Technology and AI Targeted in New Series of Bills in the Florida Legislature

Technology and AI Targeted in New Series of Bills in the Florida Legislature

Mateo Guillamont
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January 25, 2024
Two bills moving through the Florida legislature could establish new regulations for artificial intelligence (AI) use, virtual currency kiosks, and bolster government technology modernization.  HB 1459 and SB 662, filed by the Commerce and Banking and Insurance committees, respectively, would accomplish these tasks.  Originally filed by Representative Fiona McFarland (R-73) and later refiled by the […]
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Bill on Patriotic Organizations would Protect ‘Moms for Liberty’ and Similar Groups

Bill on Patriotic Organizations would Protect ‘Moms for Liberty’ and Similar Groups

Mateo Guillamont
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January 25, 2024
Florida Senator Tom Wright (R-8) has filed a bill that would protect patriotic organizations’ rights to use school property as part of their organizational purposes.  Senator Wright’s legislation defines patriotic organizations as those with an educational purpose that promotes patriotism and civic involvement in accordance with federal law.  If passed, the law would permit representatives […]
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Scott Seeks to Support School Choice through Senate Resolution

Scott Seeks to Support School Choice through Senate Resolution

Mateo Guillamont
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January 24, 2024
Florida Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) seeks to support school choice programs across the nation by proposing the week of January 21 be designated as ‘National School Choice Week.’ ‘School choice’ is the name given to educational policies that generally permit for parents to decide which educational institutions will receive their tax dollars.  Senator Scott joined […]
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Conservatives Decry Biden's Venezuela Strategy as Dissidents are Jailed

Conservatives Decry Biden's Venezuela Strategy as Dissidents are Jailed

Mateo Guillamont
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January 23, 2024
President Joe Biden has again come under fire for his administration’s Venezuela foreign policy strategy  after the arrest of opposition leader Juan Freites. The arrest was published by ‘Vente Venezuela’, the political party opposing Dictator Maduro’s authoritarian regime.  Freites was the director of campaigning for Vente Venezuela and was allegedly dragged into a black pick-up […]
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Haley Closes in on Trump as New Hampshire Casts Decisive Vote

Haley Closes in on Trump as New Hampshire Casts Decisive Vote

Mateo Guillamont
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January 23, 2024
New polls suggest Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley has made up lost ground among Republican primary voters in New Hampshire.  Haley became the last Republican alternative remaining, aside from former President Donald Trump, after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis suspended his campaign last Sunday. Governor DeSantis’ exit followed President Trump’s historic landslide victory in the Iowa […]
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Scott Files Bicameral Amicus Brief in Trump Supreme Court Case

Scott Files Bicameral Amicus Brief in Trump Supreme Court Case

Mateo Guillamont
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January 23, 2024
Florida Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) has submitted an amicus curiae brief  in the case Donald J. Trump v. Norma Anderson, et al.  The upcoming Supreme Court case is scheduled to be argued on February 8th. During oral argument, the court will be considering whether Colorado’s Supreme Court was correct in removing Trump from the Colorado […]
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Salazar Excludes Alleged ‘Castro’ Sympathizer from Committee Hearing

Salazar Excludes Alleged ‘Castro’ Sympathizer from Committee Hearing

Mateo Guillamont
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January 22, 2024
Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fl) prevented Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA) from participating in a hearing regarding President Joe Biden’s policies’ impact on Cubans.  Representative Salazar, who chairs the subcommittee, blocked Representative Lee’s participation for her alleged support and sympathy towards former Cuban dictator Fidel Castro. Representative Joaquin Castro (D-TX) had asked for both Congresswoman Debbie […]
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Bipartisan Pre-K Reform Bill Clears Initial Hurdles

Bipartisan Pre-K Reform Bill Clears Initial Hurdles

Mateo Guillamont
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January 20, 2024
A new bill modifying current Florida law on private pre-kindergarten instruction and expanding state pre-kindergarten educational programs is steadily progressing through the legislature.  Florida Senator Erin Grall’s (R-29)  ‘Early Learning’ pre-kindergarten bill, filed last December  was approved by the Education Pre-K-12 committee earlier this week.  Senator Grall’s proposal would prohibit private pre-kindergarten educational services from […]
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Push to Liberalize Minor Employment Quickly Progressing Through Legislature

Push to Liberalize Minor Employment Quickly Progressing Through Legislature

Mateo Guillamont
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January 19, 2024
Republican legislation to deregulate minor employment in Florida is swiftly progressing through the legislative process. A group of bills concerning minor employment would include measures such as lowering minimum age requirements to work and removing employment curfews and hourly limits.  The Florida Senate’s Education Pre-K-12 Committee recently approved SB460, a proposal to permit minors 16 […]
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Bipartisan Effort to Increase Efficiency at VA Facilities Led by Scott

