By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — After a bipartisan uproar last year about a proposal dubbed the “Great Outdoors Initiative,” the Florida Senate on Tuesday began moving forward with a bill that would prevent building such things as golf courses, pickleball courts and hotel-style lodges in state parks. The Senate Environment […]
By Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Florida lawmakers on Tuesday launched a third special session aimed at increasing enforcement of illegal immigration, putting aside an intraparty clash with Gov. Ron DeSantis over plans to help carry out one of President Donald Trump’s top priorities. Lawmakers are slated to vote Thursday on […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — After a special session late last month spiraled into a clash between Republican legislative leaders and Gov. Ron DeSantis, Florida lawmakers will meet in another special session this week to pass a package of bills targeting illegal immigration — with DeSantis’ support. Senate President Ben […]
A federal appeals court will not reconsider an opinion last year that sided with the Florida High School Athletic Association in a long-running dispute about a blocking a Tampa Christian school from offering a prayer over a stadium loudspeaker before a high-school football championship game. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last week turned […]
By Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Special Florida House panels are teed up next week to scrutinize Gov. Ron DeSantis’ line-item budget vetoes, setting up possible overrides amid a dispute between the governor and Republican legislative leaders over immigration-enforcement plans. House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, on Thursday assembled four “combined workgroups” […]
By Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — After spending a week castigating a legislative plan addressing illegal immigration, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday adopted a more conciliatory tone as he laid out his proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year. DeSantis has been locked in a fierce battle with House Speaker Daniel […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis late Sunday proposed a $115.6 billion budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year that calls for increasing pay for state law-enforcement officers and firefighters, eliminating a commercial-lease tax and holding a new sales-tax “holiday” on guns and ammunition. The proposal is an initial […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Tallahassee TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis and Republican legislative leaders clashed throughout the week in a public and bitter tug-of-war over how best to carry out President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration. House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, and Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, convened a special legislative […]
By Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday pledged to veto an immigration bill passed during a special legislative session Tuesday, triggering a potential showdown with Republican House and Senate leaders in a tug-of-war over efforts to carry out President Donald Trump’s agenda. DeSantis lambasted the measure during […]
TALLAHASSEE — Saying they are trying to help President Donald Trump crack down on illegal immigration, Florida’s Republican-controlled Legislature late Tuesday passed a plan that includes boosting criminal penalties for undocumented immigrants, ending in-state tuition rates for undocumented-immigrant students and creating a state “chief immigration officer.” The bill, which passed in a special legislative session, […]