Wilton Simpson

While Democrats have had a decades-long advantage in voter registration numbers and Florida has been considered a swing state in presidential elections, those days appear gone.

Sen. Lori Berman, D-Delray Beach, said her colleagues need to quickly review the suspension but added that she hopes they don't “rubber-stamp anything.”

HB 461 allows 100 hours of paid work experience to replace community service hours required for Bright Futures.

It came a week before a new Florida law is scheduled to take effect that would prevent women from having abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

Florida lawmakers have cleared the way to punish the Walt Disney Corporation for its opposition to a new state law that limits school instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation. The proposals strip Disney of its ability to collect taxes and issue bonds, and eliminate a social media carveout for theme parks.

Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis' flexed his power this week in Tallahassee as lawmakers okayed the governor's controversial redistricting plan and curbed Disney's special jurisdiction.

The Florida legislature will meet in mid-April to draw the state's congressional districts after Gov. Ron DeSantis rejected two maps lawmakers approved earlier this month.

The legislative session has wrapped up, but some are raising concerns about a few of the bills that didn’t get passed—including a move to address property insurance in Florida.

The crux is that DeSantis’ threat to veto a redistricting plan drawn up by state lawmakers jeopardizes the chances of reaching agreement on a map — and that judges should step in.

Among the budget items agreed upon is $20 million a year for 30 years to help finance a Moffitt Cancer Center expansion in Pasco County, and suspending state gas taxes in October.

House and Senate negotiators finished reaching agreement Thursday, though a missed deadline will force the legislative session to extend until Monday for the votes.

Hillsborough and Sarasota counties are among a dozen school districts that defied a mask mandate ban from the governor and as a result would get a smaller funding increase under the House budget proposal. The leader of the Senate says its a plan he's open to discussing.