By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Florida college athletes won’t get revenue-sharing paydays when they leave campus, as lawmakers continue moving forward with efforts to allow off-field compensation for athletes. Before voting to back a controversial compensation bill (SB 646), members of the Senate Innovation, Industry and Technology Committee on Monday […]
House Speaker José Oliva said he is “open” to supporting an E-Verify bill that would meet the goals of Gov. Ron DeSantis, but expressed doubts about the Senate’s version of the legislation. The Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this week carved out the agriculture industry from a bill (SB 664) that would require employers to use […]
TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida House on Thursday intensified an inquiry into Florida’s domestic violence agency, calling for additional investigations and issuing subpoenas over the former head of the taxpayer-backed organization’s compensation. The governor asked state Inspector General Melinda Miguel to investigate the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence’s “exorbitant compensation payouts” and […]
Ahead of a Senate hearing on an E-Verify proposal, a key Republican lawmaker Monday filed potential changes that would significantly narrow a bill that seeks to require immigration checks for new employees. The Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Sen. David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, is scheduled Tuesday to consider a controversial proposal (SB 664) that would […]
Fifth Third Bank said Friday it will resume contributions to the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program, reversing course after saying it would stop contributing over concerns about vouchers going to schools with anti-LGBTQ policies. The bank said it can support the program again, following a “comprehensive review of the program” and “detailed conversations” with management […]
By Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Midpoints can carry a split sensation of dread and relief. And Capitol insiders aren’t immune to those emotions, as the halfway mark of the 2020 legislative session nears. With just five more weeks until the annual 60-day spectacle ends, the heat is on for lawmakers […]
By Ana Ceballos, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio said Monday a decision by Wells Fargo and Fifth Third Bank to pull contributions to a Florida school-voucher program is a “publicity stunt aimed at earning wokeness points with the radical left.” The banks announced last week that they would stop […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Raising the minimum wage will be on the November ballot. Allowing recreational marijuana won’t. With a critical petition-signature deadline Saturday, those and other high-profile ballot initiatives have met different fates. Two initiatives are on the ballot, two others could be headed that way, one has […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried’s office would have to replace stickers that display her smiling face on gas pumps by mid-September under a House budget proposal. The directive is tied to the House’s proposed $91.37 billion budget that was released Thursday. The budget also would require […]
By The News Service of Florida The Florida Senate isn’t expected this year to address a major state Supreme Court ruling that said unanimous jury recommendations are not necessary before death sentences can be imposed. “I don’t think we’re going to take steps in the Florida Senate to change or address that,” Senate President Bill […]