Florida News Archive

After an often-emotional debate, the Florida House on Friday overwhelmingly passed a bill that would prevent doctors from performing abortions that women seek because of tests showing that fetuses will have disabilities.

Despite opposition from Gov. Ron DeSantis, Florida senators plowed ahead Thursday with a proposal to increase state unemployment benefits, which are among the lowest in the nation. 

The Senate voted 40-0 to approve a bill (SB 1906) that would increase maximum weekly payments from $275 to $375 and add more weeks in which benefits would be available. The vote came days after DeSantis voiced opposition and the House rejected efforts to boost benefits.

A proposal that would outline a series of rights for parents on issues related to education and health care is headed to Gov. Ron DeSantis after clearing the Senate on Thursday. Senators voted 24-15, along almost straight party lines, to approve the measure (HB 241). Sen. Lauren Book, D-Plantation, was the only Democrat who voted for the bill.

The Republican-controlled Florida Senate is poised to pass a controversial revamp of state elections laws, including putting new restrictions on voting by mail. The Senate took up the bill (SB 90) on Thursday and positioned it for a vote.

A bill that would expand a list of legal holidays in Florida is headed back to the House, after the Senate on Wednesday added two days linked to the end of slavery.

The Florida House on Wednesday passed a bill that would significantly expand eligibility for the state’s school-voucher programs. The measure (HB 7045) was approved in a 79-36 vote, largely along party lines. In part, it would consolidate the Gardiner and McKay scholarship programs, which serve students with special needs, with the Family Empowerment Scholarship program, which serves a broader population of low- to middle-income families.

A sharply divided appeals court Wednesday rejected a lawsuit alleging that a transgender woman faced illegal discrimination when she was asked to change seats at a Black Chippendales show because performers objected to her presence.

Sen. Jason Brodeur, R-Sanford, held out hope that unemployment benefits can be increased after the House approved an unemployment-system revamp Wednesday that does not include boosting benefits.

As of Monday, more than 8.14 million people in Florida had received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccines. Here is a breakdown by age groups:

— Ages 16 to 24: 395,449 people

— Ages 25 to 34: 612, 238 people

Big winners of Florida lottery games could have three months to start spending the money before they are publicly identified, under a measure set for a vote Wednesday in the House.