Curtisโ Law: Mother who lost 16-year-old son spurs Florida law to support families of crime victims
Curtis Law, which officially takes effect Saturday in Florida, gives victims' families more rights during investigations, something Patricia Ward said she wished she had 26 years ago when her 16-year-old son, Curtis Williamson, was killed.
Bill aimed at making changes to FHSAA awaits DeSantisโ signature
A bill that gives high school athletes greater options than ever in choosing where they want to play cleared the Florida Legislature and now awaits the signature of Gov. Ron DeSantis, another blow for the embattled Florida High School Athletic Association.
Florida Immigration Coalition joins Equality Florida, NAACP in asking for Florida travel boycott
Florida is proposing some of its toughest immigration laws in years, backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. One bill proposes prosecuting legal resident who hide or transport those in the country illegally. As a result of that, another group has come out with a travel advisory for people coming to state. The Florida Immigrant Coalition wants people to know they might face problems if the law is passed. They join two other groups Equality Florida and The NAACP which has come out with similar warnings...to not come to Florida.
Florida Senate to vote on bill that would allow state to revoke venue license if children attend drag shows
The Florida Senate is expected to vote Tuesday on a bill that would clear the way for the state to revoke the licenses of restaurants and other establishments that allow children to attend drag shows.
Florida Legislature moving quickly on DeSantis priorities
From expanding gun rights to going after โwokeโ investors, the Florida Legislature is quickly moving on a list of bills that will give Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis conservative-pleasing policy successes as he prepares to launch a presidential campaign.
Florida senator nixes proposal to ban dogs from sticking heads out of car windows: report
Florida Sen. Lauren Book filed a bill intended to protect animals, and the legislation included a proposal that would make it illegal to let a dog stick its head out of a window of a moving car. But after getting feedback on that proposal, Book reportedly plans to amend the bill and remove that ban from the legislation.
Voucher expansion backed in Florida Senate
The Senate began moving forward Tuesday with a proposal that would make every Florida student eligible for state-backed vouchers that could be used for private-school tuition and various other expenses, while opponents argued the measure would harm traditional public schools.
Florida governor issues executive order to extend property tax deadlines for homes, business damaged by Hurricane Ian
The Florida Legislature will hold a special session before the end of the year to consider providing property tax relief for people and businesses whose property was destroyed by Hurricane Ian.
Amendment 3: Increase homestead exemption for teachers, first-responders, military
The third proposed amendment to the Florida Constitution that the Florida Legislature voted to place on the ballot this November this year would increase the homestead exemption for teachers, law-enforcement officers, correctional officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, child-welfare services professionals and active-duty members of the military and Florida National Guard.
Jacksonville City Council, District 9
When Councilman Garrett Dennis resigned to run for a seat in the Florida Legislature, three candidates signed up to run in a special August election for District 9, Jacksonville City Council. Democrat Tyrona Clark-Murray received 53% of the vote and was elected to fill the seat through next June. She must run for re-election next spring to win a full four-year term.
Connecticut governor invites Florida businesses to move to his state โthat supports rights of womenโ
As the battle continues in Florida over a 15-week abortion ban that was slated to take effect Friday but is being blocked by a state judge, an open letter went out to Florida businesses from the governor of Connecticut.
Floridaโs โred-flagโ law eyed as example amid gun debate
As a national debate rages over gun laws after last monthโs mass shooting at a Texas elementary school, proponents of โred-flagโ policies point to a Florida law as a model for states seeking to strip deadly weapons from people who could cause harm.
Appeals court blasts redistricting injunction
An appeals court Friday said a circuit judge issued a โpatently unlawfulโ temporary injunction against a congressional redistricting plan pushed through the Legislature by Gov. Ron DeSantis, giving another sign that the controversial plan likely will be used in this yearโs elections.
Florida Senate passes property insurance package
The Florida Senate has approved a sweeping legislative package meant to combat rising property insurance rates and other problems in the stateโs turbulent insurance market, creating a $2 billion reinsurance fund and writing new rules around coverage denials and attorney fees.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis takes wait-and-see stance on abortion ruling
Gov. Ron DeSantis was noncommittal Wednesday about whether he will ask lawmakers to further restrict abortion in Florida, as the nation awaits a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that could overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade abortion rights decision.
FDOE reinstates more textbooks previously rejected over โprohibitedโ content; questions remain over examples released
The Florida Department of Education has reinstated more math textbooks that were previously rejected because the state said they contained โprohibitedโ content such as critical race theory, social emotional learning and Common Core frameworks.
Floridaโs education department reinstates 9 textbooks previously rejected over โprohibitedโ content
The Florida Department of Education reinstated nine math textbooks that were previously rejected because the state said they contained โprohibitedโ content such as critical race theory, social emotional learning and Common Core frameworks.