December 7, 2023
News Service of Florida
Florida lawmakers consider annual fees for owners of electric vehicles
TALLAHASSEE — Florida lawmakers have restarted a move to impose annual registration fees on electric vehicles amid pushback over the proposed amount.
The Senate Transportation Committee on Wednesday backed a...
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Published on 12/7/2023
Florida's population growth expected to slow in coming years
TALLAHASSEE — Florida continues to grow as it attracts people from other parts of the U.S., but that growth is projected to slow in the coming years as groups that...
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Published on 12/7/2023
Citizens tries to tamp down concerns
TALLAHASSEE — Saying the state’s Citizens Property Insurance Corp. has “never sought a federal bailout, period,” Citizens President and CEO Tim Cerio on Wednesday took issue with a U.S. Senate...
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Published on 12/6/2023
DeSantis Proposes $114.4B State Budget
TALLAHASSEE --- Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday pitched a $114.4 billion budget for next fiscal year that includes a variety of tax cuts and spending on such things as teacher...
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Published on 12/6/2023
Duke OK'd to Collect Idalia Costs
State regulators Tuesday approved a plan by Duke Energy Florida that includes collecting $91.9 million from customers in 2024 to cover costs related to Hurricane Idalia.
The plan, approved unanimously...
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Published on 12/5/2023
State grapples with physician shortage
TALLAHASSEE — With Florida’s population growing and an anticipated shortfall of nearly 18,000 physicians by 2035, a research arm of the Legislature is suggesting ways that lawmakers could increase retention...
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Published on 12/5/2023
Florida fires back in its fight over sports betting
TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis and legislative leaders late Friday urged the Florida Supreme Court to reject a challenge to a deal that allowed the Seminole Tribe to offer online...
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Published on 12/4/2023
Florida fires back in its fight over sports betting
TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis and legislative leaders late Friday urged the Florida Supreme Court to reject a challenge to a deal that allowed the Seminole Tribe to offer online...
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Published on 12/4/2023
Florida fires back in its fight over sports betting
TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis and legislative leaders late Friday urged the Florida Supreme Court to reject a challenge to a deal that allowed the Seminole Tribe to offer online...
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Published on 12/4/2023
Lobbying Restrictions Get Go-Ahead
TALLAHASSEE — A federal appeals court Thursday allowed Florida to enforce — with one exception — a 2018 constitutional amendment imposing restrictions on lobbying while a legal battle continues to...
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Published on 12/3/2023
Florida taking aim at lease tax
TALLAHASSEE --- One of the biggest parts of a $1.3 billion tax package passed this spring will take hold Friday: a cut in Florida’s commercial-lease tax from 5.5 percent to...
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Published on 11/30/2023
Statewide grand jury calls for ways to curb illegal immigration in Florida
TALLAHASSEE — A statewide grand jury has issued a 146-page report that calls for taking a series of steps to try to curb illegal immigration, saying “it will be up...
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Published on 11/28/2023
Lawmaker budget requests start to pile up
TALLAHASSEE --- Florida lawmakers are championing hundreds of projects and seeking billions of dollars as they prepare for the start of the 2024 legislative session in January.
Topped by $50...
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Published on 11/27/2023
State Seeks Go-Ahead for Drag Show Law
TALLAHASSEE — After suffering a setback at the U.S. Supreme Court, attorneys for Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration on Friday told a federal appeals court that a law aimed at preventing...
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Published on 11/27/2023
Administrative law judge set to rule on Florida's medical marijuana license fee
TALLAHASSEE — An administrative law judge is poised to decide whether a $1.33 million license-renewal fee is too pricey for medical-marijuana operators doing business in Florida.
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration...
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Published on 11/27/2023
Storm Season Ends, But Recovery to Take Time
TALLAHASSEE --- For a second consecutive hurricane season, Florida took a direct hit from a major storm.
But while the 2023 season will end next week, restoration efforts from Hurricane...
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Published on 11/26/2023
Lawmakers Eye Space Industry Issues
TALLAHASSEE --- Private aerospace leaders want Florida lawmakers to consider steps to streamline local regulations, expand a pool of workers such as machinists and welders and provide more dock space...
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Published on 11/21/2023
Draft report recommends against consolidating Florida's judicial circuits
A Florida Supreme Court-appointed committee on Friday made tweaks to a report recommending against shrinking the number of judicial circuits in the state.
The panel earlier this month unanimously recommended...
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Published on 11/19/2023
Florida tourism numbers get a boost
TALLAHASSEE --- With international travel clawing closer to pre-pandemic levels, Florida is on pace for a record-setting year for tourism.
The tourism-marketing agency Visit Florida on Thursday estimated 35.066 million...
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Published on 11/17/2023
Higher Fines Backed for Natural Gas Law
A House panel on Wednesday approved a proposal that would increase state civil penalties for interrupting the transmission and distribution of natural gas.
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Published on 11/16/2023
Florida is on pace for record-setting tourism numbers this year
With international travel clawing closer to pre-pandemic levels, Florida is on pace for a record-setting year for tourism.
The tourism-marketing agency Visit Florida on Thursday estimated 35.066 million people traveled...
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Published on 11/16/2023
License Plate At End of Road?
Florida's standard license plates have long featured a pair of oranges and an orange blossom.
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Published on 11/16/2023
Voter Registration Signature Ruling Appealed
Four advocacy groups have gone to an appeals court after a federal judge rejected a lawsuit challenging a Florida requirement for “wet” signatures on voter-registration forms.
Vote.org, the Florida Alliance...
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Published on 11/15/2023
Florida Senate President Passidomo puts her focus on health care
Amid population growth and a shortfall of doctors and nurses, the Florida Senate next week will start crafting legislation aimed at expanding access to health care.
The Senate Health Policy...
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Published on 11/13/2023
Florida Jobless Claims See Little Change
The pace of first-time unemployment claims remains relatively unchanged in Florida.
The U.S. Department of Labor on Thursday released a report that estimated 217,000 claims were filed nationally last week,...
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Published on 11/9/2023
