By JIM TURNER
News Service of Florida
TALLAHASSEE — Budget talks blew up Friday after Gov. Ron DeSantis threatened to nix a key part of a “framework” reached by House and Senate leaders, leaving lawmakers in the lurch heading into an extended legislative session that was supposed to resume on Monday.
Read More …By JIM TURNER
News Service of Florida
TALLAHASSEE — Just over the halfway point in the 60-day legislative session, House and Senate budget committees advanced fiscal plans that diverged by $4 billion on policy issues ranging from tax cuts to environmental spending.
“We’ll figure it out,” Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, calmly assured reporters on Thursday.
Gov. Ron DeSantis, however, took a more aggressive stance against the House this week.
By DARA KAM
News Service of Florida
TALLAHASSEE — Rural officials are balking at legislation that would allow voters to decide whether county commissioners should be limited to eight years in office, arguing that the restriction would quash the voices of local residents.
The Senate Ethics and Elections Committee last week voted 6-2 to approve a proposal (SJR 802) that would put in the Florida Constitution eight-year term limits for county commissioners and school board members. The Legislature in 2023 approved eight-year term limits for school board members, but those limits are not in the Constitution.
By JIM TURNER
News Service of Florida
TALLAHASSEE — Florida legislators completed the second of nine scheduled weeks of the 2025 regular session, with the Senate pushing its first measure across the finish line.
Senators on Wednesday unanimously passed a proposal (SB 112) to expand services for children with autism. The bill, with a nearly $756,000 price tag, is intended to improve early intervention, school readiness, educational opportunities and workforce training for students with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities.
By JIM SAUNDERS
News Service of Florida
TALLAHASSEE — Florida lawmakers next week will start the annual legislative session, which will include considering hundreds of bills. Here are 10 issues to watch during the 60-day session:
Read More …By JIM TURNER
News Service of Florida
TALLAHASSEE – As many Florida Republicans head to Washington, D.C. this week to unite around Monday’s return of President-elect Donald Trump to the White House, Gov. Ron DeSantis also drew praise for tapping state Attorney General Ashley Moody to replace outgoing U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio.
Read More …By JIM TURNER
News Service of Florida
TALLAHASSEE – Florida’s citrus industry, which produces the state’s signature crop, continues to see a less fruitful future.
Read More …By JIM SAUNDERS
News Service of Florida
TALLAHASSEE – Former Florida Gov. Kenneth “Buddy” MacKay, who was thrust into the state’s top executive office in 1998 because of the death of Lawton Chiles, died peacefully during an afternoon nap on New Year’s Eve surrounded by his wife and sons.
Read More …By JIM TURNER
News Service of Florida
A smattering of new state laws will arrive with the new year, but the highest-profile change — restricting access to social media for children — will not be immediately enforced.
Read More …By JIM SAUNDERS
News Service of Florida
TALLAHASSEE – It was a holiday-week news bomb.
The U.S. House Committee on Ethics released a report Monday alleging that former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz “regularly” paid women for sex, used illegal drugs and violated state laws.