June 5, 2023

Government/Politics & Law

Insurance: Headwinds

While the Legislature addressed property insurance during special sessions last year, work remains as premiums continue to rise and insurers bail out. In the meantime, health care providers still struggle with rising costs, mental health coverage issues and staff shortages. Also on the agenda, there's opportunity for rare bipartisan agreement on two key issues: Resiliency and water. Read more »
Published on 3/8/2023

Health Care: Lingering Effects

Three years after it began sweeping the country, COVID-19 continues to cast a pall over the state's health care policy arena. Read more »
Published on 3/8/2023

2023 Florida Legislature Priorities

As Florida's population surges and the state posts a record surplus, there are common causes for Republican and Democratic legislators convening March 7: Defending against natural disasters and water shortages, upgrading infrastructure and providing for affordable housing and workforce needs. Read more »
Published on 3/8/2023

Update: Election results show Black, Hispanic women candidates bringing new perspectives to Florida politics

In the November 2022 issue of FLORIDA TREND, we profiled several Black and Hispanic women candidates who are part of a trend of more women of color running for political office. The 2022 election set a new high bar for women of color in Florida politics: 49% of women candidates running for major state or federal office in Florida are women of color. Read more »
Published on 11/10/2022

Black and Hispanic women running for office are shaking up Florida's political landscape

Ashley Gantt already has two careers under her belt: Teacher and attorney. Now she's embarking on a third: State legislator. Read more »
Published on 11/7/2022

AI-based program makes easy work of legal contract reviews

Reviewing contracts for legal purposes takes a lot of repetitive attention to detail. The use of artificial intelligence at the law firm Foley & Lardner makes that type of review easier, according to Jacksonville-based partner Chanley Howell. Read more »
Published on 10/27/2022

What the generational shift of Florida voters means for the future

The following excerpt is from the forthcoming book Generational Politics in the United States (University of Michigan Press). Susan A. MacManus is a University of South Florida professor emerita of political science. Anthony A. Cilluffo is an economist and holds a master's in public administration from Princeton University. Read more »
Published on 10/13/2022

Florida's rapid rise of No Party Affiliation voters

Amid the acrimony of partisan politics, the ranks of Florida's unaffiliated voters are growing rapidly. Their elusive and critical votes reflect changing demographics. Read more »
Published on 10/12/2022

Florida's new Secretary of the Department of Management Services to oversee state's IT infrastructure

Former U.S. Department of Homeland Security official Pedro Allende has been appointed Florida's new Secretary of the Department of Management Services, which is tasked with overseeing cyber-security for state government and administering tens of millions of dollars in new funding for government cyber-resiliency programs. Read more »
Published on 8/31/2022

The Case Against Scot Strems

South Florida attorney Scot Strems built his law firm suing insurance companies — and built the insurers' case for reining in lawyers. Read more »
Published on 8/24/2022

FAMU's Economic Justice Initiative provides free legal services to minority business owners 

With a $110,000 grant from Wells Fargo Bank, Florida A&M University's College of Law is spearheading its Economic Justice Initiative, which will provide free legal services to help minority-owned small-business owners as they launch and grow their enterprises. Read more »
Published on 7/26/2022

Attorney Mischelle D'Angelone reflects on her childhood and why she does so much pro bono work

Pasco County-based Mischelle D'Angelone, one of 20 lawyers recognized this year by the Florida Bar for service to low-income and disadvantaged clients, points to her own childhood as the reason why she does so much pro bono work, particularly work on behalf of children and families. Read more »
Published on 7/20/2022

Noise litigation attorney Mark Bentley's Beatles passion project debuts at Florida Film Festival

Attorney Mark Bentley of Tampa turned his passion for the Beatles into a documentary that kicked off the Florida Film Festival in Orlando. Read more »
Published on 7/14/2022

The Florida Bar Association's new president Gary S. Lesser outlines his goals for the next year

The Florida Bar's new president wants more mentoring, awareness and professionalism. Read more »
Published on 7/12/2022

Florida Icon: Clarence Anthony

I experienced racism at every point in my life, whether it was personal or professional. There were things that occurred that were traumatic, that would hurt your feelings, that would motivate you, as well, and that's how I tend to use those moments — to motivate me. Read more »
Published on 4/5/2022

Infrastructure: Critical strategies Florida can implement as it grows

Florida is projected to gain 2.5 million new residents by 2030. Here's what that means for schools, roads, homes and other infrastructure needs Read more »
Published on 3/8/2022

Sen. Jeff Brandes leaves behind a legacy of big ideas and principled dissents

Last March, as lawmakers cobbled together a spending plan in the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic, a Senate budget subcommittee rolled out ... Read more »
Published on 1/13/2022

Legislative Preview - Rags to Riches

Flush state coffers will ease this year's budget process. Here's a closer look at the issues on the Legislature's agenda. Read more »
Published on 1/10/2022

Voter-passed tax referenda generate a bonanza for local governments, inviting pushback from the Legislature

Voters in many Florida counties take advantage of local option taxes to fund some specific services. The Legislature has moved to restrict that flexibility, however. Read more »
Published on 10/27/2021

Where does Florida's government get its money?

With no state income tax Florida's state government generates the bulk of general revenue from sales tax collections. Read more »
Published on 10/27/2021

Orlando cyber-security firm focuses on utilities and other government customers

Orlando entrepreneurs Alex Santos and Peter Kassabov have a knack for staying ahead of the curve. Read more »
Published on 7/30/2021

Key West residents clash with cruise industry, Legislature and governor over cruise restrictions

A month after Florida went on COVID-19 lockdown, Will Benson took his wife and two young children out on his skiff for a quarantine break. Read more »
Published on 7/30/2021

A heavy loss

After Pensacola plaintiff's attorney Fred Levin died from COVID-19, UF-educated trial lawyer Mark Proctor became President of Levin Papantonio Rafferty. Read more »
Published on 6/29/2021

Priorities for the year ahead

“The court system estimates that there'll be a little more than 1.1 million cases backlogged as of July... That's just in Florida." Read more »
Published on 6/29/2021

Thinking bigger

“I had one gift — I was curious, and I liked to learn,” says Gary Sasso. Read more »
Published on 6/29/2021

Florida Business News

Florida News Releases

Florida Trend Video Pick

Gulf system reminds Floridians to prepare for storm season
Gulf system reminds Floridians to prepare for storm season

Lessons learned from 2022 storm season; Growth-management litigation legislation moves forward; NHC tracks a system in the Gulf; New immigration law already affecting businesses and workers; Prep for the upcoming hurricane season.

Video Picks | Viewpoints@FloridaTrend

Ballot Box

DeSantis or Disney?

  • DeSantis
  • Disney
  • None of the above
  • I'm just in it for the popcorn

See Results

Florida Trend Media Company
490 1st Ave S
St Petersburg, FL 33701
727.821.5800

© Copyright 2023 Trend Magazines Inc. All rights reserved.