An unexpected change is coming at the University of Florida after the Board of Governors voted Tuesday to block the presumptive next president of the university from getting the job.

In a long-anticipated move, two internet-industry groups filed a constitutional challenge on Monday to a new Florida law aimed at keeping children off social media platforms.

In a defeat for supporters of a proposal aimed at enshrining abortion rights in the state Constitution, the Florida Supreme Court on Wednesday cleared the way for a revised “financial impact statement” to appear on the November ballot.

Republican Paul Renner, who was first elected to the Florida House in 2015, can’t seek re-election due to term limits, so the seat is open this year.

During the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, many Florida and Jacksonville area issues have been the focus for some local leaders.

Gov. Ron DeSantis will be at Cornerstone Classical Academy on St. Johns Bluff Road in Jacksonville for a news conference Monday morning.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill Wednesday banning thousands of people experiencing homelessness from setting up camp or sleeping on public property in Florida.

The 2024 legislative session ended Friday with an annual hanky-drop ceremony in the rotunda between the House and Senate chambers. Here are snapshots of 10 big issues from the session

Amid a debate about the role of government and parental rights, the Florida Senate on Thursday passed a bill that seeks to keep children under the age of 16 off social media platforms.

A bill that would be one of the nation’s most restrictive bans on minors’ use of social media is heading to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The Florida Senate is ready Thursday to pass a high-profile bill that seeks to prevent children under age 16 from creating accounts on what lawmakers say are “addictive” social-media platforms.

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 7-2 to approve a bill (SB 1788) that is similar to a measure (HB 1) that passed the House last month and is a priority of House Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast.

Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives Paul Renner are set to hold a news conference Monday morning in Naples.

The Florida House is poised to pass a bill aimed at preventing children under age 16 from using social media, as parts of the tech industry argue the measure could be unconstitutional and create data-privacy concerns.

It could potentially reverse part of a law that passed in the aftermath of the 2018 mass shooting at Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

A House Republican from Northeast Florida on Thursday renewed an attempt to lower the minimum age from 21 to 18 for people to buy rifles and other long guns in Florida, potentially reversing part of a law that passed in the aftermath of the 2018 mass shooting at Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a law Tuesday that’s designed to eliminate the consideration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards from government investment strategies, procurements, bond issuances and use of banks.

Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to sign the affordable housing bill Wednesday that was passed by the Florida Legislature.

From expanding gun rights to going after “woke” 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.

A massive expansion of Florida’s school-choice programs that would make all students eligible for taxpayer-backed vouchers is headed to Gov. Ron DeSantis, after the Republican-controlled Senate passed the measure Thursday amid warnings from Democrats.

It’s a scenario that many families know all too well. Early each morning, parents struggle to rouse sleepy teenagers, get them in the car or to the bus stop and then hope they are prepared for the school day.

As the 2023 legislative session began Tuesday, Senate and House Republicans proposed measures that seek to prevent abortions after six weeks of pregnancy.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will hold a news conference Monday at a state college in Naples at 10 a.m.

Local law enforcement leaders are weighing-in after Republican state lawmakers announced a push to eliminate the permit requirement for carrying a concealed weapon in public.

Calling the proposal an effort to “remove the government permission slip,” House Speaker Paul Renner on Monday announced legislation that would allow people to carry concealed weapons without licenses.

Florida would make every student eligible for vouchers to attend private school with taxpayer money under proposed legislation House Speaker Paul Renner said will be a priority for the session that begins in March 7.

As Florida lawmakers try to stabilize the troubled property-insurance system next month, they could face worsening problems with reinsurance, a critical part of the system.

Despite pounding parts of the East Coast, Hurricane Nicole will not hit Florida’s insurance market as hard as Hurricane Ian.

Continuing to target what he calls “woke” corporations, Gov. Ron DeSantis wants to prohibit state investments that use “environmental, social and governance” ratings, which can include taking into account impacts of climate change.

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday signed into law a measure that will increase sentences for trafficking fentanyl and could lead to dealers facing death sentences or life in prison if methamphetamine they distribute kills someone.

One of the nation's fastest-growing, tuition-free public charter school systems broke ground Wednesday on the first of its two Jacksonville campuses.

It’s undeniably controversial, but a leader in state politics says it’s a good compromise.

Two St. Johns County school board members were in Tallahassee last week and took the opportunity to lobby local lawmakers for additional funding to help deal with the explosive growth in the county.

