Florida News Archive

A federal appeals court Wednesday rejected a construction company’s attempt to limit liability after barges broke loose and damaged the Pensacola Bay Bridge during Hurricane Sally in 2020

Northwest Florida, specifically Okaloosa and Santa Rosa Counties, can take a collective sigh of relief as US Sen. Rick Scott, US Sen. Marco Rubio, and US Rep. Matt Gaetz banded together to keep the Air Force Special Operations Command at Hurlburt Field in Mary Esther, Florida Friday.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Police in Chattanooga, Tennessee, say a car accident involving Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis happened when traffic slowed down and caused four cars in his motorcade to hit each other. DeSantis’ 2024 Republican presidential campaign confirms he was involved in the accident on Tuesday while traveling to Tennessee campaign events and says he […]

Tallahassee – The Florida insurance market took a hit Tuesday, as Farmers Insurance said it will end residential, auto and umbrella policies in the state, forcing tens of thousands of customers to look elsewhere for coverage.

More school vouchers. Expanded restrictions on teaching about sexual orientation and gender identity. Limits on using TikTok. Carrying guns without concealed-weapons licenses. A larger Florida State Guard.

TALLAHASSEE — A massive expansion of Florida’s school-choice programs that would make all students eligible for taxpayer-backed vouchers is headed to Gov. Ron DeSantis, after the Republican-controlled Senate passed the measure Thursday amid warnings from Democrats.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Dec. 15 signed Senate Bill 6A, establishing the Toll Relief Program through the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), which will provide account credits to frequent commuters using toll roads across the state. The program will give Floridians with 35 or more toll transactions per month a 50% credit to their account.

The legislation, originally proposed by DeSantis in September of this year, was successfully passed during the recent Legislative Special Session. The Toll Relief Program begins on Jan. 1, 2023, and runs through Dec. 31, 2023.

Florida motorists can expect to pay more at the pump as the state’s month-long gas tax “holiday” ends.

The average price of a gallon of regular unleaded gas Monday stood at $3.29, about a dime cheaper than at the start of October. But the AAA auto club said that likely will change quickly when the state’s 25.3-cent-a-gallon gas tax returns Tuesday, after being suspended in October by lawmakers and Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Paid employment can be substituted for volunteer hours to qualify for Bright Futures scholarships, under a bill signed Monday by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

DeSantis said the measure (HB 461) will help students who have to work and are unable to meet volunteer-hour requirements.

By Jim Turner

Nearly 150 laws that Florida legislators passed this year are set to hit the books Friday. The new laws range from a record $109.9 billion budget to naming a state dessert.

Some of the measures face legal challenges, such as a bill that would prevent abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy and a bill that would restrict how race-related concepts are taught in schools and workplace training.

In all, lawmakers sent 280 bills to Gov. Ron DeSantis. Of that total, 149 that were signed or were awaiting signatures Monday had July 1 effective dates. Seventy-five took effect immediately when signed. Others are slated to take effect Oct. 1, Jan. 1 or at other times.