers to Target ‘ESG’ Investment Decisions

By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis outlined a legislative proposal Monday to expand rules to prevent state pension investments that use ratings he and other Republican leaders consider “woke.” DeSantis said the legislation, which will be pursued during the legislative session that will start March 7, would block […]

Fried Launches Bid to Lead Democrats

Fried Launches Bid to Lead Democrats

The News Service of Florida After losing a campaign last year for governor, former state Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried has launched a bid to chair the Florida Democratic Party. In a prepared statement Monday, Fried said she would “commit to rebuilding our party from the ground up” after Democrats in 2022 lost every statewide race […]

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