Moody Splits With Senate On Fate Of Failed Petition Drives To Broaden Gambling In Fla.

Attorney General Moody and the Senate rendered conflicting opinions about whether the Florida Supreme Court should rule on its validity.

15-Week Abortion Ban Headed For Senate Floor Vote, Lacking Exception For Rape

As the bill to prohibit abortions after 15 weeks passed through its final committee test Monday, a powerful senator voiced misgivings.

DeSantis Sent A Heavy To Lean On House Redistricting Panel; It Passed Plan Anyway

"No governor has intervened in this way in living memory," the report indicates, relevant to DeSantis's antics.

1 Million Mosquitoes Captured In A Florida Neighborhood

Ever wonder what 1 million mosquitoes look like? Now you don't have to. One Florida county has the photos to show you firsthand.

‘Unfair,' ‘Unreasonable': School Districts React To House Budget Docking Millions Over Masks

The Orange County School Board sent a letter to C. Florida lawmakers, urging them to oppose a plan to take away $200 million from schools.

Big Changes For Bright Futures Requirements? A Focus On Paid Work Instead Of Volunteer Service

Florida's Bright Futures is a popular merit-based scholarship program that can shave thousands in college tuition, but requires a high GPA.

With Gambling Expansion In Disarray, Fla., Senate Moves Ahead With New Gaming Commission

While Florida's 2021 compact to expand gambling statewide was struck down in federal court, the Florida Senate forged ahead recently.

FL Dems Push For $375 A Week For The Unemployed, But It's A Tough Sell This Legislative Session

Florida has some of the lowest unemployment benefits in the nation, and Democratic lawmakers are pushing to boost the numbers.

House Budget Debate Often Focused On Punitive, Vindictive Proposal Targeting 12 School Districts

The debate focused on what Democrats "considered to be a mean-spirited proposal" by Republicans, taking millions from Florida schools.

Epic Debate Ends In Foregone Conclusion: 15-Week Abortion Ban Passes Florida House

“If we take this away, women will not have equal rights. We are trying to force women to do something they don’t want to do"-- McCurdy (D)

DeSantis Bent On Provoking Fight Over Redistricting; Court Action Quiet For Now

DeSantis is more focused on appealing to the Republicans' Trump-besotted base rather than the Senate map; Democrats are ready for "a fight."

Fried To Feds: Stop State House From Taking $200 Million From 12 School Districts Over Masks

Agriculture Commissioner Fried urges the U.S. Dept. of Education to prevent state lawmakers from financially penalizing school districts.

Lawmakers Want Salary Hikes For State Workers, But There's A Conundrum: $15 An Hour Or 5.38 Percent?

The House and Senate are pushing to boost pay for state employees, local school staffers, and certain health care workers.

Proposed 15-Week Abortion Ban Getting Closer To Passage In Fla., House; Democrats Don't Agree

Democrat Woodson, who said a friend went through an unforgettable rape, added, "Let's do the right thing. Let's do the right thing, people."

Testimony: Florida's New Elections Restrictions Are Driving Local Supervisors From Office

Some of the officials who supervise Florida elections are considering retiring under the threat of $25,000 fines if they make mistakes.

Amid Fear And Censorship, Florida School Districts Are Pulling Books Off Shelves In Public Schools

"These movements to ban books in our schools, which should trouble all of us, are mostly movements to ban books about us (LGBTQ)" -- Smith

Two Election Supervisors At Federal Trial Doubt New Law Will Interfere With General Election

Two county supervisors of elections, under questioning by attorneys and the GOP, testified they don't expect interference.

Fla., TaxWatch Calls For Restoration Of Ocklawaha River Ecosystem

It was an environmental mistake that killed a river and drowned at least 20 natural freshwater springs in N. Central Florida.

DeSantis Pitches Florida For ‘Vacation To Freedom' From COVID Restrictions — Despite Continued Pandemic

This, from a governor who once ordered inbound motorists and air travelers from COVID hot spots to self-isolate before traveling to Fla.

How Do Lawmakers Get Local Pet Projects In The State Budget? It Isn't Easy Or Always Transparent

When lawmakers came to the Capitol in January for the 2022 legislative session, their annual wish list was ballooning.

