Senate won’t confirm two of DeSantis’s top health care secretaries with Hope Florida ties

‘I’d have a hard time voting for Secretary Harris unless she came clean and had a very different story than what she’s telling the House.’

by Christine Sexton and Florida Phoenix April 22, 2025May 19, 2025

News & Views

Embroiled in controversy, DeSantis’ Hope Florida Foundation could lose tax status, legislator warns

It’s been a headline-grabbing week for Casey DeSantis’ nonprofit.

by Christine Sexton and Florida Phoenix April 18, 2025May 15, 2025

News & Views

Florida Senate leader lays out bill that explores implications of permanently reducing property taxes

The bill directs the Office of Economic and Demographic Research to conduct a study to establish a framework to reduce, or eliminate taxes for homesteaded property.

by Christine Sexton and Florida Phoenix April 15, 2025April 24, 2025

News & Views

Insurance industry and medical lobbyists oppose bill that eliminates Florida’s no-fault auto-insurance

A Forbes analysis of automobile insurance rates shows that Florida is the most expensive state for car insurance in the nation.

by Christine Sexton March 31, 2025June 19, 2025

News & Views

Leader of the Florida House wants to permanently cut state sales tax to 5.25-percent

If the Republican’s plan is successful, taxpayers would save nearly $5 billion annually.

by Christine Sexton and Florida Phoenix March 27, 2025April 13, 2025

News & Views

Florida’s overall GDP could shrink by more than $4.5 billion after cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, new report says

The analysis looked at what could happen if a budget resolution by the Republican-controlled House is carried out.

by Christine Sexton and Florida Phoenix March 25, 2025July 31, 2025

News & Views

Florida house panel advance bill that would require public schools to show anti-abortion group’s video in classrooms

The fetal development video is not included in the Senate’s version of the education bill, SB 1618.

by Christine Sexton and Florida Phoenix March 19, 2025July 4, 2025

News & Views

Florida Rep. Maxwell Frost says GOP leaders need to explain their plan for Medicaid

‘A lot of these Republicans in the state House and the state Senate are getting off way too easy.’

by Christine Sexton and Florida Phoenix March 18, 2025June 4, 2025

News & Views

Florida bill would require public schools to show anti-abortion ‘Baby Olivia’ video in classrooms

“This is not science. This is not what we teach in school.”

by Christine Sexton and Florida Phoenix February 28, 2025June 28, 2025

News & Views

Byron Donalds makes it official, announces his candidacy for Florida governor

Donald’s gubernatorial bid has been endorsed by President Donald Trump.

by Christine Sexton, Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix February 26, 2025April 29, 2025

News & Views

Florida House Republican wants to make it easier to sue state and local governments

Fiona McFarland will again push to increase liability limits.

by Christine Sexton and Florida Phoenix January 30, 2025April 1, 2025

News & Views

Florida’s condo crisis has been a long simmering problem in the making, says senator

“This is not a new crisis, this is a crisis that has existed,” Bradley said.

by Christine Sexton and Florida Phoenix January 16, 2025April 28, 2025

News & Views

Once again, Florida leads the nation in Obamacare enrollment

Over 4.6 million residents signed up for insurance coverage through the Marketplace by the end of 2024.

by Christine Sexton and Florida Phoenix January 8, 2025February 25, 2025

News & Views

Buddy MacKay, Florida’s last Democratic governor, dead at 91

MacKay was born in Ocala in 1933 and obtained both his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Florida.

by Christine Sexton and Florida Phoenix January 2, 2025June 15, 2025

News & Views

Florida led country in new death penalty sentences in 2024, says report

DeSantis pushed to eliminate the unanimous requirement after a jury failed to recommend a death sentence for Nikolas Cruz.

by Christine Sexton and Florida Phoenix December 20, 2024April 4, 2025

News & Views

Groups urge Florida school officials to not remove books about anatomy and other health information

School districts have been grappling with what books should be allowed in Florida school libraries for the last several years.

by Christine Sexton and Florida Phoenix December 16, 2024January 31, 2025

News & Views

Florida says it will award 22 new medical marijuana licenses

Once the decision is final it will bring to 47 the number of medical marijuana licenses in the state.

by Christine Sexton and News Service of Florida November 27, 2024June 20, 2025

News & Views

Florida’s surgeon general now advises against adding fluoride to drinking water

It was the latest in a long list of public health recommendations from Ladapo criticized by associations that represent the people providing the care.

by Christine Sexton and Florida Phoenix November 25, 2024December 14, 2024