Covering All Things Florida
When the Florida legislature convenes in an extended regular session the week of May 12th, there will be a lot of hot-button budgetary issues on the table. Probably the closest watched will be the battle over tax relief for Floridians.
Less is more – that’s the thinking of the Florida legislature when it comes to the use of cell phones in schools. Last week, Florida lawmakers passed legislation that expands restrictions on student cellphone use in public schools. The new measures, part of Senate Bill 1296, prohibit the use of cellphones throughout the entire school day for elementary and middle school students and initiate a pilot program to test similar restrictions in select high schools.
In a unanimous decision, the Florida House of Representatives approved House Bill 7031 on Wednesday, aiming to reduce the Florida sales tax rate from 6% to 5.25%. The bill, which brings even more substantial sales tax cuts in certain areas, passed with a 112-0 vote.
(The Center Square / Steve Wilson) – Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez wants to cut the state’s sales tax rate, saying it would be the largest cut in the state’s history.
Florida lawmakers are what might become a new Florida law, Senate Bill 1782 (SB 1782), a measure aimed at imposing stricter penalties on drivers who engage in extreme speeding, commonly referred to as “super speeders.” The bill, introduced by State Senator Jason W. B. Pizzo (D) Hollywood, seeks to deter reckless driving behaviors that have become increasingly prevalent on Florida’s roadways. Pizzo’s district covers parts of Broward and Miami-Dade Counties.
A new survey by Uplevyl, an Austin-based company, highlights a growing trend of women disengaging from major social media platforms due to concerns over misinformation, harassment, security, and mental health impacts.
Whether you live here or are just thinking about moving to Florida, here’s an interesting bit of news: Florida State Senator Jonathan Martin, representing Fort Myers, has introduced a bill (SB 852) aimed at exploring the feasibility of eliminating property taxes in the state.
Some long awaited property tax relief may be coming for Florida homeowners. In a recent initiative to alleviate the financial burden on Florida homeowners, Governor Ron DeSantis has proposed a significant increase in the state’s homestead exemption. The Governors proposal aims to provide substantial property tax relief amid rising housing costs and interest rates, but it won’t be easy to do.
President Donald Trump has called upon SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to expedite the return of NASA astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams from the International Space Station (ISS). The astronauts have been aboard the ISS since June 2024, following an extended mission due to technical issues with their original Boeing Starliner spacecraft.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on January 20, 2025, renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America.” This decision, part of the “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness” initiative, aims to emphasize the gulf’s significance to the United States. With over 5000 miles of shoreline, the gulf represents Florida’s longest border.
In an unprecedented move against a social media platform, the United States has officially banned TikTok, effective from today, due to concerns over national security, privacy, and foreign influence. The TikTok ban decision marks the culmination of years of scrutiny and legislative action against the Chinese-owned app, which boasts over 170 million American users, including those in Florida.
On December 4th, word began leaking out that President-elect Trump may be considering Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for a cabinet post. While the move is far from certain as of this writing, what would happen if he did appoint DeSantis? That would leave some big shoes to fill in the Governor’s office.
