By The News Service of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday received a final batch of 37 bills that passed during the 2024 legislative session. The bills include measures about regulation of vacation rental properties (SB 280), prohibiting drivers from cruising in the left lanes of highways (HB 317) and controversial changes in ethics laws […]
By Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — House and Senate leaders plan to use “rainy day reserve” money to keep afloat about 200 jobs after Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed more than $56 million from part of the state budget that pays for “legislative support services.” The vetoes wiped out funding for joint […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida Eleven candidates, mostly incumbents, won legislative races Friday as they did not draw opponents before a qualifying deadline, while the Florida Democratic Party hit a goal of having candidates vie for every seat up for election. Two Democrats — former House members Carlos Guillermo Smith of Orlando […]
By The News Service of Florida House and Senate leaders rushed to assure about 200 legislative workers that “they do not need to worry” after Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday slashed more than $56 million from part of the state budget that pays for “legislative support services.” DeSantis’ vetoes included roughly $28.3 million for the […]
By Jim Turner & Ryan Dailey, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday signed a $116.5 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year, after vetoing close to $950 million in spending approved by lawmakers in March. “Some of the stuff I don’t think was appropriate for state tax dollars,” DeSantis […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — A federal judge has blocked a 2023 Florida law that required municipal elected officials to disclose detailed information about their personal finances, ruling that the law likely violated First Amendment rights. U.S. District Judge Melissa Damian on Monday issued a preliminary injunction, siding with municipal […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — A long political career has taught former state Rep. James Bush not to wait when it comes to filing candidate qualifying paperwork. One time, Bush recalled, he was disqualified after a notary public didn’t properly sign his paperwork. Another time, in 2002, Bush was among […]
By Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis — who’s come out swinging against a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow recreational marijuana — on Friday delivered a victory to potential pot competitors by vetoing a measure that would have severely restricted the sales and production of euphoria-inducing hemp-based products. Lawmakers passed […]
By The News Service of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state Cabinet are scheduled next week to consider buying a Central Florida warehouse site that would be turned into a “hub” for storing and moving supplies during emergencies. The 40-acre site is in Auburndale, along Interstate 4, and would be purchased from CH Realty […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Incoming Senate President Ben Albritton said he’s prepared to do “whatever it takes” financially to protect a North Florida seat held by Sen. Corey Simon, R-Tallahassee. Albritton’s comment confirmed that vast amounts of money could be pumped into the race in Senate District 3, which […]