Florida child labor rollback bill amended to allow some 13-year-olds to work
The legislature last year passed policy allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to work 30-hour weeks. This year, new proposals in the Florida House and Senate would allow them to work full-time and ease rules for 14- and 15-year-olds who are enrolled in homeschool, virtual education, or those who have already graduated. The house version would allow 13-year-olds to work during the summer of the year they turn 14. More from WUFT and the Florida Phoenix.
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Investing 2.0
Florida State University is developing a unique MBA program with a concentration in alternative investments and finance, a fast-growing realm that includes private credit, hedge funds, fine art, real estate, cryptocurrencies and more. The online program is set to begin in the fall. A report by the investment company WebStreet shows that alternative investments make up nearly 25% of total global institutional investment portfolios. [Source: Florida Trend]
5 Florida markets among top 10 nationally in real estate price drops
Five of the top 10 housing markets nationwide with the steepest drop in average sales price, according to a new report, are in Florida and four of them — Tampa, Sarasota Fort Myers and Winter Haven — are on the west coast of the state. The report, from property data analytics firm Cotality, formerly CoreLogic, also says Florida and Arizona are home to the housing markets with the highest risk of price decline. [Source: Business Observer]
E-Verify requirement advances in first House panel, but Senate hasn’t acted
A House committee advanced along party lines Tuesday a bill requiring all employers to use an online system to verify that their new hires can legally work in the country. The proposal, HB 955, from Seminole Republican Rep. Berny Jacques, would expand the use of E-Verify, the system that public agencies, their contractors, and companies with more than 25 employees must use to confirm their new hires are authorized to work. [Source: Florida Phoenix]
Tax cut battle heats up in the Florida Capitol between state leaders
Would you rather save about a cent on every dollar you spend or get a roughly $1,000 check to offset your property taxes? The battle over how to cut taxes for everyday Floridians continues to heat up in the State Capitol, as three top state leaders are all expressing different views about how to best do it, or whether it can be done at all. However, the main dispute is between the governor and the House Speaker. [Source: Action News Jax]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› It’s hard to get a DMV appointment in Miami-Dade. Now it’s illegal to scalp one, too
Legislation the County Commission passed Tuesday makes it a misdemeanor to sell access to an appointment for a driver’s-license office or a time slot at any other government agency. Violators could receive a $500 fine. Sponsored by Commissioner Kevin Cabrera, the legislation stemmed from allegations by the county’s newly elected tax collector, Dariel Fernandez, who said last month he had uncovered a “network of appointment scalpers” at local DMV offices.
› FedEx Supply Chain to close Jacksonville facility, impacting 87 employees
FedEx Supply Chain announced Monday it will wind down its operations at a Jacksonville facility and will lay off all 87 employees. The logistics company is discontinuing services at a facility located at 12200 Presidents Court due to its customer’s decision to transition its business to a new provider, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification notice filed with the state Monday.
› Pensacola mayor taps retired admiral Lance Scott as new port director
Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves is naming retired Rear Admiral Lance Scott to be the city's next port director. The city has been searching for a new port director since January, when Port Director Clark Merritt resigned. Scott retired from the Navy after a 31-year career, where he was commander of the Navy's Patrol and Reconnaissance Group.
› The necessary expense of renourishing Southwest Florida's coastline
Collier County’s Park Shore Beach Renourishment Project is scheduled to finish this month. The Board of County Commissioners approved the project last December, designating funds from the county’s Tourist Development Tax to cover the expense; the anticipated cost is $5.5 million. The Park Shore Beach Park is in good company. Across Lee and Collier counties, multiple beach renourishment projects are ongoing. Some are the result of major hurricanes Ian, Helene and Milton, while others are a response to the natural ongoing erosion process.
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› Around 13K policies removed from Florida’s Citizens Property Insurance over the last week
Fewer homeowners in Florida are being allowed to use Citizens Property Insurance. On Friday, the state’s insurer of last resort had just over 840,000 policies. That’s about 13,000 fewer than a week earlier. The decrease came after three private insurers were approved to assume some Citizens policies. It’s part of a program called “depopulation.”
› Orange County Convention Center's $560M expansion to begin in 2026
The Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) is moving forward with a $560 million expansion of its North-South Building, known as the Grand Concourse expansion, with construction slated to begin in 2026 and conclude in 2029, according to a March 27 news release. Ninety-percent construction documents — considered a milestone in the development process — are anticipated by the end of July.
› Shad Khan increases wealth, but slips on world’s richest list
Shad Khan was already one of the wealthiest people in the world but he became even richer in the past year, according to Forbes magazine’s annual World’s Billionaires list. The magazine said Khan is worth $13.4 billion, up from $12.2 billion last year, in a story posted on its website April 1. While his wealth increased, the Jacksonville Jaguars owner’s ranking on the list of billionaires slipped from 162nd in 2024 to 175th this year.
› Bradenton company awarded roofing technology patent
A Bradenton company recently secured a patent for its roofing technology. Crazy Seal, based off State Road 64, developed a technology for fixing roofs that permanently eliminates leaks and extends the lifespan of a roof to 50-plus years, according to a statement.