Florida Legislature

MIAMI, FL—Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced additional toll relief for Florida citizens Monday afternoon, lauding the nearly $1 billion in relief allowed in two years. "Starting today, on April 1, you are getting toll relief in the state of Florida for all of our commuters," DeSantis said at Monday's Miami press conference. "We were able […]

TALLAHASSEE, FL—In the minutes leading up to Governor Ron DeSantis' Miami press conference, the Governor issued an executive order suspending Orlando City Commissioner Regina Hill, who was indicted for elder abuse. Last week, Hill was indicted for defrauding a 96-year-old constituent with cognitive disabilities. Hill allegedly met the woman in 2021, gained power of attorney […]

MIAMI BEACH, FL—A former socialite and current Florida Republican wrought with unusual scandals is threatening to sue the city of Miami Beach after he was barred from riding in the city's annual Pride Parade. Last year, Miami Rep. Fabian Basabe rode down Ocean Avenue in the Miami Beach Pride Parade. The Republican, who ran on […]

TALLAHASSEE, FL—A controversial, Republican-led vacation rentals bill targeting party houses and preempting local governments is facing conservative backlash, with one Republican demanding this legislation never be "brought up for consideration again." Under SB 280, cities are allowed to have registration programs conforming to state rules, but all city ordinances enacted after 2011 are eradicated. Unless […]

ORLANDO, FL—The Jacksonville resident who brought Florida's attention to the squatter epidemic slams Governor DeSantis after he didn't invite her to the bill signing, wondering if she was excluded because she's a Democrat. Patti Peeples had to wait 20 days for two squatters to be evicted from her home, and when they were, they left […]

ORLANDO, FL—Following jarring stories of squatters residing in and destroying homeowners' properties, Governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation Wednesday afternoon removing squatters' rights from Florida statute. "You are not going to be able to commandeer somebody's private property and expect to get away with it," DeSantis said at the Orlando press conference. "We are in the […]

ORLANDO, FL—In the newest development of one of the strangest—and surprisingly long-running— Florida feuds, Disney has officially dropped its lawsuits against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Walt Disney Co. filed suits in hopes of regaining and solidifying their property rights in special district Reedy Creek. They searched for increased power to the theme park after DeSantis […]

PALM BEACH, FL—The Florida Democratic Party is under fire from some African American members accusing its Central Committee of racism for ousting two embattled black county chairs but choosing to keep a third white one in office. The three chairs from Miami-Dade, Franklin, and Palm Beach counties were suspended on March 4th by Party Chair […]

State Representative Tom Leek (R-Ormond Beach) is running for Florida State Senate District 7 as State Senator Travis Hutson (R-FL-7) has been term-limited. Since announcing his candidacy for the State Senate, Rep. Leek has received the endorsement of all four sheriffs in Senate District 7 including the counties of Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns, and Volusia. […]

The five-person Republican primary race in Florida's 94th House District is beginning to ramp up weeks after the 2024 legislative session wrapped up.  Philanthropist Meg Weinberger has just announced that her campaign has received the endorsement of President Donald Trump's Veterans for Trump (VFAF) organization. According to the VFAF official website, the endorsement reads as […]

ORMOND BEACH, FL—All four local sheriffs representing Florida's Senate District 7 have endorsed Republican Rep. Tom Leek for the newly vacant Senate seat in the Republican Primary. Republican Sen. Travis Hutson held the seat for eight years and already endorsed Leek in his current bid against pro-athlete Gerry James for the Republican nomination. “I am […]

JACKSONVILLE, FL—Monday morning Governor Ron DeSantis ceremoniously signed the social media ban for most kids under 16, a controversial topic that plagued the Legislature and may now face legal challenges. After DeSantis vetoed a previous form of the bill that called for a blanket ban on kids under 16 using social media platforms—regardless of parental wishes—the […]

TALLAHASSEE, FL—Governor Ron DeSantis signed a Republican-led, watered-down bill loosening child labor laws on Friday afternoon, leading to questions of why the Legislature's conservative supermajority would be willing to remove the bill's teeth. "If you look at what was originally filed, and then compare it to what eventually passed, I think that's a really interesting story […]

TALLAHASSEE, FL—Governor Ron DeSantis has awarded $9.5 million toward restoring the struggling third largest barrier reef system in the world—Florida's own coral reefs. Through Florida's Coral Reef Restoration and Recovery Initiative, DeSantis has granted $9.5 million to safeguard Florida's Coral Reef, which is the third-largest barrier reef system behind Australia's Great Barrier Reef and the […]

TALLAHASSEE, FL—An education priority of Senate President Kathleen Passidomo has gone mostly unnoticed in the state's budget, providing funding to afterschool programs allowing children to earn money for learned skills, and then donate the money to a charity of their choice. "It's special for the Senate President," Katie Betta, Passidomo's Communications Director, told The Floridian. "It's […]

TALLAHASSEE, FL—The Sunshine State announced an economic milestone Friday morning, highlighting that Florida's unemployment rate has been lower than the national rate for 40 consecutive months, though staffing shortages still remain. “Florida continues to outperform the nation,” Governor Ron DeSantis said.“We have proven that bold, conservative leadership across the board produces booming economic results—more jobs, […]

TALLAHASSEE, FL—Chairwoman of the Democratic Party Nikki Fried torched Governor Ron DeSantis' praise of Florida's low unemployment rate, urging the Governor to not "take credit" for the achievement and to refocus on lowering inflation-spiked costs. "Instead of trying to take credit for our country’s low unemployment, the Governor should focus on finding long-term solutions to […]

TALLAHASSEE, FL—Friday morning Governor Ron DeSantis nominated his long-time aide and Budget Director to become the next Executive Director of the State Board of Administration, which oversees Florida's struggling pension plans. Chris Spencer, the Director of Policy and Budget for the Governor, will go before the State Board of Administration's (SBA) trustees—Attorney General Ashley Moody, […]