DeSantis Pushes for Parental Rights Over Social Media Ban for Kids

DeSantis Pushes for Parental Rights Over Social Media Ban for Kids

Liv Caputo
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January 26, 2024
TALLAHASSEE, FL—Gov. DeSantis has weighed in on potential legal concerns for the social media ban for minors bill that passed the House Floor Thursday. Gov. DeSantis explained that while he agreed with the bill, it was likely to evolve to expand parental rights. "I think social media has been a net negative for our youth […]
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DeSantis Says He's Open to Send State Guard to Defend Southern Border

DeSantis Says He's Open to Send State Guard to Defend Southern Border

Liv Caputo
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January 26, 2024
TALLAHASSEE, FL—Florida takes a step toward further intervening in the Texas border crisis with a new bill expanding Governor DeSantis' control of the State Guard. The State Guard is under the Governor's final and ultimate authority, and HB 1551 would allow him to deploy his guard nationwide. “We've got FHP Fish and Wildlife, we've had […]
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James Madison Institute Applauds Striking of DEI in Florida College Systems

James Madison Institute Applauds Striking of DEI in Florida College Systems

Liv Caputo
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January 26, 2024
TALLAHASSEE, FL—Florida's State Board of Education announced last week their imposition of "strict regulations" on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives on college campuses, leading the James Madison Institute, a libertarian non-profit think tank, to laud the state's efforts. The board's ruling will prohibit taxpayer funds going toward DEI programs and replaces the "Principles of Sociology" […]
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Online Sting Operation Bill to Catch Pedophiles Passes Florida House Committee

Online Sting Operation Bill to Catch Pedophiles Passes Florida House Committee

Liv Caputo
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January 25, 2024
TALLAHASSEE, FL—A new bill would help fund local law enforcement agencies in their efforts to create sting operations to track down and arrest child predators. The bill would financially assist agents who pose as children online to locate and prosecute pedophiles and child abusers. "There are countless stories hearing about sting operations," HB 1131's sponsor, […]
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'A Digital Fentanyl': Social Media Ban for Kids Passes the House Floor

'A Digital Fentanyl': Social Media Ban for Kids Passes the House Floor

Liv Caputo
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January 24, 2024
TALLAHASSEE, FL—The Florida House passed a measure banning social media for minors Wednesday afternoon, citing positively correlated levels of child suicide and usage of these platforms. Meanwhile, Democrats voiced concerns over restricted parental rights and the positives that social media can provide. "Studies have shown that social media is having a devastating impact on our […]
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Florida Moves to Ban Minors from Viewing Porn

Florida Moves to Ban Minors from Viewing Porn

Liv Caputo
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January 24, 2024
TALLAHASSEE, FL—Florida is on the precipice of joining 8 other states in prohibiting minors from visiting porn websites. This bill requires pornographic websites to impose an age verification tool, ban access to minors, and have a readily available link on their site to report violations. "When you live in a world where there is a […]
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Florida Pressures U.S. Congress for Congressional Term Limit Amendment

Florida Pressures U.S. Congress for Congressional Term Limit Amendment

Liv Caputo
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January 24, 2024
TALLAHASSEE, FL—Florida is calling for an Article V Convention to circumvent Congress and amend the U.S. Constitution to provide term limits for Congressional members. 34 states would have to call for an Article V Convention, which has never happened before, in order to amend the Constitution. "For hundreds of years, for decades now, everyone has […]
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'More Dangerous Than Uranium': Exposing Fentanyl to First Responders May Become a Felony

'More Dangerous Than Uranium': Exposing Fentanyl to First Responders May Become a Felony

Liv Caputo
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January 24, 2024
TALLAHASSEE, FL—Exposing fentanyl to first responders would become a first-degree felony under a proposed Florida bill. The measure would penalize any user whose fentanyl causes a law enforcement officer or first responder to overdose or incur serious bodily harm. "This bill makes sure that individuals that put our first responders' lives at risk are held […]
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Florida Bill Cracks Down on Driving Without a License

Florida Bill Cracks Down on Driving Without a License

Liv Caputo
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January 24, 2024
TALLAHASSEE, FL — A new Florida bill would strengthen the penalties for driving without a valid license, making third-time offenders liable for a stint in jail. Though the bill passed the committee unanimously, concerns were raised over the impact on immigrant drivers. SB 1324, sponsored by Republican Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, creates a three-level process for […]
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Keiser University Hopes to Continue Addressing Nursing Crisis with their Day at the Capitol

Keiser University Hopes to Continue Addressing Nursing Crisis with their Day at the Capitol

