Senate Bill Lowering the Minimum Wage for Workers Gets Temporarily Postponed

Senate Bill Lowering the Minimum Wage for Workers Gets Temporarily Postponed

Michael Costeines
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April 23, 2025
A Senate bill that would allow workers to be paid less than the minimum wage appears to have stalled in its latest committee hearing. Sen. Jonathan Martin (R-Fort Myers) temporarily postponed the bill (SB 676) in the Senate Rules Committee on Monday. Martin said he was doing so to keep the bill "alive." SB 676 […]
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Court Reform Bill Moves to Senate Floor after House Passage

Court Reform Bill Moves to Senate Floor after House Passage

Michael Costeines
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April 23, 2025
A bipartisan family court reform bill designed to enhance procedures for court-appointed psychologists and strengthen fairness and accountability in family cases is heading to the Senate floor after recently passing in the Florida House of Representatives. Rep. David Borrero (R-Sweetwater) sponsored the bill (HB 901) in the House of Representatives. Sen. Mack Bernard (D-West Palm […]
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House Advances Bill to Tighten Regulations of Hemp THC Products

House Advances Bill to Tighten Regulations of Hemp THC Products

Michael Costeines
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April 22, 2025
The House Commerce Committee advanced a bill Tuesday to tighten regulations of hemp consumable THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) products sold in Florida. The hemp THC packaging tends to be appealing to children, causing the change. Rep. Michelle Salzman (R-Escambia County) sponsored the bill (HB 7029). Rep. Salzman explained the bill and her reasoning to the committee. "Bad […]
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Donalds Rips Dem Senator Chris Van Hollen for El Salvador Trip, Calls Him a 'Fool'

Donalds Rips Dem Senator Chris Van Hollen for El Salvador Trip, Calls Him a 'Fool'

Michael Costeines
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April 22, 2025
Florida Congressman Byron Donalds criticized Maryland Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen on Monday for his recent trip to El Salvador to visit with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national and alleged MS-13 gang member, who was sent out of the United States by the Trump administration despite an immigration court preventing his deportation. "This morning, […]
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DeSantis Inks Four Bills Into Law: First Responder Support, Digital Court Filings, Pet Insurance, Resilient Florida Trust Fund

DeSantis Inks Four Bills Into Law: First Responder Support, Digital Court Filings, Pet Insurance, Resilient Florida Trust Fund

Michael Costeines
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April 21, 2025
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed four bills into Florida law on Friday, specifically regarding peer support for first responders, mandatory electronic transmission of court documents, pet insurance regulation, and the reestablishment of the Resilient Florida Trust Fund. You can view the bills signed by Gov. DeSantis here. Peer support for first responders (HB 421) broadens the […]
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Miami-Dade Under 20K Registrations From Flipping Republican, Donalds Reacts

Miami-Dade Under 20K Registrations From Flipping Republican, Donalds Reacts

Michael Costeines
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April 21, 2025
Florida Congressman Byron Donalds, who's bidding to become the next governor of the state, celebrated the news Saturday that the GOP is under 20,000 registrations from flipping Miami-Dade County red. "Hey bots! We’re under 20k registrations away from flipping Miami-Dade County RED," Donalds said. "As Governor, I look forward to working with @JuanPorrasFL, @MiamiDadeGOP & […]
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Trump Appoints Sen. Joe Gruters to Homeland Security Advisory Council

Trump Appoints Sen. Joe Gruters to Homeland Security Advisory Council

Michael Costeines
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April 20, 2025
President Donald Trump recently announced Sen. Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota) will serve on the revamped Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC), which will create strategies to help secure the U.S. border, deport illegal aliens, and stem the flow of drugs coming into the United States. "Thank you, President Trump, for the opportunity to serve on the Homeland […]
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Sen. Garcia Calls Randy Fine a 'Racist' After Criticizing Her Campus Carry Vote Following FSU Shooting

Sen. Garcia Calls Randy Fine a 'Racist' After Criticizing Her Campus Carry Vote Following FSU Shooting

Michael Costeines
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April 19, 2025
State Sen. Ileana Garcia (R-Miami) called Florida Congressman Randy Fine a racist on Friday after he implied her name for voting against a bill in the state Legislature to allow students to carry firearms on Florida universities. Sen. Garcia's blunt comment follows yesterday's shooting at Florida State University (FSU) that left two dead and six […]
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Is Mayor Christi Fraga Against DOGE? Doral Councilwoman Cabral Questions Deferment

Is Mayor Christi Fraga Against DOGE? Doral Councilwoman Cabral Questions Deferment

