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
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 […]
Florida in recent years has seen historic spikes in population growth. Now, according to new data, Florida ranks in the top 10 highest inbound household moving destinations in the United States in 2023. The data pertains to households moving to states from other US states. Atlas Van Lines conducts their annual Migration Patterns Study which […]
The Florida Legislature is considering rolling back the 2018 Marjorie Stoneman Douglas School Safety Act of 2018. Representative Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) spoke with The Floridian about the effort, saying it "got it right" on strengthening school safety measures while maintaining gun rights. Rep. Moskowitz, who sponsored the 2018 legislative measure, described how he viewed school […]
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 […]
U.S. District Court Judge Allen Winsor has dismissed Disney’s lawsuit against Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) after he stripped them of their special improvement district status. The Reedy Creek Improvement District (also known as RCID or Reedy Creek) “effectively controlled the district’s board,” but the State of Florida amended the district’s structure after the company criticized […]
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 […]
Florida lawmakers in the state legislature are currently mulling over HB 151 – Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) of Retirement Benefits – which would increase the pensions of approximately one million state employees with a 3% increase due to “cost-of-living.” According to the Tallahassee Democrat, the COLA measure was eliminated during the Great Recession to cut spending […]
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—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 […]
State Senator Lori Berman (D-FL) has filed SB 932, known as Coverage for Diagnostic and Supplemental Breast Examinations. The legislation would have the state government foot the bill for out-of-pocket diagnostic and supplemental breast imaging when medically necessary. The exams included in this bill include MRIs, ultrasounds, and diagnostic mammograms, which “can be costly and […]
TALLAHASSEE, FL—Florida's State Board of Education announced last week their imposition of "strict regulations" on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives on college campuses, leading the James Madison Institute, a libertarian non-profit think tank, to laud the state's efforts. The board's ruling will prohibit taxpayer funds going toward DEI programs and replaces the "Principles of Sociology" […]
A bill progressing through the Florida legislature could support housing initiatives for Floridian agricultural workers by providing legal protections and deregulation. SB 1082, filed by Senator Jay Collins (R-14), would legally protect agricultural housing construction initiatives across the entire state. If Senator Collins’ bill passes, intrastate governmental entities would be prohibited from adopting or enforcing […]
The Second Amendment has always been a contentious topic in national politics. Now, governors across the nation are banding together to support Texas in their fight to preserve the right to self-defense. 25 Republican governors have released the following joint statement, including Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL), to support Governor Greg Abbott (R-TX) as the Biden […]
Molina Healthcare of Florida and BeMe Health have joined forces to address adolescent mental health and well-being. In order to do so, the companies have teamed up to support over 22,000 Molina Medicaid teenage members through BeMe’s behavioral health app. According to Molina, the app is designed to “connect teens with customized mental health and […]
Two bills moving through the Florida legislature could establish new regulations for artificial intelligence (AI) use, virtual currency kiosks, and bolster government technology modernization. HB 1459 and SB 662, filed by the Commerce and Banking and Insurance committees, respectively, would accomplish these tasks. Originally filed by Representative Fiona McFarland (R-73) and later refiled by the […]
Concerns of mosquito-borne illnesses are on the rise due to a rainier and wetter year approaching the state of Florida. However, a state legislator and a board member of the Florida Mosquito Control Association (FMCA) believe that the Sunshine State is up for the challenge. Despite South Florida witnessing its largest Dengue Fever outbreak in […]
After 2020, police regulations were heavily pushed in reaction to reported incidents of police brutality. Now, the Florida Legislature is attempting to do away with review boards that investigate local law enforcement. SB 576 proposes abolishing existing boards and barring counties and cities from creating panels to delve into complaints of police wrongdoing. The sponsor […]
