News & Views

‘This is a ban. Let’s call it what it is’: Florida Senate will take up 6-week abortion proposal

“Whatever we do here today, abortions are still going to happen,” Sen. Shevrin Jones, D-Miami Gardens, said.

by Jim Saunders and News Service of Florida March 29, 2023August 22, 2024

News & Views

Florida Republicans want to make hunting and fishing a constitutional right

“It would be like preserving tennis. I mean, seriously, I don’t understand why we’d be doing this. The Constitution is sacred.”

by Jim Saunders and News Service of Florida March 28, 2023August 11, 2024

News & Views

Tossing of Florida’s so-called ‘Don’t Say Gay’ lawsuit is appealed

The notice of appeal does not detail arguments that the plaintiffs will make at the Atlanta-based appeals court.

by Jim Saunders and News Service of Florida March 27, 2023November 8, 2023

News & Views

Florida Senate proposal would block local governments from removing confederate monuments

SB 1096 is designed to stem efforts that have increased during the past few years to remove monuments and markers.

by Jim Saunders and News Service of Florida March 16, 2023August 3, 2023

News & Views

Florida House panel supports lowering a threshold for sentencing defendants to death

HB 555 would eliminate a requirement for unanimous jury recommendations before death sentences can be imposed.

by Jim Saunders and News Service of Florida March 15, 2023August 3, 2023

News & Views

Republicans on Florida House panel vote to approve bill that allows 18 year olds to buy rifles

HB 1543 would reverse part of a 2018 law that set the minimum age at 21.

by Jim Saunders and News Service of Florida March 14, 2023August 3, 2023

News & Views

Ethics commission dismisses dispute over Nikki Fried financial disclosure

The case involved income from periods before Fried was elected agriculture commissioner in 2018.

by Jim Saunders and News Service of Florida March 13, 2023September 22, 2023

News & Views

Bipartisan bill calls for later start times at Florida public schools

The proposal would prevent public middle schools from starting before 8 a.m. and public high schools from starting before 8:30 a.m.

by Jim Saunders and News Service of Florida March 9, 2023September 17, 2024

News & Views

‘You ain’t seen nothin’ yet’: Florida Gov. DeSantis hints at tackling more culture war issues at State of the State address

DeSantis used parts of Tuesday’s speech to focus on red-meat issues for Republican voters.

by Ryan Dailey, Jim Saunders and News Service of Florida March 8, 2023August 3, 2023

News & Views

Florida Republicans introduce bill banning abortion after 6 weeks of pregnancy

“Most people do not even know they are pregnant until after six weeks, so this six-week ban might as well be a complete ban.”

by Jim Saunders and News Service of Florida March 7, 2023August 3, 2023

News & Views

Florida Republicans want to drop rifle-buying age from 21 to 18, a change made after Parkland massacre

Federal law already barred people under 21 from buying handguns.

by Jim Saunders and News Service of Florida March 7, 2023August 3, 2023

News & Views

Florida Republicans file bill that would make puberty blockers, hormone therapy for trans youths illegal

The House version would require that doctors lose their licenses if they commit violations, while the Senate bill could lead to criminal charges.

by Jim Saunders and News Service of Florida March 6, 2023August 3, 2023

News & Views

Florida lawmakers appeal in subpoena fight over state’s controversial education laws

The judge ordered that the lawmakers turn over certain “factually based information” to the plaintiffs.

by Jim Saunders and News Service of Florida March 3, 2023January 30, 2025

News & Views

Florida Gov. DeSantis asks federal judge to toss out migrant flights lawsuit

The lawsuit alleges that state officials and an organizer, Perla Huerta, deceived the migrants into getting on the flights.

by Jim Saunders and News Service of Florida March 2, 2023August 3, 2023

News & Views

10 big issues to watch during Florida’s 2023 legislative session

Session begins next week.

by Jim Saunders and News Service of Florida March 1, 2023January 5, 2024

News & Views

Florida circuit judge dismisses migrant flight lawsuit after state legislature passed changes

After DeSantis signed the bill last week, administration attorneys filed a motion to dismiss the case because of mootness.

by Jim Saunders and News Service of Florida February 23, 2023August 3, 2023

News & Views

Florida wants to cut funding for STD testing and breast cancer screenings at abortion clinics

Moody’s office asked Hinkle to vacate the injunction because the U.S. Supreme Court last year overturned the Roe v. Wade decision.

by Jim Saunders and News Service of Florida February 22, 2023January 4, 2025

News & Views

US Supreme Court asked to block Florida’s first execution since 2019

Dillbeck, now 59, was initially sentenced to life in prison in the 1979 shooting death of Lee County sheriff’s Deputy Dwight Lynn Hall.

by Jim Saunders and News Service of Florida February 21, 2023August 3, 2023

News & Views

Florida property insurance company insolvent after Hurricane Ian losses

The state placed six insurers into receivership in 2022 because of insolvencies.

by Jim Saunders and News Service of Florida February 20, 2023October 7, 2024

News & Views

New bill would give Florida’s statewide prosecutor more power to investigate voter fraud

The Republican-controlled House voted 77-33 along party lines to pass the measure (SB 4-B).

by Jim Saunders and News Service of Florida February 13, 2023August 3, 2023