Florida Trend Exclusive
Legislative Preview 2018

Florida Trend's annual look at the issues and players facing the current legislative session. With the governor’s job up for grabs and two open Cabinet positions, a horde of legislators will be looking for angles to play. Each of the main issues is examined, from the budget, opioids, tax cuts, environment, education and much more. The full report is here, or jump to a topic: Budget | Tax Cuts | K-12 | Higher Ed | Immigration | Hurricanes | Opioids | Tourism | Insurance | Water/Environment

See also:
» Florida Legislature set to begin annual session
» Florida lawmakers, lobbyists celebrate start of legislative session
» Lawmaker reups idea of moving Florida’s state capitol
» Legislature 2018: Election year considerations likely to affect session
» Florida cities battle to control their destinies

Hurricanes, wildfires made 2017 the most costly U.S. disaster year on record

Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria combined with devastating western wildfires and other natural disasters to make 2017 the most expensive year on record, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported Monday. [Source: Washington Post]

Commentary: A big 'if' as Florida citrus sweats out help from Congress

This past year, as Greening seemed to be slightly on the decline and crops numbers were rebounding, Irma literally blew off the bulk of the fruit harvest. The citrus industry — despite doing everything feasibly possible, including growers voluntarily taxing themselves to pay for Greening research — just has not had any breaks for more than a decade. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

Oil and gas industry wants a crack at waters off Florida's coast

President Trump’s administration has proposed opening up nearly all of America’s offshore waters to oil and gas drilling, but the industry says it is mainly interested in one part of it, now cordoned off by the Pentagon - the eastern Gulf of Mexico. [Source: Digital Journal]

U.S. Supreme Court lets stand Florida's satellite-TV tax

Ending years of legal battling about the issue, the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday refused to take up a challenge to the constitutionality of a Florida law that sets different tax rates for satellite and cable-television services. More from the Orlando Sentinel and the Tampa Bay Times.

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› How Florida fares in the 'Best & Worst States to Raise a Family' [News Release]
With fresh starts being top of mind – hiring and single-family home starts are expected to grow in 2018, for instance – the personal-finance website WalletHub released its report on 2018's Best & Worst States to Raise a Family.

› Florida Bar President-elect Michelle Suskauer joins Dimond Kaplan [Daily Business Review]
Florida Bar President-elect Michelle Suskauer joined the West Palm Beach office of Dimond Kaplan & Rothstein as a partner this month, bringing her criminal defense experience to the Miami-based firm.

› Mount Dora B&Bs struggle, cry foul as unregulated home-sharing options soar [Orlando Sentinel]
Like Orlando, Orange County and other Central Florida communities who depend on tourists, Mount Dora is struggling to regulate swelling numbers of short-term vacation rentals.

› Florida lawmakers blast Trump decision to end status for Salvadorans [Tampa Bay Times]
Florida lawmakers condemned a decision Monday by the Trump administration to end protected status for about 200,000 Salvadorans, the latest in a series of immigration decisions that have major consequences in the Sunshine State.

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› Darden says tax reform will save it $70 million [Press Release]
Restaurant companies are joining the corporate chorus rushing to praise the tax bill Congress passed last month as Orlando-based Darden Restaurants said the legislation will save it about $70 million. Also read more at the Orlando Sentinel.

› Koch-backed group starts seeking out Puerto Ricans in Florida [Orlando Sentinel]
A massive influx of Puerto Rico residents displaced by recent hurricanes is transforming communities in Florida and other states, and a conservative group is moving quickly to woo them ahead of the midterm elections

› Safety policies help reduce lightning deaths in Florida [AP]
Weather officials say stricter safety policies have reduced the number of fatal lightning strikes in Florida. National Weather Service officials said lightning killed 16 people in the United States last year, including five deaths in Florida.

› No Supreme Court action means Florida couple’s treehouse must come down [Tampa Bay Times]
The Supreme Court on Monday declined to take the case brought by Lynn Tran and Richard Hazen, who live on Anna Maria Island on Florida’s west coast. The couple built a two-story treehouse on their Holmes Beach property in 2011 after being told they didn’t need a permit.