Wednesday’s Afternoon Update

Senate passes a fix for cuts to AIDS drug program

A plan to prevent cuts to a program that provides drugs to AIDS patients passed through the Senate on Tuesday, but it’s unclear whether the House will agree to it. The Senate amended a bill (HB 697) dealing with drug costs to include $31 million to restore eligibility to the thousands of people in the AIDS Drug Assistance Program who lost coverage on March 1. In January the Department of Health stated they would be cutting funding for ADAP, blocking over 10,000 Floridians from accessing their HIV medication. More from the News Service of Florida and the Florida Phoenix.

Private equity turns Tampa data centers into a power play

Artificial intelligence is accelerating a buildout that is changing the economics of data centers in Tampa and across the country. Electricity, cooling capacity and financing now sit at the center of the business as private equity firms, infrastructure funds and lenders pour capital into a sector racing to support cloud computing and AI workloads. That capital is reaching regional markets such as Tampa Bay, where operators are working in an industry increasingly shaped by power constraints, larger financing structures and consolidation. More from Tampa Bay Business & Wealth.

Miami-Dade pinpoints three sites for vital new major airport

Three alternative sites for a commercial airport to handle a growing share of the passenger and cargo flights that now rely on Miami International Airport are on the runway and cleared for rapid takeoff. County commissioners quickly accepted an assessment from Mayor Daniella Levine Cava of where an added commercial airport could function even though the report wasn’t on last week’s agenda. They then asked the mayor to dig deeper into the three finalists and within 90 days pinpoint funds to build a commercial airport at the site they ultimately choose. More from Miami Today.

Jacksonville-area restaurants tee up big exposure at The Players Championship

For professional golfers, The Players Championship is the opportunity to test their games against the best in the sports. For local restaurants, The Players is an opportunity to gain exposure from tens of thousands of fans. The PGA Tour estimates 80,000 to 100,000 fans attended the 2025 tournament at TPC Sawgrass. To feed those folks, The Players 2026 features more than 20 local restaurants and food trucks across at least 11 different designated hospitality stations throughout the course. More from the Jacksonville Business Journal.

Boca Raton voters reject downtown redevelopment plan, funding for police headquarters

Boca Raton voters rejected two major ballot initiatives Tuesday, blocking funding for a new police headquarters and denying a lease agreement required for a proposed redevelopment project, called One Boca. The first question asked voters whether to approve a $175 million bond to fund the construction of a new police headquarters. But it was the second question that garnered the most controversy. It asked voters whether to approve a 99-year lease with developers Terra and Frisbie to redevelop the city’s downtown government campus. More from the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

Florida Trend Mention

2026 Florida Housing Solutions Summit St. Petersburg, Fla. — The 2026 Florida Housing Solutions Summit, hosted by the Florida Policy Project, will convene on April 22, 2026, at the James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art. It will gather policymakers, economists, and business leaders to address critical housing challenges, focusing on affordability, supply, and sustainable growth. The data-driven, solutions-oriented event will feature expert analysis, a "Bull vs. Bear" debate, and panels to strengthen the state's economic competitiveness.        Learn more about early registration and sponsorship opportunities here.