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Thursday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
These Florida laws go into effect in January. Here’s what to know.
Lawmakers during the 2023 regular legislative session and during special sessions approved five laws that will take effect in January. But the arrival of 2024 also will bring other changes, from new campsite reservation rules to the end of a program that provides credits to frequent toll-road users. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Insurance proposed for mortgage amounts
The proposal could reduce insurance premiums because mortgage loan-based policies would be cheaper than fully insuring homes. But such policies would increase financial risks for homeowners because insurance would not pick up as much of the tab to repair or replace damaged homes. The proposal would require insurers to provide a notice to people choosing the mortgage loan-based policies. The notice would say, in part, that, “in the event of a total loss of your home or a loss for which the cost to repair your home exceeds the unpaid balance of your mortgage loan, you will incur significant financial losses, including the potential loss of some of your home’s equity.” [Source: News Service of Florida]
With federal aid, Orange County looks to prevent future storm flooding
Orange County will finalize a plan next month to spend about $220 million in federal assistance to help homeowners still reeling from Hurricane Ian and fortify storm water systems to prevent future flood-related calamities. County staff, who hosted 13 community meetings in the fall, considered citizen concerns when drafting an allocation strategy. But the public can still suggest tweaks to the 153-page disaster-recovery document through Jan. 11. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
After years of controversy, Jacksonville's monument to women of the Confederacy comes down
Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan ordered the removal of the "Tribute to the Women of the Southern Confederacy" monument, which has stood north of downtown in Springfield Park since 1915. Deegan said the monument was a divisive presence that had no place in a city park.“Symbols matter," she said. [Source: USA Today]
Volusia, Flagler saw a growth slowdown in 2023. What's the outlook for the New Year?
New homes. Luxury apartments. Hotels. Oceanfront condos. Restaurants. Shopping centers. Two huge new distribution facilities for Amazon. A Costco store coming to One Daytona. A BJ's Wholesale Club coming to Palm Coast. A new VA outpatient clinic. And a Buc-ee's car wash that will be the biggest in Florida. It may surprise some to learn that the number of building permits issued this past year for new homes is actually down in both counties compared with 2022 and 2021. [Source: Daytona Beach News Journal]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› A four-day week for some high school students? Broward is discussing the idea
Broward’s high schools are considering an unusual approach to try to increase student achievement — reduce the number of days students are in school.
› A quest to get an amendment guaranteeing a right to clean water pushed back
The Florida Rights of Nature Network has gotten only a fraction of the roughly 900,000 signatures needed to get an constitutional amendment on the 2024 ballot. So it is regrouping and moving its goal to 2026.
› Jackson Memorial Hospital is tripling the size of its emergency department.
Emergency departments often serve as something of a front door for a hospital. They represent the first impression and experience that many patients will have with the institution.
› After the 15-week ban became law, Florida's abortion clinics became busier
Florida's ban on most abortions hasn't decreased the number of procedures as people from surrounding states with more restrictive bans come here to end pregnancies.
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