May 20, 2024
News Service of Florida
Spending plans point to ‘lean year' in higher ed
House and Senate budget leaders are eyeing cuts to higher education spending, but early recommendations would go about it in different ways.
A Senate budget proposal released last week, for...
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Published on 3/31/2021
State revenues beat expectations in February
As state lawmakers await updated projections that will help build next year’s state budget, they received a little more good news Tuesday, as monthly revenue collections continue to outpace expectations....
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Published on 3/31/2021
Jury duty postponement backed in emergencies in Florida
Proposals are moving through the Legislature that would allow Floridians to postpone jury duty for a year during public-health emergencies and states of emergency.
The House Justice Appropriations Subcommittee on...
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Published on 3/30/2021
Lawmakers earmark more of $1 billion online sales tax to another business tax cut
Florida businesses would get a second massive benefit as lawmakers move toward requiring out-of-state retailers to collect sales taxes on purchases made by Floridians, under a deal announced Monday by...
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Published on 3/30/2021
Health care in proposed budget not pretty for Florida hospitals
Florida lawmakers are releasing initial budget proposals that grapple with shortfalls caused by the COVID-19 pandemic - even though the prospect of billions of dollars coming to the state from...
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Published on 3/29/2021
Plan to shift money draws Florida affordable housing concerns
Groups backing affordable workforce housing Thursday criticized a plan by legislative leaders to shift two-thirds of money designed for housing programs to address the effects of sea-level rise and upgrade...
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Published on 3/28/2021
COVID-19 legal protections going to DeSantis' desk
A little more than a year after COVID-19 began wrecking the economy and infecting and killing Floridians, state lawmakers on Friday gave final approval to a bill that will shield...
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Published on 3/28/2021
Florida jobless claims below 14,000 last week
New unemployment claims continue to slow in Florida, with an estimated 13,892 coming in last week, the lowest weekly figure since the coronavirus pandemic began more than a year ago....
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Published on 3/25/2021
Funding debate remains in Bright Futures bill
A Senate panel on Tuesday scaled back a bill that would have reduced Bright Futures scholarships for students pursuing certain degrees, but opponents are now focusing criticism on whether the...
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Published on 3/24/2021
Florida Senate eyes charter school proposal
A proposal that would allow state colleges and universities to authorize the creation of charter schools and sponsor the schools is advancing in the Florida Senate.
The proposal would allow...
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Published on 3/24/2021
Florida may give governor $1 billion emergency fund
A new pool of money for emergencies, separate from the state’s traditional “rainy day” funds, would be created in the governor’s office under a pandemic relief measure approved Tuesday by...
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Published on 3/24/2021
Florida rescinds nursing home visitation orders
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration has swept away four emergency orders dealing with visitors to nursing homes, just days before the Legislature is poised to pass a bill that would help...
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Published on 3/23/2021
DeSantis proposes federal money for workforce education efforts
Gov. Ron DeSantis is asking lawmakers to approve creating two workforce education programs by using $75 million in federal coronavirus relief funds.
Speaking at a news conference Monday in Melbourne,...
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Published on 3/23/2021
Florida business groups eye rules for next crisis
Lobbying groups for small businesses, restaurants, hotels and retailers expressed a need to senators Monday for statewide rules for the next health crisis, with a focus on mask mandates.
Officials...
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Published on 3/22/2021
Deal reached on COVID-19 liability protections
Legislative leaders announced Thursday they have an agreement on COVID-19 liability protections for businesses, nursing homes and other health care providers and that a bill should be headed to Gov....
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Published on 3/22/2021
Doctors push back on marijuana potency arguments
Florida doctors on Thursday pushed back against allegations that the state’s medical marijuana program is being used by people seeking to get high for fun.
The physicians spoke out after...
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Published on 3/22/2021
Florida's online tax plan moving forward amid stimulus
A windfall of federal stimulus money won't slow a deal between state House and Senate leaders that includes requiring out-of-state online retailers to collect sales taxes on purchases made by...
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Published on 3/22/2021
First-time unemployment claims fall again in Florida
Florida continues to see a slowing of first-time unemployment claims, with applications last week the lowest since the coronavirus pandemic started a year ago.
The U.S. Department of Labor estimated...
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Published on 3/11/2021
State could end clemency waiting periods
Gov. Ron DeSantis is proposing sweeping changes to the state’s clemency process by doing away with a minimum five-year wait before felons can seek to have their civil rights, including...
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Published on 3/10/2021
Judge tosses out lawsuit against the state, Deloitte over flawed unemployment website
A Leon circuit court judge has dismissed a potential class-action lawsuit against the state and Deloitte Consulting stemming from the meltdown of Florida’s online unemployment compensation system during the COVID-19...
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Published on 3/9/2021
Florida Senate to take up online sales tax plan
A proposal that would require many out-of-state online retailers to collect sales taxes on purchases made by Floridians will be one of the first bills taken up by the state...
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Published on 3/9/2021
Nearly 62,000 in Florida sign up for ACA coverage in first two weeks
Nearly 62,000 people in Florida enrolled in Affordable Health Care plans during the first two weeks of a special enrollment period, according to information released Wednesday by the federal Centers...
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Published on 3/8/2021
Florida inspector general report injected into lawsuit over unemployment system
Plaintiffs in a potential class-action lawsuit about Florida’s troubled unemployment-compensation system are trying to use a new report by the state’s chief inspector general to bolster their case.
Hours after...
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Published on 3/8/2021
Florida state tax revenues slow a bit in January but continue trend of beating forecast
Florida tax revenues slowed somewhat in January from the final months of 2020 but continued a trend of beating a forecast issued as the state phased out COVID-19 lockdown efforts...
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Published on 3/8/2021
Florida business groups wade into wetlands permitting fight
The Florida Chamber of Commerce and a major developers’ group are seeking to intervene in a high-stakes lawsuit over a move by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to shift permitting...
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Published on 3/4/2021
