The Florida House unanimously passed a bill 113-0 on Wednesday that would require cursive handwriting in grades two through five and other proficiencies to improve their cursive penmanship. Rep. Tobin "Toby" Overdorf (R-Palm City) explained his bill (HB 921) on the House floor. "In a digital age, we must not lose sight of the foundational […]
The Florida House unanimously passed a bill 112-0 on Wednesday that would increase boating safety in the state in honor of 17-year-old Lucy Fernandez, who tragically died after a 2022 boat crash during Labor Day Weekend on Biscayne Bay "Lucy's Law" was filed by Reps. Vicki Lopez (R-Miami) and Vanessa Oliver (R-Punta Gorda). "House Bill 289 […]
The Argentine black and white tegu, a large invasive lizard, appears to be making quite a home for itself in St. Lucie County in Florida's Treasure Coast region. "Reproducing populations of Argentine black and white tegus are established in Hillsborough and Miami-Dade and Charlotte Counties," Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) spokesperson Lisa Thompson […]
TALLAHASSEE—Florida Senate Democratic Leader Jason Pizzo gave an update on the status of condo reform bills currently going through the legislative session. It's fair to say Sen. Pizzo is not optimistic the bills to address the issue will cross the legislative goal line. "The House version of the condo bill and the Senate version are […]
The Senate Committee on Transportation favored a bill 8-0 on Tuesday that would exempt 100% disabled veterans from having to pay tolls in the State of Florida. Sen. Blaise Ingoglia filed the bill (SB 532) in the Senate. Rep. J.J. Grow (R-Inverness) is carrying the House version (HB 445). Sen. Ingoglia explained the bill to […]
The Senate Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability advanced a controversial bill 5-2 that would prohibit the use of preferred pronouns in Florida workplaces and limit gender identity training for state and local government employees. Sen. Stan McClain (R-Ocala) sponsored the bill (SB 440). Rep. Rachel Plakon (R-Lake Mary) leads the House version (HB 1495). […]
The Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources advanced a bill 8-0 on Tuesday that would designate the American Flamingo as Florida's official state bird and the Florida scrub-jay as the official state songbird. If passed, the American flamingo would replace the northern mockingbird as the official state bird. The mockingbird has been Florida's state […]
Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced a $389 million grant to help boost the protection to Florida's waterways and natural resources during a press conference in Brevard County. Gov. DeSantis added that the grant includes $189 million for water quality improvements. The governor explained the grant process in his announcement. "The legislature decided to put some […]
The Senate Appropriations Committee advanced a bill 14-0 on Monday that would require a person 18 years of age or older to complete a traffic law and substance abuse education course to obtain a Florida driver's license and pass a driver's education safety course for a learner's permit. Sen. Jay Collins (R-Tampa) filed the bill […]
A recent public opinion poll conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy shows Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis is slightly more popular than Florida Congressman Byron Donalds. The poll of 264 registered Republican Florida voters found Mrs. DeSantis with a 53% favorable rating to Byron Donalds' 48%. Both DeSantis and Donalds have similar unfavorable ratings (9% […]
The House Rules and Ethics Committee recently advanced a bill 16-0 that would prohibit a political candidate running for public office from claiming military service or having military service decorations without evidence, often called stolen valor. Rep. Pat Maney (R-Fort Walton Beach) spoke on his bill to the committee. Rep. Maney served in the U.S. […]
Florida GOP Chairman Evan Power responded to a report showing Democrats in Pinellas County gathering people at a town hall to protest against the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) as "manufactured noise" on Monday. Evan Power also defended Florida Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna, who represents Pinellas County. Paulina Luna was not at the event hosted […]
A Senate bill is expected to be heard on Tuesday that would prohibit the use of preferred pronouns in Florida workplaces and limit gender identity training for state and local government employees. Sen. Stan McClain (R-Gainesville) sponsored the bill (SB 440). Rep. Rachel Plakon (R-Lake Mary) leads the House version (HB 1495). Under the "Freedom […]
Floridians have the option to head to the polls and vote early in a pair of Congressional districts and a handful of state Senate and House special primaries on Saturday. Here are the races: Congressional District 1: Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis is the Republican candidate against Democratic candidate Gay Valimont. CD 1 includes Escambia, […]
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier recently announced an investigation into an advisory firm that provides research and voting recommendations to institutional investors for potential violations related to Environmental, social, and governance and Diversity, equity, and inclusion policies. "Today, I directed my office to open an investigation into proxy voting advisors Glass Lewis and ISS Inc. […]
Under Gov. Ron DeSantis, Florida's school grading system needs a reality check - HB 1483 takes a step in the right direction. Are Florida students really making the grade or is the report card incomplete? It is a lot easier for kids to score an 'A' in Florida. Rep. Susan Valdes (R-Tampa) presented HB 1483 […]
Trooper’s Law, inspired by a Bull Terrier who was abandoned and tied to a pole during Hurricane Milton evacuations last October, unanimously passed 39-0 in the Florida Senate on Wednesday. Sen. Don Gaetz (R-Pensacola) sponsored the bill (SB 150) in the Senate. Rep. Philip Wayne "Griff" Griffitts, Jr. (R-Panama City) filed a House version (HB 205). […]
Gov. Ron DeSantis participated in a roundtable discussion on Thursday at New College of Florida in Sarasota alongside U.S. "Border Czar" Tom Homan to discuss the recent deportation flights of alleged Venezuelan gang members by the Trump administration. Tom Homan explained the order after President Donald Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to […]
