Author: News Service of Florida

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.

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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:

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Social media restrictions for children is one change, but it be immediately enforced

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.

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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.

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By JIM TURNER
News Service of Florida

TALLAHASSEE – Florida senators returned to the Capitol this week to receive overviews as they prepare for the 2025 legislative session.
A big part of their job during the session will be to craft a budget for the fiscal year that will start July 1. And the Florida Supreme Court added to the budget puzzle this week when it called for creating 50 new judgeships across the state.

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