Florida Lawmakers

TALLAHASSEE, FL—The Florida Senate is sticking to its guns in a social media ban for minors. In a rare departure from the Governor, the Republican-led measure outlawing social media accounts for minors—regardless of parental wishes—passed committee down party lines. "If we as a government have identified this harm that is beyond the magnitude of any […]

TALLAHASSEE, FL—A far-reaching defamation bill united conservatives and liberals in strong opposition, despite a strike-all amendment softening its components. Though the measure removed controversial provisions related to claims of discrimination, it still facilitates the ability to sue a journalist. "When you make a false statement, you are committing some kind of negligent act against someone," […]

TALLAHASSEE, FL—Mere days after Gov. DeSantis announced that the state's version of the national guard will be sent to the Texas border to fight illegal immigration, U.S. Marine veteran Mark Thieme was unanimously confirmed Monday as the new director for the state guard. This makes Thieme the third director in less than two years. "I […]

Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) has  came back to his job as governor of Florida after dropping his presidential bid and endorsing President Donald Trump (R).  However, one of his biggest claims in the primary race is being fact-checked. In order to appeal to small government conservatives, Gov. DeSantis told a crowd of primary voters in […]

Florida Lawmakers Dead-Focused on Social Media, Term Limits for Congress, And AI The fourth week of the 2024 Legislative session has been a whirlwind of news, sweeping up issues such as AI deep fakes, antisemitism, and rising taxpayer dollars. The biggest headline, however, has been Gov. Ron DeSantis, returning to Florida following the suspension of […]

TALLAHASSEE, FL—Top Republican Lawmaker Sen. Jay Collins has proposed a slew of hard-hitting bills this session, covering issues ranging from foster homes to communism to veterans. In an exclusive interview with the Floridian, he outlined his wide-ranging agenda for 2024's legislative season. "I am unequivocally pro-life," Collins, who is adopted, said of his child permanency […]

TALLAHASSEE, FL—The Florida Legislature is demanding U.S. congressional term limits via an Article V Convention, propelling the resolution through and out of the Senate Thursday afternoon. Passed by the House last month, 34 states must petition Congress for a convention to amend the Constitution. "Term limits creates an environment where you have new, fresh ideas […]

TALLAHASSEE, FL—A bill banning corporal punishment for students with disabilities passed the House Education Quality Subcommittee unanimously, surprising residents and representatives alike in that corporal punishment still exists within some public schools. "While most counties have banned the practice, corporal punishment is still allowed in 19 counties in Florida," HB 439's sponsor, Democratic Rep. Katherine […]

TALLAHASSEE, FL—It's time to "seas the opportunity" to keep Florida front and center on the international trade stage, according to maritime professionals at Seaports Day at the Capitol. With a four-year, $5 billion investment plan arriving to shore up public seaports, Florida has set their sights on increasing and maintaining cargo growth. "As long as […]

TALLAHASSEE, FL—Keiser University kicked off its "Keiser Days at the Capitol" with a Wednesday morning press conference. Joined by Republican Rep. Randy Fine, the college's leaders discussed higher education, nursing shortages, and athletic success. "My message is simply that we live in a great state," Belinda Keiser, the Vice Chancellor of the University, said, "If […]

TALLAHASSEE, FL—Nearly six years after the school shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas that left 17 dead, Florida moves to lower the firearm purchasing age from 21 back to 18. "Restoring the rights of young adults to purchase a long gun for not only self-defense but for sporting is very important in my rural area," HB […]

TALLAHASSEE, FL—A bill defining antisemitism in Florida passed the Senate Committee on Judiciary unanimously, though not without criticisms of censorship and First Amendment infringements. "The bill draws from the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of antisemitism, which is considered the gold standard throughout the world and has been adopted by 43 United Nations member states, […]

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced Monday morning that he is working with the Florida Legislature to certify four Constitutional amendments under Article V, including term limits for members of Congress. A press release from the Governor's office reads, “Today, Governor Ron DeSantis called for constitutional reforms to hold the U.S. Congress accountable and, in doing […]

TALLAHASSEE, FL—A new bill would prohibit sleeping on or in public property, providing instead for locally-funded "camps" for the homeless. The bill faced strong opposition, with critics claiming the bill would exacerbate, not address, homelessness. "One of the greatest challenges facing our nation is chronic homelessness," SB 1530's sponsor, Republican Sen. Jonathan Martin, said in […]

TALLAHASSEE, FL—Artificial Intelligence use in political advertisements faces new regulations with a Florida bill requiring disclaimers of AI use in ads. Violators would be subject to civil penalties imposed by the Federal Elections Commission or an administrative law judge. "The increasing access of sophisticated AI generated content threatens the integrity of elections by facilitating the […]

NAPLES, FL—In a press conference Monday morning, Gov. DeSantis outlined the "weakness" of President Biden and the desire for fiscal responsibility and holding Washington accountable. "Weakness invites aggression, and Biden has been weak since the day he took office. He gave Iran a lifeline with massive reliefs and sanctions, of course, they're going to use […]

TALLAHASSEE, FL—Gov. DeSantis has weighed in on potential legal concerns for the social media ban for minors bill that passed the House Floor Thursday. Gov. DeSantis explained that while he agreed with the bill, it was likely to evolve to expand parental rights. "I think social media has been a net negative for our youth […]

TALLAHASSEE, FL—Florida takes a step toward further intervening in the Texas border crisis with a new bill expanding Governor DeSantis' control of the State Guard. The State Guard is under the Governor's final and ultimate authority, and HB 1551 would allow him to deploy his guard nationwide. “We've got FHP Fish and Wildlife, we've had […]