News Service of Florida
While still anticipating above-normal hurricane activity through the end of November, Colorado State University researchers Wednesday trimmed their forecast for the Atlantic storm season.
Read More …Author: News Service of Florida
Attention is on alligators, ICE
By JIM TURNER
News Service of Florida
TALLAHASSEE — Amid what Gov. Ron DeSantis called the “sauna stage of Tallahassee weather,” attention shifted this week to a proposed migrant detention center in the Everglades and speculation about what the governor will redline from the state’s 2025-26 budget.
Read More …‘Long and winding road’ in the rearview
By JIM TURNER
News Service of Florida
TALLAHASSEE — House and Senate leaders brought the gavel down on the 105-day legislative session before midnight last Monday, celebrating with the traditional hanky drop signaling a wrap to their work.
Read More …Lawmakers’ addresses could be shielded
By JIM TURNER
News Service of Florida
TALLAHASSEE — As Minnesota reels from the murder of one state lawmaker and the shooting of another, Florida could shield from public disclosure the home addresses of legislators, other elected officials and their family members.
Read More …Weekly Roundup: Let’s make a deal!
By JIM TURNER
News Service of Florida
TALLAHASSEE — Weeks after talks imploded on a state spending plan for the next fiscal year, legislative leaders on Friday put the finishing touches on a budget proposal that should be ready for House and Senate votes on Monday.
A bottom-line total for the budget was not immediately available, though it is expected to be smaller than a $115.6 billion spending plan proposed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Weekly Roundup: Ono not OK
By JIM TURNER
News Service of Florida
TALLAHASSEE – State university system leaders appeared to even stun themselves this week as Santa Ono’s selection to become president of the University of Florida went down in flames.
Read More …Weekly Roundup: Starting from scratch
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 …Weekly Roundup: Session gets ‘emotional’
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.
Ralph Thomas testifies against term limits
Wakulla commissioner argues against legislature’s term limit bill for county commissioners
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.
Weekly Roundup: Bills on the move
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.