Michael Costeines
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April 18, 2025
Doral Mayor Christi Fraga recently deferred a resolution by City Councilwoman Digna Cabral that would have had the city voluntarily join the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) task force initiative, leaving her puzzled by the motive. Councilwoman Cabral questioned the move in a statement on Thursday. "This resolution aimed to establish collaboration with the Department […]
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Florida Lawmakers Looking to Stay Ahead of the Curb on Everglades Restoration, Water Quality

Florida Lawmakers Looking to Stay Ahead of the Curb on Everglades Restoration, Water Quality

Michael Costeines
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April 18, 2025
The Florida Everglades is one of the largest natural ecosystems in the world, spanning 1.5 million acres from Lake Okeechobee down to the southern end of the state. Just how big is that? Everglades National Park alone is larger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined. It is also the third-largest national park in the United […]
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House Passes County Commissioner, School Board Term Limits

House Passes County Commissioner, School Board Term Limits

Michael Costeines
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April 18, 2025
The Florida House of Representatives recently passed a joint resolution 82-33 that would amend the Florida Constitution to institute eight-year term limits for county commissioners and school district board members. Rep. Michelle Salzman (R-Escambia County) filed the joint resolution (HJR 679). Rep. Salzman detailed HJ 679 on the House floor. "This is the House joint resolution […]
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Florida Power and Light Celebrates 100 Years, Contribution to Florida's Space Boom

Florida Power and Light Celebrates 100 Years, Contribution to Florida's Space Boom

Michael Costeines
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April 17, 2025
Florida Power and Light, the largest electric utility in the United States, recently celebrated its 100th anniversary with a nod to its growth in astronautics in the 1960s, just as the Sunshine State began to see population growth to what it has become today. "CELEBRATING 100 YEARS: Florida boomed in the 1960s, with thousands moving […]
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House Passes Firearm, Ammo Repeal Ban in State of Emergencies

House Passes Firearm, Ammo Repeal Ban in State of Emergencies

Michael Costeines
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April 17, 2025
The Florida House of Representatives passed a bill 86-28 on Wednesday that would repeal a Florida Statute on the restriction of firearm or ammunition purchases during a declared state of emergency. Reps. Monique Miller (R-Palm Bay) and Debbie Mayfield (R-Melbourne) sponsored the bill (HB 6025). Rep. Miller explained the bill to the House chamber. "When […]
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House Passes Bill Banning Use of Cell Phones During School Day

House Passes Bill Banning Use of Cell Phones During School Day

Michael Costeines
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April 17, 2025
The Florida House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill 117-0 Wednesday that would prohibit students from using cell phones during the school day. Rep. Demi Busatta Cabrera (R-Miami) sponsored the bill (HB 949). Rep. Busatta Cabrera explained her bill on the House floor. "This bill prohibits students from using wireless communication devices during the school day […]
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House Passes Bill to Remove Deepfake Sexual Images Online

House Passes Bill to Remove Deepfake Sexual Images Online

Michael Costeines
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April 17, 2025
The Florida House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill 116-0 on Wednesday to have victims of deepfake sexual images and copies of their depictions removed from online platforms. Speaker Pro Tempore Wyman Duggan (R-Jacksonville) sponsored the bill (HB 1161). Rep. Duggan explained the bill on the House floor. "The bill revises provisions of Florida's deepfake […]
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Senate Passes Bill Adding Driver's License Requirements, Stronger Penalties for Texting

Senate Passes Bill Adding Driver's License Requirements, Stronger Penalties for Texting

Michael Costeines
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April 16, 2025
The Florida Senate passed a bill 36-0 on Tuesday 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, as well as additional penalties for texting while […]
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Gov. Ron DeSantis Rips 'Rotten' Florida House Over Education Reforms, Hope Florida Smears

Gov. Ron DeSantis Rips 'Rotten' Florida House Over Education Reforms, Hope Florida Smears

Michael Costeines
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April 15, 2025
Gov. Ron DeSantis lambasted the Florida House of Representatives Tuesday in a series of attacks for, in his view, undoing conservative reforms on higher education and continued targeting of his wife's Hope Florida Foundation, which has come under scrutiny from lawmakers in recent days. Gov. DeSantis wasted little time attacking the House, calling the chamber […]
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Richard Lara Endorsed by Claudia Miro for Coral Gables Commissioner

Richard Lara Endorsed by Claudia Miro for Coral Gables Commissioner

Michael Costeines
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April 15, 2025
Coral Gables Commission candidate Richard Lara has been endorsed by former opponent Claudia Miro ahead of the city's runoff election on April 22, his campaign announced on Tuesday. “I’m incredibly honored to have Claudia Miro’s support,” Lara said in a press release. “Claudia ran a campaign rooted in integrity, transparency, and putting the residents of Coral […]
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