A political committee led by incoming House Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, raised $213,000 in September, a newly filed finance report shows.

The Florida House formally voted to pick its next speaker.

Florida Republicans are honing their messaging for the 2022 election cycle and have launched a new ad describing themselves as a ‘Freedom Firewall.’

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – When the Florida Legislative session begins next week there’s one controversial bill that is expected to gain statewide and possibly nationwide attention — House Bill 1. AdThe bill, a response to the civil unrest following the death of George Floyd last year, has gained strong Republican support, including the support of Gov. Jacksonville Pastor John Allen Newman told host Kent Justice “On This Week in Jacksonville” he believes the bill could disproportionately impact people of color. There are already laws if you accost a police officer...you are arrested for assaulting a police officer,” he said. AdLast week on This Week In Jacksonville, local Republican Rep. Paul Renner, said he supports any legislation that would deter political violence.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – On this edition of “This Week in Jacksonville,” former U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire weighs in on the national political scene now that President Joe Biden has taken office. State Rep. Paul Renner comments on the upcoming legislative session. And Florida Democratic Party Chairman Manny Diaz talks about his new role and the election results.

The controversial ‘anti-mob’ bill has faced strong opposition, including in Duval County, from those who say it would limit First Amendment rights and allow bystanders to shoot and kill looters. Republican Rep. Paul Renner, represents Florida’s 24th District — which includes all of Flagler County, southern St. Johns County and northern Volusia County — and a powerful voice in the Florida House of Representatives. He told Kent Justice during a taping of This Week in Jacksonville that he supports any legislation that would deter political violence. In a House committee session in Tallahassee last month, 69 people spoke out about the bill. You can watch the full interview Sunday at 9 a.m. on Channel 4 and at noon on CW17.

Lawmakers will hold an organization session Nov. 17 to formally swear in members and leaders, with the 2021 legislative session starting in March. Sprowls' committee changes also involve a newly named and expanded Education & Employment Committee, which will be chaired by Clearwater Republican Chris Latvala. Palm Coast Republican Paul Renner, who is in line to succeed Sprowls as speaker in November 2022, was named Rules Committee chairman. Spring Hill Republican Blaise Ingoglia will chair the Commerce Committee, and Lakeland Republican Colleen Burton will chair the Health & Human Services Committee. Meanwhile, Miami Republican Daniel Perez, R-Miami, will take over as Judiciary Committee chairman; Lecanto Republican Ralph Massullo will serve as State Affairs Committee chairman; and Palatka Republican Bobby Payne will be Ways & Means Committee chairman.

Attorney General Ashley Moody, in conjunction with Chief Justice Charles T. Canady, on Friday hosted part four of the Attorney Generals Mental Health and Criminal Justice Round Table Summer Series. Earlier roundtables focused on mental health issues within law enforcement ranks and treating people with diagnosable disorders before and after they are arrested. We all know, sitting around the table, and everyone involved in the mental health courts will tell you, the treatment works." While mental health courts already in existence may be built around the needs of a particular community, Moody said they can provide a template for other counties. Fourteen out of our 20 (judicial) circuits have mental health courts and judges that are specifically focused on that, along with 24 out of our 67 counties.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - State Rep. Paul Renner, in line to become House speaker in 2022, has drawn a challenger as he runs for re-election next year in a Northeast Florida district. Renner, R-Palm Coast, is positioned to become speaker in 2022 but needs to continue winning in the district. He had raised $37,500 for his re-election bid as of May 31, a finance report shows. Meanwhile, in South Florida, Republican Nelson Rodriguez has opened a campaign account to try to unseat freshman Rep. Cindy Polo, D-Miramar, in House District 103, which is made up of parts of Broward and Miami-Dade counties. Polo, who was elected to the seat in 2018, had raised $745 for her re-election campaign as of June 30.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida will soon see the first change in 35 years to the legal threshold for felony theft after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a criminal-justice package into law on Friday. Raising the threshold that triggers felony theft charges from $300 to $750 was one of the biggest changes in the bill (HB 7125). Other changes will also give judges more leeway over sentences of non-violent drug offenders and will allow thousands of non-violent offenders to be released from prison earlier for good behavior. House sponsor Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, issued a statement Friday evening describing the bill as the largest criminal justice reform package in more than a generation.