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Thursday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
The cost of dying is going up, leaving some Florida families scrambling
For many, end of life arrangements come with sticker shock. Without preparation, these major expenses can leave families to do cruel math, weighing how to honor their loved ones against the realities of their budgets. The cost of dying becomes heavier amid the rising costs of life. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Florida sues over new rule expanding background checks for gunshow, online sales
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody on Wednesday filed a federal lawsuit challenging a new Biden administration rule that will require more gun sellers to be licensed and run background checks on buyers. Moody’s office filed the lawsuit in Tampa, alleging that the Biden administration overstepped its legal authority. Moody said in a prepared statement that the rule would “force thousands of law-abiding gun owners to register as federal firearms dealers and navigate a federal bureaucracy.” [Source: News Service of Florida]
Florida tops in percentage of financing applications by women-owned businesses
Data from a digital funding platform shows that 2023 was an active year for women-owned businesses in Florida seeking financing. Florida had the highest percentage—12.5%—of Biz2Credit financing applications from women-owned businesses by state in 2023, according to a yearly analysis by the New York City-based digital funding platform. California was second with 11.7% and Texas, the leader in 2022, was third with 10%. Rounding out the top five were Georgia at 7.6% and New York at 5.3%. [Source: Gulfshore Business]
DeSantis sticks fork in lab-grown meat
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday signed a controversial measure that will bar selling or manufacturing lab-grown meat in Florida and prevent local regulation of electric-vehicle charging stations. DeSantis said the bill (SB 1084), which includes a series of changes related to the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, will protect the state’s cattle industry against “an ideological agenda that wants to finger agriculture as the problem.” More from the News Service of Florida and the Florida Times-Union.
Are reciprocal insurance exchanges an answer for hard Florida market?
Florida’s hardened insurance market is attracting new insurers who aren’t household names and may not have their financial wherewithal, generating some questions about their ability to respond to a hurricane or other severe weather event. In early April, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation approved eight new insurers for entry into the state market. Several of them are reciprocal exchanges. [Source: Insurance Business Magazine]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Toll road approved to cut through Split Oak Forest
The state wildlife agency entrusted with managing Split Oak Forest decided to lift protections shielding the 1,700-acre conservation property, clearing the way for the Central Florida Expressway Authority to build its preferred route for a toll road across the publicly-owned lands. The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission voted 6-1 to set aside objections of environmental groups and accept a deal negotiated by its staff that allows the road-building authority to cut through the forest.
› Six things the proposed Brightline train station could bring to Cocoa, Brevard County
Cocoa officials say having a Brightline train stop in Cocoa will bring major benefits to the city and Brevard County. Brightline operates 32 trains a day — 16 in each direction — from early morning to late evening on the roughly 3½-hour route between Orlando International Airport and Miami. But it has no stop in Brevard.
› FPL invests into its push to be a national leader in solar power
Florida Power & Light Co. continues to expand its solar footprint in the state, with company officials saying it plans to increase it solar mix to 38% by 2033. Florida Power’s new education center in Charlotte County is aimed at highlighting solar power and showing the real-world example of Babcock Ranch.
› Former cruise exec Lisa Lutoff-Perlo named CEO of 2026 World Cup Miami Host Committee
Lisa Lutoff-Perlo spent 39 years with Royal Caribbean as an executive of one of the world’s largest cruise ship companies, most recently as CEO of Celebrity Cruises, building the brand, driving growth, and working to ensure passengers got a first-class experience. Now, she will lean on that hospitality background as she has been tasked with making sure it is smooth sailing for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Miami Host Committee.
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