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DeSantis further expands state immigration authority through new ICE agreements
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday announced a supplemental Memorandum of Agreement between Florida law enforcement agencies and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), expanding state authority to enforce federal immigration laws under the 287(g) program. The...
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Senate unveils ‘Rural Renaissance’ plan
Senate President Ben Albritton calls it the “fight for a rural renaissance in Florida.” And Wednesday, the Senate released a 129-page bill that would take steps to try to bolster health care, education, roads and economic development in 31 counties that, in many...
Senate bill seeks to expand campus carry rights
Legislation filed in the Senate on Tuesday seeks to expand firearm carry rights on college and university campuses, allowing individuals to carry weapons in dormitories, residence halls, and other campus facilities. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Randy Fine, seeks to...
Housing costs, property insurance affordability noted as biggest concerns among Florida voters
Housing affordability and the escalating cost of property insurance were identified as the foremost concerns among Florida voters, according to a survey published by the University of North Florida’s Public Opinion Research Lab (PORL) on Tuesday. The statewide poll,...
Uthmeier takes reins as Attorney General
With Gov. Ron DeSantis describing him as a “bulldog,” James Uthmeier was elevated Monday to become Florida attorney general after serving as the governor’s chief of staff. While DeSantis had said earlier he would appoint Uthmeier to succeed former Attorney General...
Lawmakers introduce legislation to grant CRNAs full practice authority
Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez and Rep. Mike Giallombardo filed legislation last week to grant Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) in Florida the ability to practice independently, without the requirement of physician supervision. The twin measures, SB 718 in...
Flood program borrows $2B after storm claims
After Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton pounded Florida’s Gulf Coast last year, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is borrowing $2 billion to pay National Flood Insurance Program claims. FEMA, which manages the flood-insurance program, said the two hurricanes...
DeSantis signs immigration crackdown bill, ending GOP standoff
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday signed into law a set of immigration enforcement measures, resolving a weeks-long dispute with Florida's Republican legislative leadership. The legislation introduces new criminal penalties for individuals unlawfully entering Florida,...
Florida Senate passes trio of immigration bills
Two immigration-related bills were passed by the Florida Senate in an three-hour session on Thursday. The House of Representatives will take up the bills as lawmakers face a Friday deadline to get legislation passed designed to bolster the state's assistance with...
FAU attains top research status
Florida Atlantic University was designated an “R1: Very High Research Activity” institution on Thursday by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, placing it among the most research-intensive universities in the United States. FAU is the sixth...
Florida sets new tourism record in 2024, welcoming 142.9 million visitors
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on Wednesday that Florida set a new tourism record in 2024, welcoming 142.9 million visitors, surpassing previous records and marking the highest number of travelers in the state's history. Nearly 30 million visitors traveled to Florida...
UNF Poll: Trump, DeSantis maintain net positive approval
A poll published by the University of North Florida’s Public Opinion Research Lab (PORL) on Tuesday found that President Donald Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis maintain net positive approval ratings among registered voters in Florida. The survey of 871 active voters found...
Sen. Burgess files legislation requiring annual stormwater inspections to mitigate flood risks
Sen. Danny Burgess filed legislation Tuesday that would mandate annual inspections of canals and culverts under local government control to mitigate flooding risks before hurricane season. The legislation would require each political subdivision in Florida to conduct...
Senate Democratic Leader files legislation to mandate E-Verify for all employers
Senate Democratic Leader Jason Pizzo filed legislation on Sunday that would require all employers in the state to verify the employment eligibility of new hires through the federal E-Verify system, expanding current mandates that apply only to larger businesses. Under...
USF President Rhea Law announces plans to step down
University of South Florida President Rhea Law announced on Monday that she will step down following a national search for a successor. Law, who assumed the role in August 2021 on an interim basis before being appointed permanently in March 2022, said she will remain...
Florida Republicans file “truth tag” bills in hopes of protecting gullible people from AI
Florida lawmakers would require digital content, including election-related media, to carry metadata revealing AI involvement, but it’s costly, hard to enforce, and burdensome for content creators. A pair of similar bills making their way through the Florida...
Supreme Court Backs Mayfield in Ballot Fight
The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday backed Rep. Debbie Mayfield in her bid to run in a special election for a Senate seat, ruling that state elections officials wrongly blocked her from appearing on the ballot. The unanimous opinion said Mayfield’s candidacy in...
Longtime lawmaker Thompson dies at 76
Sen. Geraldine Thompson, a long-serving legislator and “trailblazing” civil-rights leader from Central Florida, died after complications from knee surgery, her family announced Thursday. Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, issued a statement calling Thompson’s...
AI report calls for balanced regulation to avoid business disruption
As Florida moves to establish its approach to artificial intelligence regulation, a new report from the state’s leading business advocacy group is urging lawmakers to strike a balance between oversight and innovation. The Associated Industries of Florida (AIF)...
Former House Speaker Paul Renner tapped for Board of Governors seat
Governor Ron DeSantis on Wednesday appointed former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner to the Board of Governors of the State University System, effective April 15, 2025, subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate. Renner, 57, served as Speaker from 2022 to 2024,...
DeSantis floats “Boating Freedom” initiative and fuel tax holiday
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a pair of policy initiatives on Wednesday, including a 'Boating Freedom Initiative' and a marine fuel tax holiday designed to provide financial relief for boaters. The Boating Freedom Initiative seeks to preempt local regulations that...
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