TALLAHASSEE --- Delivering on one of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ top legislative priorities, the Florida House on Wednesday passed an immigration bill targeting transportation companies that bring undocumented immigrants into the state and expanding a 2019 law that sought to ban so-called “sanctuary cities.” The bill (SB 1808), among the 2022 legislative session’s most-contentious issues, would […]
TALLAHASSEE --- The Florida Senate late Thursday approved a measure aimed at boosting immigration enforcement that critics maintain could have far-reaching implications for migrants in the state, such as people seeking asylum from Communist regimes and children awaiting reunification with their families. The proposal, among the 2022 legislative session’s most contentious issues, is a top […]
By Ryan Dailey TALLAHASSEE — Florida doctors could soon be prohibited from performing abortions past 15 weeks of pregnancy after the Republican-controlled Senate approved a bill Thursday night that is headed to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk. Senators approved the measure (HB 5) in a 23-15 party-line vote that was the culmination of hours of tense […]
TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Senate moved forward Tuesday with contentious education measures that would increase scrutiny of school library books and limit how certain race-related concepts are taught, though senators tweaked one of the bills passed by the House last month.
By Ryan Dailey TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Senate is poised to consider a controversial measure that would prohibit school instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grade levels, as one Republican called on lawmakers to “soften” the bill when it is heard on the Senate floor. The Senate Appropriations Committee approved the bill […]
An oil company has at least temporarily withdrawn applications for permits that could have been a step toward drilling for oil and gas in Southwest Florida’s Big Cypress National Preserve. In a letter Tuesday to the state Department of Environmental Protection, representatives of Burnett Oil Co. pointed to an ongoing review by the National Park […]
The number of Florida hospital inpatients with COVID-19 has dropped below 4,000 after a surge in late December and early January caused by the omicron variant of the coronavirus. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released data Tuesday that showed 3,814 inpatients with COVID-19, down from 4,123 on Monday and down from 8,798 […]
Top Florida government officials will soon be flying the friendly skies in luxury planes and without having to go through the annoying TSA protocols the rest of us ordinary folk has to go through. A proposal that would add two state airplanes is headed for budget negotiations between the Senate and House. The Senate voted […]
By Ryan Dailey TALLAHASSEE — Florida House members early Thursday morning passed a bill that would prohibit doctors from performing abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, one of the most hotly debated issues of the 2022 legislative session. The Republican-dominated House approved the measure (HB 5) in a 78-39 vote along almost straight party lines […]
By Jim Saunders TALLAHASSEE — Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office urged the Florida Supreme Court late Monday to reject challenges to a 2011 state law that threatens stiff penalties if city and county officials pass gun-related regulations. Lawyers in Moody’s office asked the Supreme Court to uphold a decision last year by the 1st District […]
By Dara Kam TALLAHASSEE --- Republican legislative leaders for the second year in a row are targeting mail-in voting, this time with a proposal one supervisor of elections called “a recipe for disaster.” The House and Senate this month began moving forward with far-reaching measures that would create a statewide elections security force, require elections […]
With the state House and Senate needing to reach agreement on a congressional redistricting plan, Gov. Ron DeSantis made clear to lawmakers Friday that he isn’t backing down on a sprawling North Florida district.
By Jim Saunders and Tom Urban TALLAHASSEE — With the state still grappling with the coronavirus pandemic, the Florida House on Thursday gave final approval to a bill that would extend COVID-19 legal protections for hospitals, nursing homes and other health-care providers. The House voted 87-31 to pass the measure (SB 7014), which was approved […]
TALLAHASSEE — Senators on Tuesday gave initial approval to a controversial proposal that critics have dubbed the “don’t say gay” bill because it could curtail school discussions about sexual orientation and gender identity. The Republican-dominated Senate Education Committee approved the measure (SB 1834) in a 6-3 vote along party lines, despite testimony from dozens of […]
By Ryan Dailey TALLAHASSEE — Calling the plan "punitive," leaders of Florida's private colleges and universities are crying foul about a House proposal that could link the amount of money students get from a state-backed grant program to their schools' performance. The House plan is included in a bill (PCB HEA 22-01) aimed at implementing […]
By Jim Saunders TALLAHASSEE — Amid fierce opposition from Democrats, a Senate committee Tuesday backed an elections bill that includes adding more rules for voting by mail and creating a state office to investigate allegations of voting irregularities. The bill (SB 524), approved in a party-line vote by the Republican-controlled Senate Ethics and Elections Committee, […]
By Jim Saunders TALLAHASSEE — In a move that could refuel fights about election fraud and voter suppression, Florida senators Tuesday will consider a proposal that would require local supervisors to scour voter rolls each year, add steps for voting by mail and create a state office to probe alleged election irregularities. The Senate Ethics […]
Florida senators next week will start considering a proposal that would prevent physicians from performing abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, one of the most-controversial issues of the 2022 legislative session. The Senate Health Policy Committee is scheduled Wednesday to take up the proposal (SB 146), filed by Sen. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland. The proposal is […]
