State & Local
Along with up-to-date political coverage, The Floridian takes the opportunity to post about issues, legislation, and lawmakers in local municipalities and at the state level
TALLAHASSEE, FL—As Lawmakers enter the third week of the Legislative Session, with it comes a slew of hard-hitting bills, sure to ignite debate in both chambers. This week's agenda covers sex reassignment insurance coverage, the banning of identity politics in teacher preparation courses, drunk driving, and much more. Licenses and Drunk Driving Monday will see […]
A new bill modifying current Florida law on private pre-kindergarten instruction and expanding state pre-kindergarten educational programs is steadily progressing through the legislature. Florida Senator Erin Grall’s (R-29) ‘Early Learning’ pre-kindergarten bill, filed last December was approved by the Education Pre-K-12 committee earlier this week. Senator Grall’s proposal would prohibit private pre-kindergarten educational services from […]
TALLAHASSEE, FL---A new bill defining and punishing child-grooming passed House committee Friday afternoon, branding offenders with a second-degree felony. If the bill becomes law, it would make Florida the first state to have a criminal definition of grooming. "The closest thing to the Devil in human form are the people that do this." The sponsor […]
Republican legislation to deregulate minor employment in Florida is swiftly progressing through the legislative process. A group of bills concerning minor employment would include measures such as lowering minimum age requirements to work and removing employment curfews and hourly limits. The Florida Senate’s Education Pre-K-12 Committee recently approved SB460, a proposal to permit minors 16 […]
Concerns about the weaponization of government by the Biden Administration have reentered the spotlight as recent evidence suggested Florida was disproportionately subject to Medicaid audits starting in 2023 when Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) began his Presidential campaign for 2024. According to National Review, the nonprofit watchdog Government Accountability & Oversight obtained over 3,000 pages of emails […]
State Senator Shevrin Jones (D-FL) offered congratulatory remarks to State Representative-elect Tom Keen (D-FL) for his victory over Erika Booth (R) in the District 35 special election on Tuesday. State Rep.-elect Keen flipped the seat from red to blue after former State Representative Fred Hawkins (R-FL) stepped down in order to become the president of […]
The Florida Senate’s Education Postsecondary Committee has filed and approved a bill that would create an alternative pathway for students to obtain a High School diploma. The Graduation Alternative to Traditional Education (GATE) Program would enable students to earn postsecondary course credits through career and technical education (CTE) courses. Education Postsecondary committee chair Senator Erin […]
TALLAHASSEE, FL --- In a push toward increased protection of children, the Florida House voted on a new bill banning social media usage for children under 16. Social media platforms in violation of the bill would face a $50,000 fine per penalty, and up to $10,000 in civil damages to be paid to the minor […]
State Senator Lori Berman (D-FL) and State Representative Adam Anderson (R-FL) introduced SB 1172 and HB 961 respectively to expand the legal definition of impairment as it relates to DUI (driving under the influence) charges. The bill is formally known as Operating Vehicles and Vessels Under the Influence. It was introduced on Jan. 9. The […]
A new bill filed by Senator Rick Scott (R-Fl) would prohibit the entry of Chinese garlic into the US. The bill follows Senator Scott’s tirade against Chinese garlic, which began last December. Scott wrote a letter warning the President and CEO of the National Growers Association Greg Ferrara of the unsanitary and immoral practices surrounding […]
Florida State Senator Nick DiCeglie’s (R-18) proposal to regulate Artificial Intelligence (AI) use in political advertisements was recently critically assessed by Democrats in committee hearings. Senator DiCeglie’s bill would require any political content produced with the assistance of ‘generative AI’ to include a disclaimer notating the technology’s use during content production. Generative AI is software […]
Florida Senator Alexis Calatayud’s (R-38) recently introduced affordable housing bill is moving swiftly through Florida’s legislative labyrinth. Senator Calatayud’s bill reforms certain aspects of Florida’s building code while also providing an additional $100 million in funding for Florida’s affordable housing ‘Hometown Hero Program’. The ‘Hometown Hero Program’, originally established in 2023, aims to assist first-time, […]
State Representative Alina Garcia (R-FL) sat down for an exclusive interview with The Floridian to discuss one of the bills she co-sponsored, HB 1. The legislation would require social media platforms to “use verification methods to verify ages of account holders.” It would also require social media platforms to “prohibit minors from creating new accounts,” […]
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently awarded $5 million in grants to the Orange County Public School system for a fleet of twenty electric school buses. Representatives Maxwell Frost (D-FL) and Darren Soto (D-FL) welcomed the grant and purchase, citing the importance of combating climate change. Rep. Frost said the grant "will help us tackle some of […]
With the controversial abortion issue most likely being on the 2024 ballot in Florida, Democrats are pushing hard to beat Republicans on the issue in Florida. State Senator Jason Pizzo (D) remains confident that most Floridians believe in a woman's right to choose to have an abortion or not. Democrats recently celebrated a huge victory this […]
State Representative Berny Jacques (R-FL) sat down for an exclusive interview with The Floridian in which he spoke on the alleged division within the Democratic Caucus at the state level concerning the Israel-Palestinian conflict. For instance, on Monday in the House Judiciary Committee, Representative Dotie Joseph (D-FL) addressed HB 187 – a bill that adopts […]
The ‘Bright Futures’ scholarship, Florida’s flagship public scholarship program, could soon be boosted due to a recent proposal by Democrats in the Florida House of Representatives. Representatives Kevin Chambliss (D-117) and Dan Daley (D-96) filed a bill that would grant additional funds for book purchases to certain Bright Futures scholarship recipients. If passed, the law […]
State Representative Berny Jacques (R-FL) sat down for an exclusive interview with The Floridian to discuss the legislative session that began on Monday. Additionally, State Rep. Jacques shared with us the bill that he will be introducing later this week. that looks to set up a “one-stop-shop” for pregnant mothers and their families who are […]
