By Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — A persistently contentious debate about regulating vacation rentals has escalated into a clash between two powerful industry groups after the Florida Legislature passed a measure that would significantly restrict how local governments can oversee the properties. The bill, finalized in the waning days of the […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — With the state preparing for a legal challenge from the tech industry, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed a high-profile bill aimed at keeping children off social-media platforms. “You better believe, I am going to fight like hell to uphold this in court,” Attorney General […]
High-profile bills aimed at keeping children off social media and loosening decades-old work restrictions for 16- and 17-year-old youths were among 15 bills that the Legislature formally sent Thursday to Gov. Ron DeSantis. The social-media bill (HB 3) was a priority of House Speaker Paul Renner, a Palm Coast Republican who contends online platforms harm […]
By Ryan Dailey and Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — After speaking behind a placard that said “stop illegal immigration,” Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday signed three bills that proponents argue will be deterrents to undocumented immigrants coming to the state. The measures, approved during the legislative session that ended last week, […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday signed a controversial bill designed to prevent homeless people from sleeping in public places, continuing to say he doesn’t want Florida to become like places such as San Francisco. DeSantis, who signed the measure (HB 1365) during an appearance in […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — With a hearing scheduled April 9, Florida State University this week fired back at a request by the Atlantic Coast Conference to put on hold — or dismiss — a lawsuit that could lead to FSU leaving the athletic conference. FSU filed the lawsuit Dec. […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Tallahassee TALLAHASSEE — The state and attorneys for students, parents and teachers have settled a battle about a 2022 Florida law that restricts instruction about gender identity and sexual orientation in schools. The settlement, which comes after months of talks, seeks to draw a distinction between preventing “classroom […]
By The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — The 2024 legislative session ended Friday with an annual hanky-drop ceremony in the rotunda between the House and Senate chambers. Here are snapshots of 10 big issues from the session: — BUDGET: Lawmakers passed a $117.46 billion budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, which will start July […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — The Florida House late Thursday gave final approval to a bill that would make a series of changes in state energy laws, including preventing offshore wind-energy generation and removing references to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The House voted 81-29 to pass the bill (HB 1645), […]
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 […]