‘Age of darkness and deceit’: DeSantis proposes ‘AI bill of rights’ for Floridians
Gov. Ron DeSantis late last week proposed an artificial intelligence “bill of rights” to stymie unfettered AI growth, crack down on sexual AI chatbots, and restrict AI data centers in Florida. Hinted at for months, these legislative proposals come in sharp contrast to pro-tech push marking President Donald Trump’s second term in office. Trump — allied with technology titans like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg — toyed with an executive order to thwart state-level AI regulations earlier this month. But DeSantis insists he won’t allow Florida to fall victim to dangers he believes unrestricted AI development will yield. [Source: Florida Phoenix]
Opinion: What happens globally matters in Florida
It may surprise some that international trade supported 2,800,000 jobs in Florida in 2023, and that 55,073 Florida companies exported goods to foreign markets - 94% small and medium-sized businesses representing $119 billion in goods and services. The lines between what traditionally has been characterized as local, national or international are no longer so bright. [Source: Tallahassee Democrat]
Florida remains on path to $15 minimum wage as dozens of other states raise pay
The minimum wage for workers will increase in 19 states and 49 cities and counties next month, with the wage floor reaching $15 per hour in dozens of localities, a new report found. Though the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour has not increased since 2009, many state and local governments continue to increase minimums through legislation or scheduled increases tied to inflation. [Source: Islander News]
Investors lost at least $40 million on a Florida business that never had a client
Investing in Pablo Rebollido’s merchant cash advance businesses — short term cash loans to small businesses — seemed an easy way to make money for those Rebollido convinced to fund his Flagler Street businesses. But, investors lost at least seven zeroes, $40,000,000, because Rebollido concealed one zero: zero customers for E Card Merchant and E Card Lending. All the money went to Rebollido, who used some of it to pay off earlier investors he promised a monthly return. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
After a decade off, Florida resumes bear hunting. Here’s what to expect.
Hunters fanned out across Florida this weekend as the first sanctioned hunt of black bears in a decade kicked off amid sharply divided public opinion and efforts by humane advocates to cajole — and even pay — sportsmen not to shoot the state’s largest land mammal. Through a lottery system, state wildlife officials awarded 172 bear tags last month to people with a hunting license, each good for a one-bear “harvest,” the term the state Fish & Wildlife agency uses for a kill. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Cape Coral revises rules for business incentive grants
Cape Coral’s business incentive grants are no longer available to gas stations, car washes, storage locker facilities, home-based businesses and businesses that focus entirely on retail sales. At the same time, the city is enhancing its Business Infrastructure Grant, or BIG, program to attract industrial and infrastructure development across a range of sectors. It also is expanding Cape Collaborates, a grant program designed to help small businesses grow.
› Ready for an AI taxi to do the I-4 driving for you? It should be possible next year.
Central Florida residents may not have to drive Orlando’s congested roads much longer. The car can drive instead. Residents will be able to hail a driverless robo-taxi when Waymo begins its service in Central Florida next year, adding The City Beautiful to the handful of regions in the nation where the self-driving vehicle subsidiary of Google operates. Waymo is just one of many autonomous vehicle, or AV, options Central Florida residents soon will have the chance to choose.
› Jax council weighs $15M for UNF stadium, Edward Waters and job training
The Jacksonville City Council is expected to take a final vote Tuesday on a $15 million package that includes aid for capital repairs to the University of North Florida’s Hodges Stadium and a new community facility at Edward Waters University. The bill, filed by council member Raul Arias and co-sponsored by council member Matt Carlucci, also provides city funding for private and public sector-run workforce training facilities in Duval County.
› United Arts sets biggest-ever fundraiser goal: $10 million
As cultural organizations grapple with less government funding, United Arts of Central Florida’s Collaborative Campaign has announced a $10 million private-sector fundraising goal, an all-time high. More organizations than ever will participate in the region’s most significant annual fundraiser with six new partner organizations joining the 2026 campaign for the first time. This is the 33rd year of the campaign, which has grown to become the second-largest communitywide cultural fundraiser in the nation, according to United Arts, the region’s nonprofit arts-advocacy agency.
More stories ...
› Florida city eyes lofty goal: Plant 276,000 trees
Fort Lauderdale sure could use some more trees — up to 276,000 more, to be exact. The city’s proposed urban forestry master plan, which has yet to be adopted by the commission, sets a goal of achieving a 33% tree canopy cover by 2040. To get there, anywhere from 160,000 to 276,000 trees would need to be planted on both public and private property between now and the next 15 years, a city consultant says.
› St. Pete asks residents to design its next creative neighborhood
St. Petersburg residents were given the rare opportunity last month to weigh in on what they would like the city’s next creative neighborhood to look like. The St. Pete Chamber of Commerce hosted a four-day public charette to collect ideas for how to design St. Petersburg’s newest district: 28 acres in the heart of downtown dubbed the St. Pete Cre8 District.
› Tech groups seek expedited appeal of Florida social media law for minors
Tech industry groups are requesting a federal appeals court to expedite the legal challenge to a Florida law that restricts children’s access to certain social media platforms. The groups filed the request days after losing a court decision that allowed the state to begin enforcing the 2024 law. They want the court to quickly schedule oral arguments on whether the law violates First Amendment rights.
› Jacksonville debuts first phase of Riverfront Plaza
With the cutting of a 6-foot ribbon unfurled amid several acres of Downtown green space, Jacksonville opened its new Riverfront Plaza park Dec. 5. The opening event marked the completion of the first phase of development of Riverfront Plaza on the former site of the Jacksonville Landing.