Jim Turner - News Service of Florida
Featured image for “DeSantis signs tax cuts for businesses and shoppers”
Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks May 1, 2025, during a news conference about immigration enforcement at the South Florida office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Enforcement and Removal Operations in Miramar. | Rebecca Blackwell, AP
June 30, 2025

DeSantis signs tax cuts for businesses and shoppers

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a package eliminateding a commercial-lease tax and providing several sales tax breaks.…

Featured image for “Florida lawmakers pass $115B budget and tax breaks”
Previous Previous State Seeks OK to Enforce Social Media Law TALLAHASSEE — Arguing that a district judge’s ruling “puts millions of kids at r… Next Next Up Next Up Evening Briefs: Fall Committee Weeks Set | Lawmakers Sworn In Featured Lawmakers Pass $115.1B Budget, End Session By Jim Turner and Tom Urban 8 hrs ago Facebook Twitter Email Sine die House Speaker Daniel Perez (left) and Senate President Ben Albritton (right) took part in a traditional hanky-drop ceremony marking the end of the legislative session.
June 17, 2025

Florida lawmakers pass $115B budget and tax breaks

Democratic Rep. Angie Nixon of Jacksonville cast one of only two dissenting votes against the budget.…

Featured image for “Florida plans for hurricane season with less help from feds”
Residents in Orange Acres work on fixing a badly damaged home in Sarasota after Hurricane Milton. | Kylie Williams, WUFT News
May 29, 2025

Florida plans for hurricane season with less help from feds

The season is only a few days away, but questions remain about how the Trump administration will reshape FEMA.…

Featured image for “UF trustees vote to hire Santa Ono as president”
University of Michigan President Santa Ono prepares to toss T-shirts into the crowd during the second half of a football game against Oregon on Nov. 2, 2024, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. | Jose Juarez, AP
May 27, 2025

UF trustees vote to hire Santa Ono as president

The former University of Michigan president was approved unanimously despite opposition from some conservatives.…

Featured image for “Florida bear hunt planned in December, the first in a decade”
Opponents of a bear hunt protest outside a meeting of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. | Jim Turner, News Service of Florida
May 22, 2025

Florida bear hunt planned in December, the first in a decade

The controversial hunt could lead to 187 bears being killed. Wildlife officials could give final approval in August.…

Featured image for “DeSantis rejects suggestion of budget ‘summit’”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a news conference in Orlando. | John Raoux, AP
May 13, 2025

DeSantis rejects suggestion of budget ‘summit’

The governor called a summit a “dog-and-pony show” and said legislators should just “do their jobs.”…

Featured image for “Budget differences will push Legislature into overtime”
April 25, 2025

Budget differences will push Legislature into overtime

Lawmakers will not finish a state budget in time to end the legislative session as scheduled next week.…

Featured image for “Florida Senate unlikely to vote on lower gun-buying age”
April 22, 2025

Florida Senate unlikely to vote on lower gun-buying age

Senate Rules Chairwoman Kathleen Passidomo said her committee won’t take up the gun measure.…

Featured image for “DeSantis proposes $1,000 tax rebates for homeowners”
Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at VyStar Credit Union in Jacksonville on May 2, 2024. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
March 31, 2025

DeSantis proposes $1,000 tax rebates for homeowners

Gov. Ron DeSantis said property tax rebates could be issued in December if the Legislature acts now.…

Featured image for “DeSantis announces state DOGE to root out waste”
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a state DOGE task force during an appearance Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, in Tampa. | Gov. Ron DeSantis Facebook
February 24, 2025

DeSantis announces state DOGE to root out waste

Gov. Ron DeSantis is creating a panel to review about 900 state positions, university spending and local government.…

Featured image for “Sheriff T.K. Waters appointed to immigration council”
Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters speaks at a news conference.
February 18, 2025

Sheriff T.K. Waters appointed to immigration council

Waters and other sheriffs will offer advice about combating illegal immigration in Florida.…

Featured image for “Legislators reject ‘bailouts’ for condo owners”
February 12, 2025

Legislators reject ‘bailouts’ for condo owners

Condo owners shouldn’t expect the state to pay for complying with new state laws after the Surfside collapse.…

