Latest Florida state government News
Florida Senate committee advances 'anti-riot' measure
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Legislation that would increase penalties against violent protestors narrowly cleared a Florida Senate committee on Friday — after hours of passionate debate with deep racial overtones — and is another step closer to reaching the desk of Gov. Ron DeSantis. ...
Florida Senate approves changes to public retirement system
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A proposal pushed by the leader of the Florida Senate to close the state's pension plan to most new enrollees won approval Thursday from the Republican-controlled chamber, but its fate was uncertain as it headed to the House for possible...
Florida sues federal government to allow cruises to sail
MIAMI (AP) — The state of Florida has filed a lawsuit against the federal government to demand cruise ships be allowed to start sailing immediately, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Thursday. DeSantis said the no-sail order is outdated and hurts the state as the industry...
Legislation to fight sea level rise goes to Florida governor
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Legislation hailed as some of the most robust yet to defend U.S. coasts against sea level rise is headed to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a proposal that would provide millions of dollars annually to communities threatened with losing ground to rising oceans because of...
Florida House OK's bill to tax out-of-state online sales
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida moved closer Thursday in requiring online retailers and other out-of-state merchants to collect sales tax, a step that could add about $1 billion annually to state revenues. The Florida House joined the state Senate in supporting a...
Florida GOP passes bill to assess political bias on campus
Public universities in Florida would have to survey, protect and promote political views on their campuses, according to a bill that the state Senate sent to Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday. The measure comes as Republicans accuse universities across the nation...
Florida Senate passes $95B budget proposal, changes to come
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The Florida Senate unanimously passed a $95 billion budget Wednesday and will now have to work out differences with the House, which will vote on its $97 billion spending proposal on Thursday. The Senate proposal is almost $3 billion more than...
Coroner: Man who died after vaccine died of natural cause
MIAMI (AP) — A South Florida doctor who died about two weeks after he got Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine died in a manner that has been categorized as natural, an official with the medical examiner’s office said Wednesday. Dr. Gregory Michael died from a condition that...
Florida's Medal of Freedom goes to FSU great Bobby Bowden
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Bobby Bowden, the former Florida State football coach who led the Seminoles to two national titles, received the inaugural Florida Medal of Freedom at a ceremony Wednesday hosted by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Bowden, 91, is one of college football’s...
More governors publicly vaccinated, but Florida's kept mum
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has received a single-dose coronavirus vaccine, his office confirmed Wednesday. He did so out of the public eye even as governors elsewhere across the political spectrum have been vaccinated publicly to reassure Americans that the shots are...
