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Short-term vacation rental bill dies on the Senate floor on the last day of session
Once again, an attempt to further regulate short term vacation rentals has come up short in Tallahassee. Shortly after 9 a.m. on Friday, the last day of the 2023 legislative session, Pinellas County Republican Nick DiCeglie, the sponsor of the bill in the Florida Senate, announced that because the amended bill that came back to […]
Bill that would bar ‘foreign principals’ from China from buying land in Florida approved
Legislation restricting any “foreign principal” from China and six other “foreign countries of concern” from purchasing property within 10 miles of a military installation or critical infrastructure has been approved by both chambers of the Florida Legislature and will go to Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has indicated that he will sign it. The bill (SB […]
Florida Senate confirms surgeon general, but every Democrat voted against the doctor
The GOP-controlled Florida Senate on Thursday confirmed Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo for another term as the state’s top doctor, though all Democrats in the Senate voted against Ladapo. State Sen. Tina Polsky, of South Florida, pleaded to her colleagues to oppose the confirmation because of serious concerns about Ladapo’s “scientific integrity.” But the confirmation […]
Florida Legislature unanimously passes legislation decriminalizing fentanyl test strips
Legislation that would legalize test strips that can detect fentanyl — the synthetic opioid that has led to a massive number of drug overdoses in the U.S. in recent years — has passed the Florida Legislature. Fentanyl test strips are small pieces of paper capable of detecting whether drugs such as cocaine, heroin, or methamphetamines […]
FL Legislature approves proposal to make it easier to block local ordinances
GOP lawmakers in Tallahassee have for years taken away ever more power from local governments and “preempted” that power to the state on a variety of issues. Legislation passed by the Florida House and Senate on Wednesday continues in that direction by making it easier for businesses and citizens to gut local ordinances. The proposal […]
FL Legislature OKs anti-immigrant bill, with some of the toughest restrictions ever produced
In intensely emotional debates in both the House and Senate, GOP lawmakers pushed through legislation this session that includes some of the toughest restrictions on undocumented immigrants that the Florida Legislature has ever produced. The measure was a priority for Gov. Ron DeSantis’ initiative back in February, when he laid out a series of proposals […]
Lawmakers approve measure to allow doctors to withhold care because of ‘conscience’
A bill that would allow health care providers or payors to opt out of participating in or paying for any health care service on the basis of conscience passed in the Florida House Tuesday and will soon go to Gov. Ron DeSantis for consideration. The measure (HB 1403) is sponsored by Panhandle-area Republican Joel Rudman, […]
Can doctors and insurers withhold medical care on religious and/or moral grounds?
A bill moving closer to passage in the Florida Legislature would give healthcare providers and insurers the right to deny medical services to patients on the basis of moral, religious, and ethical beliefs. The measure HB 1403 is sponsored by Republican Dr. Joel Rudman, a Panhandle-based physician who ran for the state House last year […]
Immigration measure one vote away from going to Gov. DeSantis’ desk
The Florida Legislature is one vote away from approving a tough crackdown on undocumented immigration — a priority pushed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, though Democrats fiercely oppose the measure. In the final days of the current legislative session, Democrats on the House floor on Monday tried to make changes to the immigration bill, (HB 1617), […]
Elections bill helps out Gov. DeSantis and his presidential aspirations
At the end of last week, the Florida House approved a nearly 100-page elections bill on Friday that came with a present to Gov. Ron DeSantis: The contentious bill includes a provision that will ensure DeSantis does not need to resign if he opts to run for president in 2024. The measure (HB 7050) is […]
FL House votes to allow 18 year olds and above to buy long guns; Current law is 21
The GOP-controlled state House passed a measure Friday night that would reduce the age — 21 down to 18 — for someone to legally purchase rifles, shotguns and other long guns. The measure would repeal what’s on the books related to the shooting massacre at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Broward County five […]
Tensions emerge on floor as Florida Senate passes immigration crackdown
One of the most sweeping bills targeting undocumented immigration in the country is closer to becoming law after the Florida Senate passed their bill addressing the issue on Friday. The proposal has been a priority for Gov. Ron DeSantis, who called for the crackdown earlier this year. “We have an illegal immigration crisis, to the […]