Bipartisan Effort to Increase Efficiency at VA Facilities Led by Scott

Mateo Guillamont
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January 18, 2024
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) may soon have to abide by more stringent efficiency standards thanks to a new bill spearheaded by US Senator Rick Scott (R-Fl).  The Scheduling for Community Health and Easy Data to Understand for Legislators to Evaluate Services (SCHEDULES) Act responds to reports of extended wait times at VA medical […]
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Steube and Rubio Seek to Shield Religious Institutions from Governmental Overreach

Steube and Rubio Seek to Shield Religious Institutions from Governmental Overreach

Mateo Guillamont
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January 18, 2024
US Representative Gregory Steube (R-Fl) and Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fl) have filed the Safeguarding Charity Act to protect tax-exempt organizations from burdensome regulations.  The act was spurred by two recent Federal Court opinions in Maryland and California defining tax-exempt, i.e., 501(c)(3), entities, as receiving federal financial assistance under Title IX.  Such definition of 501(c)(3) institutions, […]
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Alternative Program to High School Education Proposed by Florida Legislature

Alternative Program to High School Education Proposed by Florida Legislature

Mateo Guillamont
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January 18, 2024
The Florida Senate’s Education Postsecondary Committee has filed and approved a bill that would create an alternative pathway for students to obtain a High School diploma. The Graduation Alternative to Traditional Education (GATE) Program would enable students to earn postsecondary course credits through career and technical education (CTE) courses.  Education Postsecondary committee chair Senator Erin […]
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Chinese Garlic Imports Could Soon be Banned Thanks to New Scott Bill

Chinese Garlic Imports Could Soon be Banned Thanks to New Scott Bill

Mateo Guillamont
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January 17, 2024
A new bill filed by Senator Rick Scott (R-Fl) would prohibit the entry of Chinese garlic into the US.  The bill follows Senator Scott’s tirade against Chinese garlic, which began last December.  Scott wrote a letter warning the President and CEO of the National Growers Association Greg Ferrara of the unsanitary and immoral practices surrounding […]
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Bill Regulating Ai Use in Political Ads Opposed by Florida Democrats

Bill Regulating Ai Use in Political Ads Opposed by Florida Democrats

Mateo Guillamont
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January 17, 2024
Florida State Senator Nick DiCeglie’s (R-18) proposal to regulate Artificial Intelligence (AI) use in political advertisements was recently critically assessed by Democrats in committee hearings.   Senator DiCeglie’s bill would require any political content produced with the assistance of ‘generative AI’ to include a disclaimer notating the technology’s use during content production.  Generative AI is software […]
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Salazar Proposes Law Responding to Nicaragua’s Kidnapping of Catholic Clergy

Salazar Proposes Law Responding to Nicaragua’s Kidnapping of Catholic Clergy

Mateo Guillamont
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January 16, 2024
US Representative Maria-Elvira Salazar (R-Fl) has filed a bill to reauthorize sanctions on Nicaragua in light of the Nicaraguan government’s recent hostile acts towards Catholic officials.  Since December 2023, Nicaraguan police have detained a total of 16 priests and seminarians, including Bishops Isidoro del Carmen Mora and Rolando Jose Álvarez Lagos. Nicaraguan Dictator Naiel Ortega […]
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Houthi Rockets Strike US Ship as Israel Marks 101st Day Since Hamas Attack

Houthi Rockets Strike US Ship as Israel Marks 101st Day Since Hamas Attack

Mateo Guillamont
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January 16, 2024
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has reported a US ship, the Gibraltar Eagle, was struck by an anti-ship ballistic missile fired by Ansarallah (Houthi) militants earlier today.  CENTCOM also reported another Houthi missile fired toward Red Sea commercial navigation lanes which failed to reach its destination and landed in Yemen.  According to CENTCOM, despite being […]
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Calatayud Proposal to Inject $100 Million into Florida Affordable Housing Gains Traction

Calatayud Proposal to Inject $100 Million into Florida Affordable Housing Gains Traction

Mateo Guillamont
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January 15, 2024
Florida Senator Alexis Calatayud’s (R-38) recently introduced affordable housing bill is moving swiftly through Florida’s legislative labyrinth.  Senator Calatayud’s bill reforms certain aspects of Florida’s building code while also providing an additional $100 million in funding for Florida’s affordable housing ‘Hometown Hero Program’. The ‘Hometown Hero Program’, originally established in 2023, aims to assist first-time, […]
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Scott Bill Could Reveal Total Amount of US Tax Dollars Being Spent in China

Scott Bill Could Reveal Total Amount of US Tax Dollars Being Spent in China

Mateo Guillamont
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January 12, 2024
Senator Rick Scott (R-Fl) introduced a bill this week that would reveal the amount of US Federal funds that are being invested into China every year.  Each fiscal year, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) submits a report to Congress outlining the White House’s yearly budget for executing its different policy initiatives. If Senator […]
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