Florida Legislature

Condo associations must comply with state laws passed after the 2021 deadly building collapse. Lawmakers say any new proposals out of Tallahassee won’t involve direct financial assistance.

The Environment and Natural Resources Committee unanimously forwarded the measure, a product of last year's heavily criticized plan to add recreational development to state parks.

With the feuding over, a new measure would form a State Board of Immigration Enforcement, made up of the governor, Agriculture commissioner, attorney general and chief financial officer.

Florida Senate President Ben Albritton and House Speaker Daniel Perez, both Republicans, indicated they want to wait until the regular session to address Gov. Ron DeSantis' concerns on immigration and other issues.

Valdes, elected to the House four times as a Democrat, wrote that she didn’t expect to agree with “fellow Republicans” on every issue, but “that in their caucus, I will be welcomed and treated with respect.”

The plan would expand a pilot program that pays growers to provide excess dairy, beef and eggs to food banks.

Florida's 2025 legislative session will begin with 26 new lawmakers in the 120-member state House and nine new Florida senators out of 40 — but the make-up of the chambers will shift in the coming months due to President-elect Donald Trump.

House and Senate committees will meet in parts of December, January, and February to start sifting through proposals in the lead-up to the 60-day session.

This week on The Florida Roundup, we discussed FEMA’s response to hurricanes Helene and Milton, how Americans are consuming political news, how the Florida Democratic party can reengage apathetic voters, what’s next for former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, the Florida legislature’s new leadership, and a collection of environmental stories from across the state.

Under DeSantis’ leadership, the country’s third most-populous state has cemented its reputation as a national testing ground for conservative policies like restricting abortion and defending gun rights.

Sen. Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, says he won't sit "idly by" if legitimate property insurance claims get denied while rates continue to rise. He also promises to bring tech advances to rural parts of the state.

The Legislature will hold a post-election organization session on Nov. 19, when incoming House Speaker Daniel Perez and incoming Senate President Ben Albritton will formally begin their new roles.