Lobbyist Takes Stand, Describes Efforts To Soften Election Law's Most Onerous Items

For all the opposition to Florida's new voting restrictions, the legislation would have been much worse but for negotiations undertaken.

Charlie Crist Leads Democrats In Mason-Dixon Poll, But DeSantis Still Holds Leads

Charlie Crist leads in a Mason-Dixon Florida poll of Democrats contending in the party primary to take on DeSantis this fall.

The Fourth Anniversary Of One Of Florida's Darkest Days; 17 Innocent Lives Lost

Floridians paused for a moment of silence 3 p.m. Monday, in remembrance of 17 lives lost at the shooting.

State House Nixes School Board Salary Cuts For Now, But Approves Term Limits

The largely contentious provision in the bill would have eliminated salaries for members of women-dominated Florida school boards.

Bill Limiting Construction-Defect Lawsuits Grows A Little Friendlier To Homeowners

The Florida Senate has advanced a watered-down version of legislation shortening the deadline for homeowners to bring lawsuits.

Fla., House And Senate Differ On Funding Teacher, Staff Pay And Penalizing Certain School Districts

As lawmakers craft a 2022-23 state budget, the two legislative chambers are currently not aligned on funds regarding public education.

Legislature Approves Legal Protections Extended For Health Providers Against COVID-Related Claims

The Florida House voted Thursday to extend protections for medical providers against COVID-related legal claims for another year.

UF Professor, Previously Blocked From Case, Testifies In Election-Law Challenge

A political scientist testified Florida's restrictions on voting access are proving very burdensome to the disabled, Blacks, and Hispanics.

Congressional Redistricting: Florida Supreme Court Says No To DeSantis's Request

In a victory for voting-rights organizations, the Florida Supreme Court will not grant DeSantis's wish for an advisory opinion.

Emergency Care For Kids Without Parental Consent Is Moving In Legislature; Some Questions Remain

It is a proposal to expand the ability for doctors to perform emergency care on minors in a variety of settings, without parental consent.

Senate Panel Okays Ladapo For Fla., Surgeon General; Next Comes A Vote In Full Senate

A state Senate panel Tuesday evening voted to approve Joseph Ladapo for Florida Surgeon General, allowing him to move on.

Senate Panel Debates Ladapo Nomination For Surgeon General Into The Evening

Told by a Democrat there are 800,000 people in Fla., without health care, Ladapo responded DeSantis does not support expanding Medicaid.

Progressives Claim Fla., Legislature Is Ignoring Real People's Needs This Session

Activists, elected officials gathered at the Florida Capitol to complain the Legislature isn't addressing the problems of "average people."

“Don't Say Gay” Bill Pushing Through Fla., Legislature; Many Speakers Have Only 30 Seconds For Comment

The report indicates many of the advocates traveled several hours to get to the hearing, only to continue to be stymied by Republicans.

Expert: Florida's Election Reforms Harm Disadvantaged Voters But Don't Fix Voting Fraud

Last year's election reforms built barriers to voting for disadvantaged people in Fla., while doing nothing to bolster election integrity.

Advocates Rally At The Old Capitol Against Whitewashing Conversations About Race And Gender

Forty to fifty advocates stood on the steps of the Old Capitol building in Tallahassee recently, weathering a cold, rainy rally.

The Word From Florida's Prisons: Personnel Are Working In ‘Very Dangerous Situations As We Speak'

The Florida Senate's leading criminal-justice reformers voted in support of a new leader for the state prisons system.

Fla., Supreme Court Ponders DeSantis's Congressional Redistricting Questions, Called "End-Run Around The Legislature"

Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick's lawyers, the report states, wrote in a brief that DeSantis's plan discriminates against Black voters.

Republican "Stealth" Candidates "Siphoned Votes Away From Democrats," Altering Senate Seats, Thompson Says

Republican state lawmakers who changed Florida's election laws last year used highly unusual tactics to pass reforms they promoted.

Elections Official On GOP Voting Law: ‘I Just Don't Think That Any Of It Was Necessary'

A number of voting-rights groups, including the League of Women Voters of Florida, are suing the state over SB 90, pushed by DeSantis.