By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — State insurance regulators last week signed off on a plan that will lead to policyholders throughout Florida paying extra on their bills…
Author: News Service of Florida
10 Big Issues At Legislative Halftime
By Jim Saunders.The News Service of Florida Florida lawmakers Wednesday reached the halfway point in this year’s 60-day legislative session. The House and Senate have passed high-profile bills involving issues such as…
Contractors win, Consumer lose another
From The News Service of Florida: The Florida Senate gave final approval Wednesday night to a bill that would shorten the time for residents to file lawsuits about construction defects in their…
House, Senate move forward on budget plans
By Jim Turner and Ryan Dailey, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — House and Senate budget committees Tuesday quickly advanced proposed record spending plans for the 2023-2024 fiscal year, with key…
Florida by the Numbers: Top 10 Residential Insurers
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation last week posted data about property-insurance policies as of Dec. 31. Here were the insurers with the most residential policies at the end of 2022: —…
DeSantis quickly signs voucher expansion
By Ryan Dailey, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Calling the measure a “game changer,” Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday quickly signed a massive expansion of Florida’s school-voucher programs, while Democrats…
Senate Signs Off on Lawsuit Limits
By Jim Saunders The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Senate on Thursday gave final approval to a far-reaching bill aimed at helping shield businesses and insurance companies from lawsuits,…
DeSantis gets to appoint another Florida Supreme Court justice
Polston Stepping Down from Supreme Court By Jim Saunders The News Service of Florida. All rights reserved; see terms. TALLAHASSEE — Florida Supreme Court Justice Ricky Polston announced Monday he will step…
Florida Cabinet approves buying Wolf Creek Forest
From The News Service of Florida: Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state Cabinet on Monday approved plans to spend more than $46 million to help keep from development 21,000 acres in five…
Court upholds Gun Age law
By Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Citing gun restrictions dating to the Reconstruction era, a federal appeals court on Thursday upheld a 2018 Florida law that prevents sales…
Democratic Leader Driskell Response
TALLAHASSEE — House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell, D-Tampa, gave a response Tuesday to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ State of the State address. Here are her remarks, as prepared for delivery: Hello, I’m Fentrice…
Renner Opening Day Remarks
TALLAHASSEE — House Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, made remarks to the House on the opening day of the 2023 legislative session. Here are his remarks, as prepared for delivery: Good morning….
Florida pulls out voter registration protection group
From The News Service of Florida: Secretary of State Cord Byrd said Monday that Florida is ending involvement in a multi-state effort to exchange voter-registration data because of perceived partisanship. Byrd said…
Weekly Roundup: Out With the Old, In With the New
Recap and analysis of the week in state government and politics By Ryan Dailey, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — It didn’t take long for the revamped New College of Florida…
10 Big Issues in 2023 Session
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Florida lawmakers next week will start the annual 60-day legislative session. Here are 10 big issues to watch: — AFFORDABLE HOUSING: Senate…
Florida college enrollment expected to decline
From the News Service of Florida: Enrollment in the Florida college system dropped during the COVID-19 pandemic and is not projected to return to pre-pandemic levels in the coming years, according to…
Board approves Corcoran salary
From The News Service of Florida: The state university system’s Board of Governors on Wednesday approved a contract for Richard Corcoran to lead New College of Florida amid an effort by Gov….
Parkland shooting ‘Feels Like Five Minutes Ago’
By Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Five years after a mass shooting that shook Florida, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and Parkland remain inextricably linked to the ghastly…
Fried running for Dem party chair
From The News Service of Florida: After losing a campaign last year for governor, former state Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried has launched a bid to chair the Florida Democratic Party. In a…
Justices question approval of FPL rates
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — State Supreme Court justices Wednesday questioned whether regulators adequately justified the approval of a settlement that increased base electric rates for Florida…
