By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — In a far-reaching move to try to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday issued an executive order that blocks restaurants statewide from serving food in their dining rooms. The order will allow restaurants to sell food for carry-out and […]
By Jim Turner & Christine Sexton, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Florida lawmakers finished the 2020 legislative session Thursday by passing a $93.2 billion budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1. The Republican-dominated Legislature dealt with a wide range of issues during the session and grappled with uncertainty because of the […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — State lawmakers on Thursday approved a record $93.2 billion budget for next year, with attention already focused on a potential need to revisit the spending plan this summer as the novel coronavirus upends the economy. The budget (HB 5001), which takes effect July 1, was […]
By Christine Sexton, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — In the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, the Florida Legislature on Wednesday passed bills that expand the roles that advanced nurses and pharmacists play in the state’s health-care system, including allowing pharmacists to test and treat patients for the flu and strep throat and treat […]
Visit Florida appears to be getting more than a one-year extension. Days after budget negotiators agreed to maintain $50 million in funding for the state tourism-marketing agency next fiscal year, the House on Tuesday amended a Senate proposal (SB 362) and would authorize the agency until Oct. 1, 2023. The House is expected to vote […]
By Ana Ceballos, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — As the 2020 legislative session draws to a close, the House and Senate are in a standoff over a politically charged immigration proposal that is a top priority of Gov. Ron DeSantis. House Republicans on Tuesday refused to back a Senate measure that would have […]
After it appeared the House and Senate had agreed on spending $500 million to increase teacher salaries, the Senate on Sunday proposed upping the amount to $600 million. The proposal came a day after the House indicated it would go along with an initial Senate plan to spend $500 million. Increasing teacher pay is a […]
By Ana Ceballos, The News Service of Florida As Florida lawmakers inch toward a budget deal, House and Senate leaders on Saturday announced they had reached agreement on a number of key issues, including pay raises for state workers, funding for Visit Florida and leaving intact the affordable-housing trust fund. Legislators, who also met throughout […]
By Ana Ceballos, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — A last-minute deal on E-Verify emerged in the Senate on Friday, moving the Republican-dominated Legislature closer to giving Gov. Ron DeSantis a win on a key campaign promise. After weeks of negotiating with the governor’s office and reviewing a House proposal, Senate bill sponsor Tom […]
By Ana Ceballos, The News Service of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is backing the Senate in a heated fight over E-Verify, a move that could tip the scale in a contentious immigration battle as the 2020 legislative session draws to a close. Senate President Bill Galvano said his chamber is ready to consider legislation that […]