Florida residents and businesses likely will get hit with higher electric bills in 2023 as utilities continue to struggle with increased costs of natural gas.
Florida Power & Light, Duke Energy Florida and Tampa Electric Co. filed petitions Friday at the state Public Service Commission that detailed expected costs in 2023.
Angry at a ratings agency that raised the possibility of downgrading 17 Florida property insurers, state leaders could be poised to look for an alternative.
The Joint Legislative Budget Commission next week is expected to consider a proposal to spend $1.5 million to hire a consultant that would look at options for property insurers to get adequate financial ratings.
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.
A Florida House debate about congressional redistricting was suspended mid-day Thursday as a group of House Democrats protested a plan by Gov. Ron DeSantis that would cut the number of Black-held districts.
Democratic members chanted, “Stop the Black attack,” and sang, “We Shall Overcome,” with some sitting on a state seal at the front of the House chamber.
