Joint Legislative Budget Commission

The money will be used in part to hire faculty and offer student scholarships.

A legislative budget panel this week gave Gov. DeSantis millions more dollars to pump into storm recovery projects after Hurricane Ian hit Southwest Florida. Ian landed nearly 4 years after Michael slammed into the Panhandle, where recovery continues.

State Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie said it could be three weeks before flood water from the St. Johns River recedes in Central Florida counties.

The Joint Legislative Budget Commission will hold an emergency meeting next week to release an additional $360 million into the Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund, which was established this year with $500 million. Most of the initial funding has already been allocated for Ian recovery efforts.

A legislative panel agreed Thursday to boost the budget of the state Office of Medical Marijuana Use by $13.29 million to help pay for issuing new...