Affordability is Floridians’ top issue. Lawmakers aren’t addressing it.
The high cost of living is the top constituent issue in Florida, but you wouldn’t necessarily know it if you were in the state’s Capitol. With the legislative session winding down, lawmakers have done little to make the state more affordable. Efforts to drive down insurance and utility rates failed. They haven’t agreed on a way to lower property taxes. And for thousands of Floridians, lawmakers could make things more expensive. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Rising gas prices squeeze small business owners in Florida
Rising gas prices are already hitting consumers in their wallets — but they could hit again through the small businesses that depend on fuel to operate. Small business owners say the recent spike in gas prices is bringing back memories from four years ago, when the cost of gasoline surged and companies of all sizes added fuel surcharges to their rates. [Source: WPTV]
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» Gas prices surge as war with Iran expands. See Florida prices
Legislation approved to make gold and silver legal tender
A bill that enacts prior approval to make gold and silver coins legal tender in Florida is headed to Gov. Ron DeSantis. With little comment, the Senate on Friday voted 31-1 on the measure (HB 1311) that puts into state law rules for gold and silver coins that have been adopted by the Department of Financial Services and the Office of Financial Regulation. [Source: News Service of Florida]
Florida moves ahead with state-level stablecoin regulation
Florida lawmakers approved a bill requiring stablecoin issuers to obtain licenses from the state’s Office of Financial Regulation. The proposal aims to align state oversight with federal rules established under the Genius Act. If signed by Governor Ron DeSantis, Florida would become the first US state with its own stablecoin regulatory framework. [Source: Yahoo Finance]
What happens if you die without a will in Florida? Here’s who gets your property
Among life’s great procrastinations, putting off making a will seems to top insignificant things like delaying cleaning the house or starting a homework assignment. Though state officials haven’t released figures for how many Floridians die without a will, the national trend seems to be that two-thirds of Americans will die without filing a one, according to research by the Houston-based McCreary Law Firm. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Empowering Florida’s industries through AI & innovation
Students at the University of Florida's College of Health & Human Performance are preparing to lead in a future where artificial intelligence and innovation are transforming Florida's key industries – health care, tourism and sports. Through groundbreaking research, interdisciplinary collaboration and real-world application, the college is shaping the next generation of professionals to improve how we live, work and play. Home to more than 23,000 alumni, 3,000 students and 80 faculty, the college explores nearly every aspect of daily life. [Sponsored report]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› SimSpace moves global headquarters to Orlando
SimSpace, a realistic, intelligent cyber range built to close the training and testing gap, recently announced it is relocating its global headquarters to Orlando in Central Florida. The announcement was made on stage at the SimSpace Summit, held last month at the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando Resort. The move places SimSpace closer to key customers, partners, and academic leaders, including Cyber Florida and PCTE, positioning the company at the heart of Florida’s cyber innovation engine.
› Florida's BioCoast branding campaign aims to position Pasco, region as a life sciences hub
As Moffitt Cancer Center’s Speros campus takes shape in Pasco County, a regional branding opportunity has emerged. Florida’s BioCoast is an effort of the Pasco County EDC in partnership with Vistra Communications and other regional stakeholders. The new brand is nearly ready for public view, and it’s designed as a long-term play, said Pasco EDC CEO Bill Cronin.
› Rocket company, Stoke Space, makes strides toward first Florida launch
The launch area that sent the first American into orbit has sat unused since 1966, but now a new space company wants to launch its revolutionary Nova rocket from the historic Cape Canaveral site. Stoke Space is aiming to make history of its own with the first fully reusable rocket. Possibly as soon as late this year, the rocket could take off on a test flight from Launch Complex 14 in Cape Canaveral, the same site that launched John Glenn in 1962.
› Fort Lauderdale fears future budget woes if state property tax cuts come true
Fort Lauderdale leaders are preparing for a “worst case scenario” of a possible $100 million budget gap as Florida lawmakers debate slashing or eliminating property taxes and federal funding grants expire. At last week's commission meeting, a discussion on the upcoming fiscal year’s budget ended up centering on what the city would do in the event that state lawmakers’ efforts to slash property taxes — a potentially major blow to Fort Lauderdale’s revenue — make it to the ballot in November.
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› AI company to screen Inter Miami spectators
Waltham, Massachusetts-based Evolv Technologies Holdings, which provides artificial intelligence-based security solutions, will oversee guest screening at Inter Miami CF’s new stadium. Under the deal, Evolv’s AI-powered screening tools and X-ray bag scanners will screen all visitors to the 25,000-seat stadium, which is slated to open April 4. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.
› Tampa Bay Rays leaders begin making sales pitch for new stadium project
The Tampa Bay Rays and the team’s new CEO are taking their sales pitch on the road. The team, which has been widely reported, looks to build a new stadium in Tampa and has identified the Dale Mabry campus of Hillsborough College as the right spot. The team’s plans call for a major mixed-use development to be built around the stadium and for a new campus for the college to be built on a piece of the property.
› Can tiny bubbles bring the Indian River Lagoon back to life?
How can we give the Indian River Lagoon more air to breathe? Titusville is trying a privately funded machine that makes tiny bubbles in the lagoon to save suffocating fish. It's sort of a higher-tech version of an aerator in an aquarium. But these bubbles aren't cheap, so lagoon activists and Brevard officials want to know how much good these bubbles do per dollar and what ecological benefits will rise to the surface.
› Should Safety Harbor’s Main Street get a dog tavern? Neighbors have concerns
The Safety Harbor City Commission voted 4-1 on Feb. 17 to approve a site plan for The Barking Lot, a 1,058-square-foot tavern and “dog dining” facility planned for the corner of Main Street and Delaware Street, despite a wave of testimony from neighbors who say the area has reached a “critical mass” of flooding and traffic congestion.