Tallahassee – With Democrats calling the changes an “assault on the very spirit of Florida’s democracy,” the Republican-controlled Legislature on May 2 finalized a plan that will impose additional hurdles on the ballot-initiative process and heighten penalties for wrongdoing.

Tallahassee – Saying they are responding to residents’ concerns about rising costs, the Florida Legislature on Wednesday signed off on proposed changes to condominium-safety laws passed after the 2021 collapse of the Champlain Towers South building in Surfside that killed 98 people.

Tallahassee – An appeals court Apr. 30 backed the Florida Department of Health in a dispute that started after health officials moved to block dogs from being in bars in Tampa and Orlando.

Tallahassee – A special House committee will begin hearings this week to consider possible alternatives for asking Florida voters to cut property taxes.

Tallahassee – Saying the Florida Department of Environmental Protection did not adequately consider the sensitive nature of the area, an administrative law judge Apr. 28 said the state should reject a permit to drill for oil near the Apalachicola River.

Tallahassee – With the Senate and House unable to reach agreement on tax cuts and spending, lawmakers will not finish negotiations on a new state budget in time to end the legislative session as scheduled next week.

Tallahassee – After weeks of investigation, a state House leader said Thursday his panel is halting a probe into a foundation linked to First Lady Casey DeSantis’ signature economic-assistance program, Hope Florida.

Tallahassee – The Florida House on Apr. 23 overwhelmingly approved a plan that aims, in part, to ease financial strains on condominium owners, setting up negotiations with the Senate before next week’s scheduled end of the 2025 legislative session.

Tallahassee – Senate President Ben Albritton, a citrus grower from Hardee County, has made what he calls the “rural renaissance” plan a priority of the 2025 legislative session.

(By Jim Turner) Former Rep. Joel Rudman became the third appointee of Gov. Ron DeSantis to resign this month from a Northwest Florida college or university board of trustees while awaiting Senate confirmation. Meanwhile, the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee on Tuesday refused to back another DeSantis appointee, University of West Florida trustee Adam Kissel.