Florida Lawmakers

The US is restarting diplomatic operations in its embassy in Damascus, Syria, as relations between Syria’s interim government and the US improve.  The embassy had been closed since February 2012 due to internal conflict and violence caused by former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported how “Ambassador Thomas Barrack raised […]

Lawmakers are condemning a recent antisemitic attack in Boulder, Colorado, against pro-Israeli demonstrators rallying in support of efforts to release the remaining hostages in Gaza.  During the rally, Mohamed Sabry Soliman approached and began setting protestors and nearby areas on fire after shouting “Free Palestine!” Soliman’s attacks left eight injured with no reported deaths.  The […]

John Thrasher, Florida's former House Speaker and ex-President of Florida State University, passed away following a battle with cancer at the age of 81, his family announced Friday. "President Thrasher, who also served as Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives and as a member of the Florida Senate, passed away this morning (May 30), […]

Gov. Ron DeSantis ripped into the Legislature for not fulfilling their "one responsibility" to pass a budget, blaming lawmakers for failing to provide Floridians with a tax holiday ahead of the state's months-long looming hurricane season. DeSantis's comments came at a Jupiter press conference on Friday, where he cautioned residents on how to prepare for […]

After Florida state lawmakers demanded an investigation into the Hope Florida Foundation, a Florida House committee convened to investigate any alleged fiduciary ties between the foundation and any political committee. The legislative investigation led by Rep. Alex Andrade (R) ended,  and now Leon County State Attorney Jack Campbell is allegedly looking into the documents Rep. […]

Representative Maria Elvira-Salazar (R-FL) recently wrote to President Donald Trump’s administration requesting they block the proposed sale of the Venezuelan democratic opposition's control over oil company CITGO.  CITGO is a US-based oil refiner, transporter, and marketer of transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals, and other industrial products.  PDVSA, a state-owned oil company of the Venezuelan government, is […]

The Houthis recently fired ballistic rockets at Israel, continuing a month-long trend of missile attacks against Israeli civilians. According to the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), civilians across eastern Israel had to shelter in place due to projectile fire originating in Yemen.   Meanwhile, the US is diminishing its military presence in the region as its USS […]

Gov. Ron DeSantis says he trusts the Board of Governors to make the right call on the University of Florida’s embattled presidential pick, but amid mounting criticism from Trump world, he won't say what that choice should be. DeSantis's Thursday comments, where he weighed the different viewpoints on former University of Michigan president Santa Ono, […]

Florida families still can't recover certain damages if a doctor accidentally kills some of their loved ones, thanks to Gov. Ron DeSantis's plan to veto a new measure repealing the state's so-called "free kill" law. Dubbed "free kill" by critics, the controversial 35-year-old law disallows unmarried 25-year-olds or their parents from suing physicians for pain […]

The ‘penny’ coin has been in circulation for nearly as long as the US’s existence and is worth one cent.  Penny production has long sparked intense debate as lawmakers have quarreled over the coin’s benefits. Producing pennies costs more than they are worth, as each one costs over three cents.  Recently, Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) […]

Lawmakers are suggesting the general public make preparations for hurricane season, which begins June 1st and lasts until November 30.  The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has estimated that this 2025 Hurricane season will likely feature stronger hurricanes and storms than previous seasons.  NOAA predicts a 60% chance of an above-normal season, with a […]

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill on Tuesday that will expand early detection, intervention, and support for children in Florida with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities. Sen. Gayle Harrell (R-Stuart) sponsored the bill (SB 112) in the Senate. Rep. Randy Maggard (R-Zephyrhills) carried the House version. The new law expands several measures related […]

The US State Department recently issued warnings urging US citizens in Venezuela to depart as soon as possible as the country was assigned a Level 4 travel advisory: ‘Do Not Travel.’ According to the State Department, the Level 4 travel advisory was issued due to “severe risks to Americans including wrongful detention, torture in detention, […]

When high schooler Lucy Stevenson’s godbrother used AI to create an explicit video of her—based solely on a photo she posted to Instagram at 16—the Pensacola teen’s family was stunned to learn he couldn’t be criminally charged. A new Florida law would change that. HB 757, approved by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday, makes it […]

The worst-kept secret in Florida is not that First Lady Casey DeSantis is considering a run for governor in 2026, but what about State Senator Blaise “Donuts” Ingoglia (R) being tapped as the next Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for the state? For several months now, The Floridian has been told that Cannoli caucus member Senator […]

Florida animal abusers will be publicly tracked while those who abandon pets during emergencies will face prison time, according to two new laws signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday. Named after two dogs abused by their owners, HB 255 and SB 150 strengthen penalties and increase transparency for those who neglect, harm, or kill […]

President Donald Trump’s administration has petitioned the US Supreme Court (SCOTUS) to rescind a nationwide injunction preventing the US government from deporting individuals to countries from which they did not emigrate.  US District Judge Brian Murphy issued the nationwide injunction after he found the Department of Homeland Security to have violated an earlier order demanding […]

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday approved a new law allowing Floridians to use gold and silver in certain transactions. The DeSantis-backed measure, HB 999, recognizes gold and silver coins as "legal tender" to pay down debts incurred after July 1, 2026. At an Apopka press conference on Tuesday, DeSantis claimed this law is the latest […]