By Christine Sexton, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — In the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, the Florida Legislature on Wednesday passed bills that expand the roles that advanced nurses and pharmacists play in the state’s health-care system, including allowing pharmacists to test and treat patients for the flu and strep throat and treat […]
Visit Florida appears to be getting more than a one-year extension. Days after budget negotiators agreed to maintain $50 million in funding for the state tourism-marketing agency next fiscal year, the House on Tuesday amended a Senate proposal (SB 362) and would authorize the agency until Oct. 1, 2023. The House is expected to vote […]
By Ana Ceballos, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — As the 2020 legislative session draws to a close, the House and Senate are in a standoff over a politically charged immigration proposal that is a top priority of Gov. Ron DeSantis. House Republicans on Tuesday refused to back a Senate measure that would have […]
After it appeared the House and Senate had agreed on spending $500 million to increase teacher salaries, the Senate on Sunday proposed upping the amount to $600 million. The proposal came a day after the House indicated it would go along with an initial Senate plan to spend $500 million. Increasing teacher pay is a […]
By Ana Ceballos, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — A last-minute deal on E-Verify emerged in the Senate on Friday, moving the Republican-dominated Legislature closer to giving Gov. Ron DeSantis a win on a key campaign promise. After weeks of negotiating with the governor’s office and reviewing a House proposal, Senate bill sponsor Tom […]
By Ana Ceballos, The News Service of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is backing the Senate in a heated fight over E-Verify, a move that could tip the scale in a contentious immigration battle as the 2020 legislative session draws to a close. Senate President Bill Galvano said his chamber is ready to consider legislation that […]
By Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida Siding with plaintiffs, a federal appeals court has refused to put on hold a decision that bans the state from denying the right to vote to felons who are unable to pay court-ordered fees and fines. Monday’s ruling by a three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit […]
By Christine Sexton, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — State Surgeon General Scott Rivkees said Friday that 15 people in Florida have tested negative for coronavirus. The state is monitoring another 150 people for the deadly virus, a significant drop from the 700 people who were at one time under investigation, Gov. Ron DeSantis, […]
By Ana Ceballos, The News Service of Florida A Florida House investigation into a domestic-violence nonprofit organization continued to leave lawmakers stunned, as more details about the former CEO’s compensation emerged Thursday. The revelations came as the House Public Integrity & Ethics Committee continued its quest to discern how Tiffany Carr, the former chief executive […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Florida cities and counties would get letter grades for economic and non-economic factors, under a bill that drew mostly bipartisan support Tuesday from the House Appropriations Committee. Another measure approved by the committee would ask voters in November to approve a proposed constitutional amendment that […]