Liv Caputo
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January 23, 2024
TALLAHASSEE, FL—Keiser University will host their annual "Keiser Days" at the Florida Capitol during the fourth week of the Legislative Session. The school hopes to continue addressing the growing nursing shortage in the state and win big with a new bill designed to help nurse anesthetists. "As one of Florida's largest private, non-profit universities, Keiser […]
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Education Bill Would Ban Instruction on Systemic Oppression in Teacher Prep Curriculums

Education Bill Would Ban Instruction on Systemic Oppression in Teacher Prep Curriculums

Liv Caputo
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January 22, 2024
TALLAHASSEE, FL—A new education bill would prohibit teachers' prep classes from including a curriculum on the existence of systemic racism, sexism, or oppression in Florida institutions. The bill would also prevent "identity politics" and any "distortion of historical events". "I am looking for the best environment for our students so they can be as successful […]
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New Bill Affects Gender and Sex On Driver's Licenses, Health Insurance for De-transitioning Adults

New Bill Affects Gender and Sex On Driver's Licenses, Health Insurance for De-transitioning Adults

Liv Caputo
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January 22, 2024
TALLAHASSEE, FL—A Florida bill expanding health insurance coverage to people de-transitioning from sex reassignment procedures and changing requirements on licenses from "gender" to "sex" passed down party lines Monday afternoon. In a lengthy public testimony and debate, Democrats opposed the bill for its alleged dangerous impact on transgender communities. "I call this the compassion and […]
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Florida Bill Wants to Pay $5 Million of Trump's Legal Fees

Florida Bill Wants to Pay $5 Million of Trump's Legal Fees

Liv Caputo
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January 22, 2024
TALLAHASSEE, FL—A new Florida bill would create a $5 million "Freedom Fighters Fund" to pay former President Donald Trump's legal fees, who currently faces 91 felony counts. Backed by the state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, the money would come from fees paid by candidates running for office and restored with voluntary donations when a […]
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Bundle of Bills to be Debated in the Third Week of the Legislative Session

Bundle of Bills to be Debated in the Third Week of the Legislative Session

Liv Caputo
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January 22, 2024
TALLAHASSEE, FL—As Lawmakers enter the third week of the Legislative Session, with it comes a slew of hard-hitting bills, sure to ignite debate in both chambers. This week's agenda covers sex reassignment insurance coverage, the banning of identity politics in teacher preparation courses, drunk driving, and much more. Licenses and Drunk Driving Monday will see […]
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The Lounge?—1.20.2024—Week 2 of the 2024 Legislative Session in the Books—DeSantis Hobbles on After Iowa—More...

The Lounge?—1.20.2024—Week 2 of the 2024 Legislative Session in the Books—DeSantis Hobbles on After Iowa—More...

Liv Caputo
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January 20, 2024
In the wake of Gov. DeSantis' staggering defeat in Iowa, Florida pushes on; continuing their rapid-fire slew of novel legislation in the second week of the 60-day Legislative session. From a sprawling defamation bill to felonies for child groomers to reworked child labor laws, Florida lawmakers made sure to cover it all. In addition, the […]
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'The Closest Thing to the Devil': Florida Child Groomers Could Face a Second-Degree Felony

'The Closest Thing to the Devil': Florida Child Groomers Could Face a Second-Degree Felony

Liv Caputo
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January 19, 2024
TALLAHASSEE, FL---A new bill defining and punishing child-grooming passed House committee Friday afternoon, branding offenders with a second-degree felony. If the bill becomes law, it would make Florida the first state to have a criminal definition of grooming. "The closest thing to the Devil in human form are the people that do this." The sponsor […]
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Sweeping Florida Healthcare Bills Pushed Past the Senate Floor

Sweeping Florida Healthcare Bills Pushed Past the Senate Floor

Liv Caputo
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January 19, 2024
TALLAHASSEE, FL --- Senate President Kathleen Passidomo's sweeping healthcare agenda is on the move, following the Florida Senate's unanimous passage of her widespread reforms Thursday morning. Key points of the plan include increasing Floridian doctors and generating new facilities for women to give birth. The project is composed of two bills, SB 7016 and SB […]
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Revived Florida Bill Considers Accusations of Racism, Sexism as Defamation; Zeros in on Journalists

Revived Florida Bill Considers Accusations of Racism, Sexism as Defamation; Zeros in on Journalists

Liv Caputo
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January 19, 2024
TALLAHASSEE, FL --- A new bill would classify allegations of racism, sexism, or homophobia as defamation, branding the defendant with fines of up to $35,000. The legislation would also remove a journalist's usage of anonymous sources, facilitating the process to sue a reporter for defamation. SB 1780, proposed by Republican Sen. Jason Brodeur, considers claims […]
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