Bill to ease litigation hurdles against state, local governments clears another panel
Despite overwhelming opposition from city, county, hospital, and school district lobbyists, a House spending panel Wednesday approved a bill to increase the amount of money people injured by the government can recover in negligence cases. HB 145 would increase the “sovereign immunity” limits per person from $200,000 to $500,000 and up the cap per incident from $300,000 to $1 million. The new limits would apply to claims that occur between Oct. 1, 2026, and Sept. 30, 2031. After five years, the caps would increase to $600,000 and $1.2 million, respectively. [Source: Florida Phoenix]
Florida Trend Exclusive
St. Thomas soars
Florida’s third largest nursing program is less than a decade old yet consistently boasts some of the state’s best passage rates on the NCLEX exam required for licensed nurses. And the dean at St. Thomas University’s College of Nursing wants to grow another 72% in the next four years. The fall class has 1,740 students, says Dean Nashat Abualhaija, up from 900 when he took the job about 18 months ago. His goal is 3,000 nursing students by 2030. That would be nearly 40% of the enrollment at St. Thomas, which is affiliated with the Archdiocese of Miami. [Source: Florida Trend]
Unlocking new potential with specialty limes in Florida
As Manjul Dutt, assistant professor of horticultural sciences with a focus on citrus and subtropical fruit breeding and genetics at University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, has focused on unlocking citrus breeding stock that is tolerant of resistant to the citrus green disease huanglongbing, he’s also unlocked a new potential opportunity for Florida growers. The market for finger limes could offer a new opportunity for the state’s growers and the specialty citrus industry.[Source: The Packer]
Gov. DeSantis announces more than $100 million to improve Florida's water resources
Among the grants is $50 million in funding for alternative water supply grants, $50 million for 23 projects to protect the state's natural fresh water springs and $12 million to fund 16 projects with multiple universities to prevent further harmful algal blooms. The governor says the funding helps with wastewater upgrades, reduces nitrogen and will help connect septic to sewer lines. More from WTSP and Florida Politics.
Florida faces rising SNAP administration cost
One of the impacts of President Donald Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill passed earlier this year is that states will have to pay more to administer food stamp programs. To keep staffing and resources steady, Florida would have to increase how much it spends on administering its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP by about $50 million. But that spending could help the state avoid greater costs. [Source: WFSU]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Horizon West's retail boom transforms community into its own destination
As team leader and broker associate for Windermere-based The Funk Collection Brokered by eXp Realty, Jeffrey Funk has had a bird's eye view of the evolution of Horizon West. Funk, who has nearly three decades of residential real estate experience, says one of the biggest changes for the growing master-planned community has been its shift toward commercial development in the past five to seven years.
› Design Miami returns for its 20th year, announces expansion to Dubai
Design Miami turns 20 this year, and according to Curatorial Director Glenn Adamson, “It’s the largest fair produced to date.” With more than 70 exhibitor presentations, the fair offers something for everyone, from jewelry and watches to the chairs we sit on and the lamps that light our way. Not only did Design Miami at its flagship fair in Miami Beach expand in size, but also the fair is expanding its presence globally.
› Jaguars stadium renovation projected to exceed original price tag
The cost of renovating EverBank Stadium might end up being around $100 million higher than the original $1.4 billion estimate, a top city official said Dec. 2. The city's agreement with Jaguars owner Shad Khan will put the cost of any overruns solely on the Jaguars to cover any added expense. Cost overruns are not uncommon for NFL stadium projects, with new stadiums for the Bills and Titans also exceeding their budgets.
› Port Tampa Bay buys two cranes, launches expansion effort
Port Tampa Bay announced Wednesday the purchase of two new cranes — key components in the port’s efforts to expand its container terminal to 100 acres. Port officials signed a contract with Liebherr Container Cranes Ltd. for two ship-to-shore cranes that will allow the port to efficiently handle larger, wider-beam vessels. This is the first time Liebherr has installed ship-to-shore (STS) cranes on Florida’s Gulf Coast, a release states.
More stories ...
› Flamingo bill gets new wings as House panel backs state bird swap
A fresh attempt to ground the mockingbird and elevate the American flamingo gained new wings as a House committee advanced legislation after a playful debate filled with regional pride and a few pointed questions. Islamorada Republican Rep. Jim Mooney presented the bill (HB 11) to the House Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee, telling members the flamingo has earned its place after years of restoration work in the Everglades and Indian River Lagoon. He argued the bird is iconic, marketable and increasingly visible as populations rebound.
› Overtown’s tallest tower at 55 stories to have micro units
A skyscraper is coming to Overtown in Miami, bringing affordable housing including micro dwelling units. Applicant David Om LLC plans the 55-story mixed-use residential tower for a site at 1210 NW Second Ave. in the historic Overtown neighborhood. It would be the tallest building there and bring 498 residential units, amenities, and a colorful parking podium adorned with artwork.
› New platform links Tampa Bay donors to nonprofits losing funding
Nonprofits across Tampa Bay are facing a squeeze. Federal programs are cutting grants. State budgets are tightening. Hillsborough County is preparing to phase out many recurring local grants. At the same time, demand for food assistance, youth programs and shelter is rising. Kendall Webb has been watching the pressure build. Webb is a longtime philanthropist and founder of Charity Bridge Fund, a new platform designed to connect donors directly with nonprofits that have lost government funding.
› Group says Indian River Lagoon health about same as last year
After multimillions of taxpayer dollars spent to cure the Indian River Lagoon, things are just, 'okay,' according to the non-profit Marine Resources Council latest annual checkup of the estuary. So, it's about as healthy, or unhealthy, as last year, depending on which vital signs you look at, and where. MRC's report looks at algal blooms, salt levels, seagrass coverage, sediment health, sewage spills and overall water quality.