By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — A controversial proposal designed to prevent homeless people from sleeping in public places while requiring local governments to address the issue is headed to Gov. Ron DeSantis. The Republican-controlled Senate on Tuesday voted 27-12 along party lines to pass the bill (HB 1365), which would […]
By Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Wiping away tears, men in their 60s, 70s and 80s watched Monday as the Florida Senate unanimously gave final approval to a plan to steer $20 million to survivors of abuse at the notorious Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys in Marianna and another state […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — A federal appeals court Monday rejected restrictions that Gov. Ron DeSantis and Republican lawmakers placed on addressing race-related issues in workplace training — part of a controversial 2022 law that DeSantis dubbed the “Stop WOKE Act.” A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court […]
By Ryan Dailey, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — The Florida House on Friday passed a measure that supporters say is designed to keep “identity politics” out of teacher preparation programs that lead to educators getting professional certificates — as Democratic members likened the bill to academic censorship. Members of the Republican-dominated House voted […]
By Jim Turner & Ryan Dailey, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — As budget talks continued Tuesday, Senate and House negotiators had quickly settled issues ranging from money for tourism marketing to school safety. But with most of the work on the fiscal year 2024-2025 budget taking place behind the scenes, differences remained on […]
By Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — U.S. Supreme Court justices on Monday heard arguments about the constitutionality of a 2021 Florida law aimed at placing restrictions on social-media platforms, with attorneys for tech companies and the Biden administration arguing the law violates the First Amendment. Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican-controlled […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Florida lawmakers Thursday gave final approval to a bill that seeks to keep children under age 16 off social-media platforms, as Gov. Ron DeSantis continued to raise concerns about the measure. The House voted 108-7 to pass the bill (HB 1), which has been a […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Legislation backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis that seeks to prevent homeless people from sleeping in public places is ready to go to the full Senate and House. The Senate Fiscal Policy Committee on Thursday voted 14-4 to back the Senate version of the bill (SB […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Senate on Thursday revamped a bill aimed at keeping children under age 16 off social media, as a debate continued about the proposal’s constitutionality and whether it would infringe on parental rights. House Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, has made the bill (HB […]
By The News Service of Florida Local law-enforcement review boards could be filled with appointees of sheriffs or police chiefs under a bill that was revised Tuesday by the Senate Community Affairs Committee. The bill (SB 576), sponsored by Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, initially sought to do away with existing civilian police-review boards and […]