May 2, 2024
News Service of Florida
State tax collections continue topping expectations
Florida lawmakers got another boost Thursday as they prepare to start the 2022 legislative session and draw up a new state budget.
The state in November collected $398.8 million more...
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Published on 1/2/2022
Improved jobless rate leads to scaled-back benefits
Floridians laid off in the new year will get seven fewer weeks of unemployment benefits because the state’s jobless rate improved in 2021.
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity on...
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Published on 12/29/2021
Proposal Could Lead to Cameras in Classrooms
School districts could adopt policies that lead to installing cameras in classrooms and requiring teachers in the classrooms to wear microphones, under a House proposal filed this week.
Rep. Bob...
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Published on 12/29/2021
U.S. Supreme Court to Weigh Florida Medicaid Fight
The U.S. Supreme Court is poised to take up a dispute about how much money Florida’s Medicaid program should be able to recoup after a legal settlement involving a Lee...
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Published on 12/29/2021
State moves forward with vaccination jobless aid
Following passage of a new state law, the Department of Economic Opportunity moved forward Tuesday with a rule that would allow government workers to be eligible for unemployment benefits if...
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Published on 12/28/2021
10 things DeSantis wants from Florida lawmakers next year
Gov. Ron DeSantis recently released a $99.7 billion budget blueprint for the 2022 legislative session and has touted a series of other proposals. Here are 10 of DeSantis’ priorities —...
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Published on 12/28/2021
Target subsidiary sues Florida over $10.2 million in taxes and interest
A subsidiary of the Target retail chain is battling the Florida Department of Revenue over millions of dollars in corporate income taxes.
Target Enterprise, Inc. filed a lawsuit last week...
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Published on 12/28/2021
Two laws, lower workers' comp rates to take effect
A pair of bills signed this year by Gov. Ron DeSantis, involving vehicle rentals and notaries public, will become law Saturday.
Meanwhile, also starting Saturday, Florida employers will see an...
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Published on 12/27/2021
Court refuses to hear case against Florida over ‘medically fragile' children
Nearly a decade after concerns emerged about “medically fragile” children being placed in nursing homes, a federal appeals court will not reconsider a decision that allowed the U.S. Department of...
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Published on 12/27/2021
University system eyes $800 million facilities plan
A report from the state university system suggests $800 million in facilities money that could be sought during the 2022 legislative session should be divvied up to cover roughly half...
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Published on 12/23/2021
Florida, Texas see largest population increases
Florida trailed only Texas in population increases from 2020 to 2021, while the nation had the slowest growth rate in its history, according to information released Tuesday by the U.S....
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Published on 12/22/2021
Gambling Appeal in Florida Case Dropped
Two pari-mutuels have dropped an appeal of a Florida federal judge's decision to dismiss a challenge to a gambling agreement that gave the Seminole Tribe control of sports betting throughout the state.
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Published on 12/22/2021
10 big legal issues to watch in 2022
From elections to vaccines, state and federal courts are weighing major Florida lawsuits. Here are 10 big legal issues to watch in 2022:
— ELECTIONS: With high-profile elections looming in...
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Published on 12/21/2021
Omicron will slow international tourism in Florida, state economists predict
State economists anticipate the new omicron variant of the coronavirus will slow, at least temporarily, Florida’s resurging pace of tourism — particularly a return of international visitors.
Saying the world...
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Published on 12/20/2021
Conservation Groups Target EPA Over Manatee Deaths
Three conservation groups moved Monday toward filing a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection over water-quality problems that have led to a record number of manatee deaths this year in...
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Published on 12/20/2021
Citizens Property seeks 11% hike in home insurance rates
With thousands of new policies a week pouring into Citizens Property Insurance Corp., the state-backed insurer’s board on Wednesday approved seeking 11 percent across-the-board rate increases next year.
The Citizens...
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Published on 12/19/2021
Florida's jobless rate dips to 4.5 percent
Unemployment continues to slowly improve in Florida as the state gets closer to regaining the number of jobs lost when the COVID-19 pandemic caused business closures and layoffs last year....
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Published on 12/19/2021
Long-term solutions sought for Florida's starving manatees
Wildlife officials said Wednesday an infusion of projects to improve water quality is a good start, as they seek to avoid a recurrence of large numbers of manatee deaths due...
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Published on 12/16/2021
Walgreens must disclose Florida opioid profits, judge says
After more than two years of squabbling over production of records in a lawsuit filed by the state, a judge ordered Walgreens to hand over documentation about the company’s profits...
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Published on 12/16/2021
DeSantis' budget proposal would mean more money for public schools, and less for universities
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday released a proposed education budget for next year that includes record spending for public schools but a cut in university funding.
DeSantis is requesting that...
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Published on 12/15/2021
State college enrollment continues to shrink
Florida college officials are trying to figure out what’s behind a continuing drop in state college enrollment, which analysts project could decline by more than 9 percent over the next...
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Published on 12/15/2021
Space agency eyes manufacturing jobs
Florida’s aerospace agency pushed forward with negotiations Tuesday to bring 2,100 spacecraft manufacturing jobs to Brevard County over the next three years.
The Space Florida Board of Directors approved a...
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Published on 12/14/2021
Port Idea Floated for Putnam County
Florida lawmakers could take initial steps toward establishing a port along the St. Johns River in inland Putnam County.
Rep. Bobby Payne, R-Palatka, filed a proposal (HB 907) on Monday...
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Published on 12/14/2021
Rate Hikes Eyed for Citizens Insurance Customers
The Citizens Property Insurance Corp. Board of Governors this week will consider a proposal that could lead to average rate increases of 7.3 percent for homeowners.
The proposal also could...
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Published on 12/14/2021
FanDuel antes up again for gambling initiative
The online gambling company FanDuel in November contributed another $4.38 million to an effort to pass a constitutional amendment that would broadly allow sports betting in Florida.
FanDuel made the...
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Published on 12/13/2021
