By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — House and Senate leaders brought the gavel down on the 105-day legislative session before midnight on Monday, celebrating with the traditional hanky drop signaling a wrap to their work. Attention now is focused on which items in the $115.1 billion state spending plan, which took […]
By Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Out-of-state students attending Florida universities could see a 10 percent increase in tuition this fall and an additional hike the following school year, under a rule unanimously adopted by the state university system’s Board of Governors on Wednesday. Tuition hikes for out-of-state students would have […]
By The News Service of Florida An estimated 7,415 first-time unemployment claims were filed in Florida during the week that ended June 14, according to a U.S. Department of Labor report released Wednesday. The total was down from an estimated 8,786 claims during the previous week. Florida has averaged 6,377 claims a week since the […]
By The News Service of Florida After lawmakers late Monday passed a $115.1 billion state budget for next fiscal year, Florida TaxWatch raised questions over about $1 billion in the spending plan. The Tallahassee-based non-profit group on Tuesday released its annual “turkey” report of questionable spending items that it believes should get a close look […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — A federal judge Tuesday found Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier in civil contempt because of a letter he sent in April to police after she ordered a halt to enforcement of a new state immigration law. U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams said Uthmeier violated a […]
By Jim Turner & Tom Urban, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — One of the more-contentious legislative sessions in recent history came to a close late Monday as lawmakers approved a $115.1 billion budget for next fiscal year and prepared to send it to Gov. Ron DeSantis. The Senate unanimously passed the spending plan […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Florida would hold a sales-tax “holiday” each August for back-to-school items, while sales taxes would be eliminated on commercial leases and such things as hurricane supplies and sunscreen, under a tax package that House and Senate leaders released Friday evening. The House and Senate will […]
By The News Service of Florida Legislative leaders said Thursday evening they hope to finish a budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year on Friday so it can go before the House and Senate early next week. Senate Appropriations Chairman Ed Hooper, R-Trinity, said he and House Budget Chairman Lawrence McClure, R-Dover, have committed to having […]
By Jim Turner & Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — House and Senate budget negotiators agreed to pay raises for state employees, with bigger boosts going to law enforcement officers and firefighters, as talks continued Tuesday on a state spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Ed Hooper, […]
By The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — House and Senate budget leaders Monday rushed to finalize a new state spending plan, while Gov. Ron DeSantis continued calling for giving property-tax rebates. Senate Appropriations Chairman Ed Hooper, R-Trinity, and House Budget Chairman Lawrence McClure, R-Dover, swapped budget offers during an afternoon meeting and were scheduled […]