By Ryan Dailey, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Senate on Wednesday gave final approval to a proposed constitutional amendment that seeks to shift to holding partisan school-board elections. The proposal (HJR 31) will go on the 2024 ballot and, if approved by voters, would do away with a requirement that school-board […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — In the latest round in a years-long fight about Florida elections laws, the House on Wednesday moved forward with a proposal that would make wide-ranging changes such as placing additional restrictions on voter-registration groups. Republican supporters said the bill, in part, would help ensure that […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Escalating his attacks on Walt Disney Co., Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday announced plans to revoke changes made by the former Reedy Creek Improvement District board and to increase state oversight of the entertainment giant’s theme-park rides. Also, DeSantis said his hand-picked board to replace […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Moving quickly on what supporters call the “Heartbeat Protection Act,” Gov. Ron DeSantis late Thursday signed a bill that would prevent abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. DeSantis’ office announced the signing about 11 p.m., several hours after the House gave final approval to the […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida The Florida House could be poised to take up a bill that seeks to prevent transgender men and women from using bathrooms that don’t line up with their sex assigned at birth, after one Republican said Monday it’s “like we have mutants living among us on planet […]
NWF Health Network, a lead agency for child protection and behavioral health including mental health and substance abuse services, is proud to celebrate its 10th anniversary as the Behavioral Health Managing Entity serving northwest Florida. In 2008, the Florida Legislature began a transition to community-based substance abuse and mental health services by creating private Behavioral […]
By The News Service of Florida An attorney for Death Row inmate Louis Gaskin has appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court to try to halt a scheduled Wednesday execution of Gaskin in the 1989 murders of a Flagler County couple. Attorney Eric Pinkard filed documents Thursday seeking a stay of execution and asking the U.S. […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Florida lawmakers Wednesday reached the halfway point in this year’s 60-day legislative session. The House and Senate have passed high-profile bills involving issues such as affordable housing and school vouchers, but major issues remain to be resolved. Here are snapshots of 10 big issues: — […]
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed a measure that will allow Floridians to carry guns without concealed-weapons licenses. The Republican-controlled Senate gave final approval to the measure (HB 543) on Thursday, about a week after the House passed it. The bill will do away with a decades-old licensing process, which has included requiring that people […]
By The News Service of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday signed into law a $711 million plan to make housing more affordable for working Floridians. A priority of Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, the “Live Local Act,” will more than double funding for housing and rental programs, provide incentives for investment in affordable housing and […]