Florida population growth slows
Florida is still the second fastest-growing state for population in the country, but the growth has slowed considerably as fewer residents move to the Sunshine State. Newly released data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows Florida netted 196,680 additional residents from 2024 to 2025. The gains mostly came from 178,000 international migrants, with a net 22,517 residents coming from other states. This is down significantly from the prior year, which saw a population gain of 467,000. More from the Orlando Business Journal and Travel and Tour World]
Angel investors fuel Florida startups
Angel investors are often associated with backing Silicon Valley tech firms, but Tamiami Angel Funds remains the largest member-managed angel fund in Florida. Its success stories include Miami-based Kind Designs, which is changing how coastlines are protected with its 3-D printed living seawalls; and Bonita Springs-based ConnexPay, which disrupted the travel industry’s business-to-business payment system.[Source: Gulfshore Business]
Opinion: I built AI software. Florida's AI bill makes sense
The bill, now before the Senate Appropriations Committee, would establish basic consumer protections: the right to know when you're talking to an AI instead of a human, restrictions on selling your personal data, protection against deepfakes, and parental controls so parents can monitor their children's interactions with AI chatbots. That last provision responds to documented cases of AI chatbots encouraging children to harm themselves. [Source: Naples Dailiy News]
Florida tort reform faces pushback amid ADA lawsuit surge
In recent years, the American Tort Reform Foundation has claimed that Florida is one of the top “judicial hellholes” in the U.S. due to excessive litigation that takes many forms — from deliberate slip-and-fall scams to those in which a plaintiff suffered legitimate harm but was arguably overcompensated. Businesses and industry reports suggest it is still a major problem even after Florida passed sweeping tort reform in 2022 and 2023. [Source: Gulfshore Business]
Medicaid expansion ballot campaign relaunches in Florida
Florida Decides Healthcare (FDH) is going to start collecting signatures to aim for a 2028 ballot. FDH said it is fighting to get Medicaid coverage for nearly 4 million Floridians who earn too much to qualify for traditional Medicaid but struggle financially and cannot afford private insurance. FDH had previously targeted a 2026 ballot but decided to delay the date because of a new state law adding more hurdles for citizen-led ballot initiatives. More from Florida Politicsand the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› This Michelin-starred wagyu spot from Tokyo opens first U.S. location in Miami
A highly acclaimed Michelin-starred restaurant from Japan is opening its first U.S. location in Miami, the only restaurant in this country that will serve its special, world-renowned wagyu beef. From Oniku Karyu in Tokyo comes Karyu, opening in the Design District in partnership with Spicy Hospitality Group, which recently opened Yasu Omakase nearby.
› Housing nonprofit expands to Jax to repair veterans’ homes
After decades of serving regions across the state, the housing nonprofit Rebuilding Together Greater Florida is expanding its presence in Northeast Florida. Since 2000, RTGFL has helped families across Florida address urgent home repairs, provide disaster relief, homeowner education and more as one of 140 Rebuilding Together affiliates across the country. The nonprofit has secured funding to establish an office in Jacksonville.
› FAA dismisses airline, sonic boom concerns in signing off on SpaceX Starship plans from KSC
SpaceX’s path to launching its massive Starship rocket from the Space Coast passed another hurdle Friday after the Federal Aviation Administration released results of its nearly two-year long environmental review for launch plans from Kennedy Space Center. The FAA’s “Record of Decision” on a final Environmental Impact Statement for the KSC site at Launch Complex 39-A outlined mitigation plans across several concerns, but recommended SpaceX could pursue up to 44 launches a year.
› Tampa firm says merchant cash advance loans 'crippled' operations in Chapter 11 filing
A Tampa consulting firm that helps small business owners build credit and access financing has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after facing its own challenges in securing growth capital. Credit Suite struggled to grow working capital and access credit during a period of rapid growth, according to the Chapter 11 filed in the Middle District of Florida earlier this year.
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› Naples Winter Wine Festival tops $29M at live auction
The Naples Winter Wine Festival again converted rare wine, ultra-luxury travel and competitive bidding into a major philanthropic outcome, unofficially raising more than $29 million during its live auction Jan. 31 at The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón. By early evening, the unofficial running total reached about $29.925 million, reflecting sustained momentum across dozens of marquee lots.
› Will they or won’t they? Pompano Beach is next to consider ditching Broward Sheriff’s Office
One city’s decision to cut its ties to the Broward Sheriff’s Office could mark the beginning of a long year for the county’s largest law enforcement agency. In the wake of Deerfield Beach’s vote to replace the Sheriff’s Office with its own independent police and fire rescue services, neighboring Pompano Beach is anticipating a consultant’s report that will show whether it would be better off financially if it followed Deerfield’s example.
› Blue Origin wastewater open house draws big crowd, comments for Florida DEP
A hot topic in recent weeks on Space Coast social media, Blue Origin's wastewater permit renewal application generated a Florida Department of Environmental Protection open house on Friday, Jan. 30, in unincorporated west Cocoa. Blue Origin seeks DEP permitting renewal to discharge up to 467,000 gallons of industrial wastewater per day into a 9¼-acre stormwater retention pond at the north side of the company's Rocket Park manufacturing complex near the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.
› Developer resuscitates stalled St. Pete affordable housing project
An affordable housing-focused developer is breathing new life into a long-dormant, $67.2 million project in west St. Petersburg after several years of uncertainty. Washington D.C.-based Gravel Road Partners is now building Sixty90, a 204-unit apartment community with ground-level retail space.