Featured image for “DeSantis proposes $115.6 billion state budget”
Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks on May 9, 2023. | Rebecca Blackwell, AP
February 3, 2025

DeSantis proposes $115.6 billion state budget

The budget includes pay raises for first responders and a sales tax holiday on guns and ammunition.…

Featured image for “Lawmakers rebuke DeSantis on special session and budget”
A general view of the Old Capitol and current Florida Capitol buildings on Feb. 8, 2023, in Tallahassee. | Phil Sears, AP
January 27, 2025

Lawmakers rebuke DeSantis on special session and budget

The rebuke included overriding the governor’s budget veto from last year.…

Featured image for “DeSantis calls for special session over immigration”
Gov. Ron DeSantis called for a special legislative session to deal with immigration, condo law and other issues. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
January 13, 2025

DeSantis calls for special session over immigration

Gov. Ron DeSantis wants lawmakers to mesh Florida’s immigration policies with a crackdown by President-elect Donald Trump.…

Featured image for “DeSantis wants control over federal Everglades funds”
As he works on a proposed budget for the upcoming year, Gov. Ron DeSantis said the state will ask President-elect Donald Trump to give Florida authority over federal money for Everglades restoration projects. |
January 10, 2025

DeSantis wants control over federal Everglades funds

Gov. Ron DeSantis said Florida could speed up Everglades restoration if it had control over federal funds.…

Featured image for “New year will bring 10 new laws in Florida”
A general view of the Old Capitol and current Florida Capitol buildings on Feb. 8, 2023, in Tallahassee. | Phil Sears, AP
December 30, 2024

New year will bring 10 new laws in Florida

Ten laws approved in 2024 will take effect Wednesday, but restrictions on social media for children will not be immediately…

Featured image for “Florida may allow bear hunting for first time in nearly a decade”
December 11, 2024

Florida may allow bear hunting for first time in nearly a decade

The state will consider proposals for the first sanctioned bear hunt since a controversial hunt in October 2015.…

Featured image for “Florida senators start filing bills for legislative session”
The Florida Capitol. | News Service of Florida
December 10, 2024

Florida senators start filing bills for legislative session

Senators are gearing up for the 2025 legislative session, which will begin March 4.…

Featured image for “FPL will increase bills to cover $1.2B in hurricane costs”
FPL workers restore power after Hurricane Helene in Madison County. | Mike Exline, News Service of Florida
December 3, 2024

FPL will increase bills to cover $1.2B in hurricane costs

The Florida Public Service Commission gave FPL approval to raise bills about $12 per month for the average customer.…

Featured image for “State Sen. Randy Fine seeks to replace U.S. Rep Mike Waltz”
State Sen. Randy Fine, R-Brevard County. | Colin Hackley, News Service of Florida
November 26, 2024

State Sen. Randy Fine seeks to replace U.S. Rep Mike Waltz

With the backing of President-elect Donald Trump, state Sen. Randy Fine said Tuesday he will run for a congressional seat…

Featured image for “Hunting rights approved; partisan school races nixed”
Voters decided to add hunting and fishing rights to the state Constitution. | Charlie Riedel, AP
November 5, 2024

Hunting rights approved; partisan school races nixed

Voters rejected partisan school board races but added hunting and fishing rights to the state Constitution.…

Featured image for “Rescue efforts underway on Gulf Coast; 2 people dead”
Workers remove debris from Hurricane Helene, in Cedar Key on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. | Gerald Herbert, AP
September 27, 2024

Rescue efforts underway on Gulf Coast; 2 people dead

Many people did not evacuate, remaining in areas hit by storm surge as Helene moved north.…

Featured image for “These new laws will take effect Oct. 1 in Florida”
A homeless person sleeps on a bench. A new Florida law bars local governments from allowing people to sleep in public places. | Srdjan Randjelovic/Srdjan, Stock-Adobe.com
September 26, 2024

These new laws will take effect Oct. 1 in Florida

Nearly three dozen new laws will go into effect on Tuesday, including a contentious measure that will limit where homeless…