Florida Lawmakers

The House Student Academic Success Subcommittee unanimously advanced a bill 17-0 on Tuesday that would require cursive handwriting instruction in schools for students in grades two through five as well as other proficiencies to improve their cursive penmanship. Rep. Tobin "Toby" Overdorf (R-Palm City) explained his bill (HB 921) to the subcommittee. Sen. Erin Grall […]

WASHINGTON—Four Republican legislators in the House spoke to The Floridian regarding the possibility of extending President Donald Trump's Tax Cuts And Jobs Act of 2017 and the enhanced premium tax credits for Marketplace plans, which was introduced in 2021. The Floridian discussed these tax cuts and credits with Representatives Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), Jodey Arrington […]

The Senate Committee on Criminal Justice unanimously favored a bill 9-0 on Tuesday that would repeal a Florida Statute on the restriction of firearm or ammunition purchases during a declared state of emergency. Sen. Blaise Ingoglia (R-Spring Hill) detailed his bill (SB 952) to the committee, which would repeal Statute 870.044. Reps. Monique Miller (R-Palm […]

TALLAHASSEE—A bill requiring all new Gulf-related materials purchased by public and charter schools to reflect the name "Gulf of America" passed its first Senate committee Tuesday, hoping to align with President Donald Trump's January executive order. Filed by Republican Sen. Joe Gruters, SB 1058 says that all books and maps purchased after Jul. 1 by […]

The House Education Administration Subcommittee unanimously advanced a bill 17-0 on Monday that would prohibit students from using cell phones during the school day. Rep. Demi Busatta Cabrera (R-Miami) detailed her bill (HB 949) to the subcommittee. "This bill prohibits students from using wireless communication devices during the school day rather than just during instructional […]

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for negotiations with Ukrainian officials on a potential end to the Russia-Ukraine war.  Secretary Rubio’s meeting with Ukrainian officials follows President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Vlodymyr Zelesnkyy’s recent acerbic discussion in the Oval Office.  The discussion initiated the rapid deterioration of US-Ukraine relations, as […]

Senators Rick Scott (R-FL), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Mike Rounds (R-SD), and Thom Tillis (R-SC) have reintroduced the Falun Gong Protection Act. The bill aims to sanction those who participate in the horrors of Forced Organ Harvesting, especially those targeting Falun Gong practitioners in China. According to Freedom House, millions […]

TALLAHASSEE—Months after Gov. Ron DeSantis’s administration spent millions to block two citizen-led ballot initiatives, a GOP-led Senate committee advanced a measure on Monday that bans the use of taxpayer dollars to fund campaigns influencing ballot amendments. The measure, filed by Republican Sen. Jennifer Bradley, was tacked onto a sweeping conservative bill targeting petition fraud during […]

Florida Senate Democratic Leader Jason Pizzo touched on several topics in a recent interview with Fox News anchor Trace Gallagher, including his rumored run for Florida governor in the 2025 midterm elections. Republican Congressman Byron Donalds has already announced his run for governor. Is Sen. Pizzo the next to announce his gubernatorial aspirations for the […]

Speaking to the Florida House Criminal Justice Subcommittee on Thursday, Reps. Vicki Lopez (R-Miami) and Vanessa Oliver (R-Punta Gorda) asked for the passage of "Lucy's law", a bill named after 17-year-old Lucy Fernandez who tragically died after a 2022 boat crash during Labor Day Weekend on Biscayne Bay. Vanessa Oliver filed HB 289 along with […]

A bill sponsored by Rep. Jeff Holcomb (R-Spring Hill) would waive the mandatory three-day waiting period of firearm purchases for law enforcement officers, correctional officers, or service members of the United States Armed Forces. Jeff Holcomb detailed his bill to the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee on Thursday. "If you walk into a gun store to […]

On Tuesday, Representative Al Green (D-TX) was censured in the House Chamber after President Donald Trump's (R) Address to the Joint Session of Congress for heckling and disrupting proceedings. It was voted on by the House of Representatives with a 224-198 vote. What Happened? Almost immediately during the Address to the Joint Session of Congress, Rep. […]

Two state lawmakers filed a bill to lessen state guardrails imposed on Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) by allowing them to perform their work without illusory physician supervision. Rep. Mike Giallombardo (R-Cape Coral) sponsored HB 649 in the House and Sen. Ana Marie Rodriguez (R-Doral) sponsored SB 718 in the Senate. Giallombardo explained his bill […]

During a press conference at the State Capitol in Tallahassee, State Representative Ryan Chamberlin (R-FL) announced what he believes to be the beginning of the end of property taxes in Florida. In 2024, State Rep. Chamberlin sought to find out the necessary steps needed to replace property by filing a bill funding a study on […]

College students planning to head to popular spring break destination Miami Beach's sunny shores and beachtown bars might want to think again, Gov. Ron DeSantis declared on Thursday. At a Miami Beach press conference, he announced the revitalization of the 2024 Miami Beach spring break crackdown, which included a heavy police presence, curfew, and a […]

A new bill inspired by a petition fraud settlement paid by an abortion rights group passed its first committee Thursday, aiming to overhaul Florida's ballot initiative process through a $1 million bond on future petition sponsors and charging certain fraudsters with racketeering. Filed by Republican Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, HB 1205 would enact widespread changes increasing […]

Sen. Jonathan Martin (R-Fort Myers) recently filed a bill to tackle human sex trafficking in the state by imposing stricter penalties, particularly against those involving children and those with mental deficiencies. Under Jonathan Martin's bill, SB 1804, an individual who knowingly engages in human trafficking by use of physical force on a child less than […]

In an exclusive statement to The Floridian, state Rep. Basabe explained why he voted against the bill, citing concerns over leadership failures and mismanagement in addressing flooding issues in his district.