By The News Service of Florida An attorney for Death Row inmate Louis Gaskin has appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court to try to halt a scheduled Wednesday execution of Gaskin in the 1989 murders of a Flagler County couple. Attorney Eric Pinkard filed documents Thursday seeking a stay of execution and asking the U.S. […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Florida lawmakers Wednesday reached the halfway point in this year’s 60-day legislative session. The House and Senate have passed high-profile bills involving issues such as affordable housing and school vouchers, but major issues remain to be resolved. Here are snapshots of 10 big issues: — […]
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed a measure that will allow Floridians to carry guns without concealed-weapons licenses. The Republican-controlled Senate gave final approval to the measure (HB 543) on Thursday, about a week after the House passed it. The bill will do away with a decades-old licensing process, which has included requiring that people […]
By The News Service of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday signed into law a $711 million plan to make housing more affordable for working Floridians. A priority of Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, the “Live Local Act,” will more than double funding for housing and rental programs, provide incentives for investment in affordable housing and […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — With approval Friday from the Florida House, Senate President Kathleen Passidomo’s $711 million effort to make housing more affordable for working Floridians is headed to Gov. Ron DeSantis. The House voted 103-6 to pass a bill (SB 102) dubbed the “Live Local Act.” The bill […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Florida Supreme Court Justice Ricky Polston announced Monday he will step down March 31, giving Gov. Ron DeSantis another opportunity to place his imprint on the state’s highest court. In a two-paragraph letter to DeSantis, Polston, 67, did not detail reasons for his resignation after […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Senate has started fast-tracking a proposal that would bar the sale of agricultural land and property within 20 miles of military bases to interests tied to the Chinese government or other nations on a list of “countries of concern.” The bill (SB 264), […]
By The News Service of Florida A proposal that would make all Florida students eligible to receive taxpayer-backed school vouchers is headed to the full House, after getting some changes Friday. The Republican-controlled House Education Quality Subcommittee approved the proposal (HB 1) in a near party-line vote. The bill would massively expand eligibility for vouchers, […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Moving quickly on priorities of Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, Florida senators Wednesday passed measures aimed at spurring more affordable housing for workers and boosting a trail network and wildlife corridor. Senators unanimously approved what has been dubbed the “Live Local Act” (SB 102), which includes […]
By Jim Saunders & Ryan Dailey, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Drawing a national spotlight as he prepares for a potential White House bid, Gov. Ron DeSantis opened the annual legislative session Tuesday by touting the state’s accomplishments and vowing to “swing for the fences so that we can ensure Florida remains number […]