Statewide News

House Bill 1205, which has been in the courts almost since its signing by Gov. Ron DeSantis on May 2, 2025, imposed additional hurdles on the ballot-initiative process and heightened penalties for wrongdoing.

House Bill 1205, which has been in the courts almost since its signing by Gov. Ron DeSantis on May 2, 2025, imposed additional hurdles on the ballot-initiative process and heightened penalties for wrongdoing.

Proposed Constitutional amendments fail to gain ballot access

Jim Turner
Monday, February 2, 2026
News Service of Florida — Florida Decides Healthcare, a political committee sponsoring a proposed constitutional amendment aimed at expanding Medicaid coverage, was quick to turn its eyes to 2028 as the state declared an end to all initiative petition drives for the November ballot.
Republican lawmakers are trying to revive an effort to create an exemption to the state’s voter-approved minimum wage that would apply to workers classified as trainees.

Republican lawmakers are trying to revive an effort to create an exemption to the state’s voter-approved minimum wage that would apply to workers classified as trainees.

State GOP lawmakers OK minimum wage change

Jim Turner
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
News Service of Florida — Republican lawmakers are trying to revive an effort to create an exemption to the state’s voter-approved minimum wage that would apply to workers classified as trainees.
As the Florida Senate continues to ponder an approach to lowering property taxes, House committees Thursday advanced two tax-cut proposals that could go before voters in November.

As the Florida Senate continues to ponder an approach to lowering property taxes, House committees Thursday advanced two tax-cut proposals that could go before voters in November.

Property tax proposals moving forward in Legislature

Jim Turner
Sunday, January 25, 2026
News Service of Florida: As the Florida Senate continues to ponder an approach to lowering property taxes, House committees Thursday advanced two tax-cut proposals that could go before voters.
Senate President Ben Albritton was hospitalized after experiencing chest pain. (Photo/Colin Hackney, News Service of Florida)

Senate President Ben Albritton was hospitalized after experiencing chest pain. (Photo/Colin Hackney, News Service of Florida)

Senate President Ben Albritton hospitalized after chest pain

Jim Saunders
Sunday, January 25, 2026
WEDNESDAY UPDATE — Albritton was released late Tuesday afternoon from UF Health Shands Hospital and returned to Tallahassee after a health scare that started with chest pain over the weekend.
House Majority Leader Tyler Sirois, R-Merrit Island, is sponsoring a bill to lower the minimum age for purchasing rifles and other long guns. (Photo Colin Hackley/News Service of Florida)

House Majority Leader Tyler Sirois, R-Merrit Island, is sponsoring a bill to lower the minimum age for purchasing rifles and other long guns. (Photo Colin Hackley/News Service of Florida)

Florida House backs lower gun buying age

Jim Saunders
Friday, January 16, 2026
News Service of Florida -- Nearly eight years after a gunman murdered 17 people at Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, the Florida House on Thursday passed a bill that would lower the minimum age to purchase rifles and other long guns from 21 to 18.
Florida’s unemployment rate jumped to 4.2% in November, the highest rate for the state in more than four years and up from 3.5% a year earlier. (Photo/Metro Creative)

Florida’s unemployment rate jumped to 4.2% in November, the highest rate for the state in more than four years and up from 3.5% a year earlier. (Photo/Metro Creative)

State jobless rate increases to 4.2%

Jim Turner
Thursday, January 15, 2026
News Service of Florida — Florida’s unemployment rate jumped to 4.2% in November, the highest rate for the state in more than four years. While still considered just above “full employment” by state economists, the November rate was up from 3.
A House proposal that would ask voters to phase out non-school homestead property taxes moved forward Thursday, as lawmakers and Gov. Ron DeSantis try to reach agreement on a November ballot measure.

A House proposal that would ask voters to phase out non-school homestead property taxes moved forward Thursday, as lawmakers and Gov. Ron DeSantis try to reach agreement on a November ballot measure.

Legislative proposal backed to phase out property taxes

Jim Turner
Thursday, January 15, 2026
News Service of Florida — A House proposal that would ask voters to phase out non-school homestead property taxes moved forward Thursday, as lawmakers and Gov. Ron DeSantis try to reach agreement on a November ballot measure.
Senate President Ben Albritton hopes to pass a "rural renaissance" plan during the 2026 session. (Photo/Colin Hackley, News Service of Florida)

Senate President Ben Albritton hopes to pass a "rural renaissance" plan during the 2026 session. (Photo/Colin Hackley, News Service of Florida)

10 Legislative issues to watch during the current session

Jim Saunders
Thursday, January 15, 2026
Florida lawmakers started the 2026 legislative session Tuesday. With hundreds of bills filed for consideration during the session, here are 10 issues to watch:ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE Gov. Ron DeSantis has made a priority of creating what he has dubbed an “Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights.
State Legislature leaders spoke of providing voters the opportunity to pass "meaningful property tax relief" at the start of the legislative session Tuesday.

State Legislature leaders spoke of providing voters the opportunity to pass "meaningful property tax relief" at the start of the legislative session Tuesday.

Tallahassee lawmakers start new 'journey'

Jim Turner
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Republican legislative leaders opened the 2026 legislative session Tuesday citing a need to make life more affordable for Floridians.But they offered few clues about what will pass in the coming weeks and downplayed divisions between the House and Senate that emerged during the 2025 session.
Lt. Gov. Jay Collins announced Monday he will run for governor this year. (Photo/Colin Hackley, News Service of Florida)

Lt. Gov. Jay Collins announced Monday he will run for governor this year. (Photo/Colin Hackley, News Service of Florida)

Republican Jay Collins launches Gubernatorial bid

Jim Turner
Monday, January 12, 2026
News Service of Florida — After months of speculation, Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins on Monday announced he will run for governor this year, setting up a Republican primary fight against Congressman Byron Donalds, former state House Speaker Paul Renner and investment firm CEO James Fishback.
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