Florida teacher pay increase in state budget will be approved, governor says
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Monday he's signing off on $800 million in this year's budget to raise minimum teacher pay and increase the salaries of veteran teachers in Florida.
Florida lawmakers pass $112.1 billion budget to end session
Florida's legislative session adjourned at 1:03 p.m. Monday, after votes on the budget and a series of related bills. Gov. Ron DeSantis touted Florida as the “best law and order state in the entire country."
Florida lawmakers hammer out deal on $112.1 billion budget
Florida lawmakers will vote Monday on a record $112.1 billion state budget for the 2022-2023 fiscal year, up 10.4 percent from a spending plan approved for the current year.
Bill aimed at ending Florida Standards Assessments exams heads to governor's desk
Lawmakers gave final approval Wednesday to a bill that would end the Florida Standards Assessments and replace the standardized exams with a "progress monitoring system" that would test students three times a year.
Florida cyber sex crimes bill passes after senator’s story of extortion by Broward County teen
The bill will now head to Gov. Ron DeSantis. If signed, it will be a felony to buy, sell or trade stolen sexually explicit images from someone’s phone or other digital devices.
Florida Senate expected to vote Monday on 'Don't Say Gay' bill during final week of legislative session
The Senate will hold a floor session Monday to take up the Parental Rights in Education Act, which critics have called the “Don't Say Gay” bill. Supporters say it would bolster parental rights.
Smoking restrictions at Florida's beaches, parks get green light
A measure that would let local governments restrict smoking at beaches and parks is headed to Gov. Ron DeSantis.
'Miya's Law,' named for murdered Orlando teen, passed by Florida Senate
Police say 19-year-old Miya Marcano was killed by a maintenance worker who had a key to her apartment.
Florida Senate confirms Dr. Joseph Ladapo as state surgeon general, despite objections from Democrats
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ appointment of Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo was confirmed Wednesday by the Senate, despite objections from Democrats who criticized his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Florida lawmakers opt to offer tax 'holidays', but not gas-tax break proposed by DeSantis
Florida lawmakers opted to consider a bill that would provide a wide range of tax breaks -- but did not include Gov. Ron DeSantis' push to suspend the state's 25-cent/gallon gas tax, arguing that the tax break would go to too many non-Floridians who visit the state.
Crime victims, loved ones head to Tally to fight for new laws
Dozens of people who are survivors of crime or have loved ones who are crime victims boarded a bus Tuesday morning and headed up to Tallahassee.
Florida House bill amendment would allow schools to 'out' students to their parents
Florida’s so-called "Don’t Say Gay" bill includes a new proposed amendment that would force schools to out students about their sexual orientation to their parents, causing more concern from those in the LGBTQ community.
Florida House passes 15-week abortion limit bill
Florida House members passed a bill that would prohibit doctors from performing abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, one of the most hotly debated issues of the 2022 legislative session. Next, a Senate committee will take up the bill.
Florida school districts that mandated masks could lose $200M in state funding under GOP plan
Florida lawmakers in the House want to shift $200 million in funding away from the 12 school districts — including Hillsborough and Sarasota — that required students to wear masks last year, defying Gov. DeSantis' executive order banning mask mandates.
Florida Legislature passes bill to help shield health care providers from COVID-19 lawsuits
The Florida Legislature has passed a bill to extend legal protections for hospitals, nursing homes and other health care providers, helping to shield them from COVID-19 lawsuits involving such issues as transmission and treatment of the virus. The bill now goes to Gov. DeSantis for his signature.
Controversial 'don't say gay' bill gets approval from Florida's Senate Education Committee
A controversial bill in the Florida Legislature, dubbed the "don't say gay" bill by critics, has passed its first hurdle in the Senate after the Republican-dominated education committee voted to approve the measure along party lines.
Challenge to Florida's controversial transgender athlete ban put on hold
A challenge to a controversial state law that bans transgender females from participating on girls’ and women’s sports teams has been put on hold while another Florida case plays out in a federal appeals court.
Pence says Trump wrong in saying VP could overturn election
Former Vice President Mike Pence on Friday directly rebutted Donald Trump's false claims that Pence somehow could have overturned the results of the 2020 election, saying that the former president was simply "wrong."
Florida Senate passes bills on addiction, child hearing aid coverage
While Democratic and Republican Florida lawmakers have had a contentious debate on several matters, the two sides came together to quickly pass 20 bills Thursday, almost all unanimously.
Florida House OKs bill to keep identity of lottery winners a secret for 3 months
People who win $250,000 or more in the Florida Lottery could choose to keep their identities secret for 90 days under a bill overwhelmingly passed by the House on Wednesday.