U.S. support for Israel's offensive against Hamas is being closely watched in South Florida's Jewish community.

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.

Florida will require statewide recertification of condominiums over three stories tall under new legislation Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law.

The Florida Senate has approved a sweeping legislative package meant to combat rising property insurance rates and other problems in the state’s turbulent insurance market, creating a $2 billion reinsurance fund and writing new rules around coverage denials and attorney fees.

Florida residents who buy diapers may no longer have to pay sales tax on their purchases starting on July 1.

Gov. Ron DeSantis says he will sign a 15-week abortion ban into law after Florida’s legislature joined the trend of Republican-led states anticipating a U.S. Supreme Court decision that could sharply limit abortion rights in America.

The Florida Senate is on the verge of passing a bill that would prohibit doctors from performing abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, one of the most bitterly disputed issues of the 2022 legislative session.

Florida State Sen. Lauren Book was sexually abused as a child for years by her nanny.

There are no major events planned around it these days, but April 26 continues to be Confederate Memorial Day -- a state-sanctioned holiday in Florida. The birthdays for Confederate President Jefferson Davis and Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee also remain legal holidays in Florida.

The Florida Senate on Wednesday approved a bill that would make permanent a move that has allowed restaurants to sell alcoholic drinks with take-home meals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The head of Florida’s guardian ad litem program defended the agency’s efforts Tuesday to a Senate committee, following a report that said the organization’s funding has increased while the number of children it represents has dropped. Local and federal funding for the program more than doubled over the same time period, the report found. While the program staff has expanded to 848 employees and 13,231 volunteers, the number of children served by the program has declined, the report found. “Maybe you can save the answer for the next time we meet,” Wright told Abramowitz. At the end of Tuesday’s meeting, Book told Abramowitz and the committee that she and her panel will continue to delve into the program.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – State lawmakers heard from the head of the Florida Department of Children and families Tuesday morning. The agency provided updates on the pandemic, addressing sexual abuse allegations from foster children and the ongoing fight to return millions in taxpayer dollars used for excessive salaries by the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Domestic violence and child abuse calls have nearly returned to normal levels after dropping dramatically at the start of the pandemic. The Secretary heard concerns from lawmakers regarding allegations of sexual abuse by foster parents. Poppell indicated DCF will begin utilizing its critical response team to review cases and establish a special investigations unit to better address alleged sexual abuse by foster care parents.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Calling it the “Learning with Dignity Act,” a Senate Democrat on Thursday proposed a bill that would require public schools to provide feminine hygiene products free to students. The bill (SB 242), filed by Sen. Lauren Book, D-Plantation, will be considered during the 2021 legislative session, which starts in March. It would require school districts to make available in female restrooms products such as tampons and sanitary napkins. “(Access) to feminine hygiene products is a serious and ongoing need in this state, and … when students do not have access to affordable feminine hygiene products, they may miss multiple days of school every month,” the bill said.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida lawmakers once again are being asked to consider a sales-tax exemption for diapers and incontinence products. Orlando Democratic Rep. Amy Mercado on Thursday filed a proposal (HB 87) for the 2020 session, which will start in January. The proposals would exempt diapers, incontinence undergarments, incontinence pads and incontinence liners from sales taxes. During debate on her proposal this spring, Book, the mother of twin toddlers, called a tax break on diapers a way to help young families. "Once their children age out of diapers, 90 percent of families say they use that money for food," Book said in April.

Right now, you will lose your license if you have an armed guardian, Book said in a text message. Upon hearing her suggestion, he asked whether it could be considered an expansion of the guardian program. Books plan would tweak the state law that governs voluntary pre-kindergarten education program, and would require action by the Legislature. One of the policy proposals recommended by the panel which made it into state law is an expansion of the guardian program, which allows school personnel to be trained and armed in schools. A statewide survey conducted by the Florida Department of Education showed that more school districts have opted into the school guardian program since June.

CNN VideoTALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Sex offender Jeffrey Epsteins jailhouse death wont alter Floridas investigation into how the Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office and others handled his sentencing and incarceration more than a decade ago. Epstein was found dead of an apparent suicide Saturday in his cell in a federal jail in New York. Ron DeSantis last week directed the FDLE to oversee a criminal investigation into irregularities regarding Epsteins 2008 plea agreement and incarceration after receiving a request from Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw. While in custody, Epstein was housed in a private wing of the Palm Beach County stockade. Reporting by the Miami Herald led to heavy scrutiny of the 2008 plea deal.

Nothing changes for us, Florida Department of Law Enforcement spokeswoman Gretl Plessinger said in an email Sunday. Epstein was found dead of an apparent suicide Saturday in his cell in a federal jail in New York. While in custody, Epstein was housed in a private wing of the Palm Beach County stockade. Reporting by the Miami Herald led to heavy scrutiny of the 2008 plea deal. Epstein was arrested last month on sex-trafficking charges involving minors in Florida and New York and was held without bail.

A Democratic lawmaker Florida doesnt think so and has filed legislation for the upcoming session that would put the question before voters. The bill filed by Sen. Lauren Book, D-Florida, proposes a controversial safeguard to prevent new abortion restrictions in Florida. Abortion affects society including the fathers, the grandparents and the siblings of aborted children, Delgado said. Delgado said the proposed amendment would impose a standard on abortion legislation that doesnt exist for any other issue. But Scott said while the Legislature may be in favor of tougher abortion restrictions, Florida voters have rejected them.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Coconut patties, promoted by Anastasia Confections as a "unique, time-tested recipe that will transport you to a tropical paradise with every creamy, chocolatey bite," is being pushed to be the Sunshine State's official candy. Sen. Lauren Book, a Plantation Democrat, has filed a measure (SB 38) that would make the treats -- both chocolate-dipped and nonchocolate varieties -- the latest state symbol. If approved by state lawmakers during the legislative session that begins in January, coconut patties would join a list of official Florida items that includes key lime pie, tupelo honey, horse conch and Myakka fine sand, as well as the mockingbird, dolphin, panther, and American alligator. Coconut patties "have been one of Florida's staple treats" for more than a half-century, according to Orlando-based Anastasia Confections. They consist of a creamy, shredded coconut center that is traditionally dipped in rich, dark chocolate, the company states on its website.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Declawing cats, unless medically necessary, would be banned under a bill proposed for the 2020 legislative session by Sen. Lauren Book. The New York law, signed by Gov. Under Books proposal, Florida veterinarians that declaw cats unless it's medically necessary would face a $1,000 fine and be subject to disciplinary action by the Board of Veterinary Medicine. The legislation includes exceptions for "recurring illness, infection, disease, injury or abnormal condition" which compromises a cat's health. News Service of Florida

Restaurants would get a tax credit for setting up baby-changing tables, under a measure proposed Wednesday by Sen. Lauren Book, a Plantation Democrat who gave birth to twins in February. The proposal (SB 236) would offer a tax credit equal to the cost of a changing table --- not including the cost of installation --- or $300, whichever is less. Credits would be available for up to two tables per restaurant. Earlier this month, Book also filed a bill (SB 56) that would provide a sales-tax exemption on diapers, along with incontinence undergarments, pads and liners. During the 2017 session, Book co-sponsored legislation that would have eliminated sales taxes on diapers, but the proposal did not make a final tax-cut package.