Statewide News

Agencies like Toho Water Authority add fluoride to the water supply. A new bill may be on its way to the Governor's desk to prevent that. (Photo/Toho Water Authority)

Agencies like Toho Water Authority add fluoride to the water supply. A new bill may be on its way to the Governor's desk to prevent that. (Photo/Toho Water Authority)

Water fluoride ban bill heading to DeSantis

Jim Saunders
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
News Service of Florida: The Florida House on Tuesday gave final approval to a bill that would prevent local governments from adding fluoride to water supplies and take aim at labeling of plant-based products as milk, meat and eggs.
During debates, Republican supporters of the bills repeatedly stressed the public nature of charter schools and pointed to the state’s wholesale move in recent years toward school choice. But Democrats argued the bills would harm traditional public schools, where most children continue to attend..

During debates, Republican supporters of the bills repeatedly stressed the public nature of charter schools and pointed to the state’s wholesale move in recent years toward school choice. But Democrats argued the bills would harm traditional public schools, where most children continue to attend..

Florida lawmakers look to aid Charter Schools

Jim Saunders
Tuesday, April 29, 2025
News Service of Florida: Florida’s Republican-controlled Legislature is moving forward with a series of proposals that would help charter schools, while Democrats argue the measures would chip away at traditional public schools.
Senate President Ben Albritton said lawmakers will not finish the budget in time to finish the legislative session May 2. (Colin Hackley/File)

Senate President Ben Albritton said lawmakers will not finish the budget in time to finish the legislative session May 2. (Colin Hackley/File)

Florida lawmakers heading to overtime

News Service Of Florida
Thursday, April 24, 2025
TALLAHASSEE -- With the Senate and House unable to reach agreement on tax cuts and spending, lawmakers will not finish negotiations on a new state budget in time to end the legislative session as scheduled next week.
Police combed the scene of a shooting at Florida State University that killed two people and injured six others. NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA/TOM URBAN

Police combed the scene of a shooting at Florida State University that killed two people and injured six others. NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA/TOM URBAN

Two killed in ‘Terrible Tragedy’ at FSU

News Service Of Florida
Thursday, April 17, 2025
By Jim Turner and Mike ExlineTALLAHASSEE --- Two people were killed and six others were injured Thursday after a shooter, the son of a Leon County sheriff’s deputy, opened fire around lunchtime at Florida State University.
Some districts prohibit student access to devices throughout the entire school day — such as Osceola County — while others let students use phones during lunch and between classes.

Some districts prohibit student access to devices throughout the entire school day — such as Osceola County — while others let students use phones during lunch and between classes.

Florida lawmakers target student cell phone use statewide

News Service Of Florida
Wednesday, April 16, 2025
By Jim Turner and Tom UrbanAn effort to keep students off cell phones throughout the school day passed the Florida House on Wednesday, though differences remain with a Senate proposal.
The Florida House and Senate have passed proposed budgets that are billions of dollars apart, leadership expects to “end up somewhere in the middle” on the final product.

The Florida House and Senate have passed proposed budgets that are billions of dollars apart, leadership expects to “end up somewhere in the middle” on the final product.

Florida House, Senate pass budget plans

Jim Turner
Thursday, April 10, 2025
News Service of Florida — The House and Senate have passed proposed budgets that are billions of dollars apart, giving them about three weeks to mesh their spending goals and reach an agreement on tax cuts.
Sen. Corey Simon, R-Tallahassee, sponsored a measure that would change requirements for high-school students. PHOTO/NSF COLIN HACKLEY

Sen. Corey Simon, R-Tallahassee, sponsored a measure that would change requirements for high-school students. PHOTO/NSF COLIN HACKLEY

Florida Senate targets 'high stakes' testing in education bill

Jim Saunders
Thursday, April 3, 2025
The Florida Senate Thursday passed a wide-ranging education bill that includes eliminating a requirement that high-school students pass algebra and language-arts tests to earn standard diplomas.
Back to School shopping sales tax holiday? Not in 2025, if one Florida House of Representatives member has his way. PHOTO/FLA. DEPT. OF REVENUE

Back to School shopping sales tax holiday? Not in 2025, if one Florida House of Representatives member has his way. PHOTO/FLA. DEPT. OF REVENUE

House of Representative plan scuttles sales tax ‘holidays’

Jim Turner
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
News Service of Florida — For the first time in 16 years, the state wouldn’t offer sales-tax “holidays” under a Legislative proposal that calls for an overall cut in sales taxes.The House Ways & Means Committee on Wednesday unanimously approved a $5.
The Florida House and Senate on Tuesday continued moving forward with a proposal that would provide an exemption to the state’s voter-approved minimum wage for certain workers in on-the-job training.

The Florida House and Senate on Tuesday continued moving forward with a proposal that would provide an exemption to the state’s voter-approved minimum wage for certain workers in on-the-job training.

Minimum wage exemption bill moving forward through Legislature

Jim Turner
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
The Florida House and Senate on Tuesday continued moving forward with a proposal that would provide an exemption to the state’s voter-approved minimum wage for certain workers in on-the-job training.
Sen. Jennifer Bradley, R-Fleming Island, wants to prevent insurers from using artificial intelligence as the sole basis for denying insurance claims. PHOTO/Colin Hackley, NSF

Sen. Jennifer Bradley, R-Fleming Island, wants to prevent insurers from using artificial intelligence as the sole basis for denying insurance claims. PHOTO/Colin Hackley, NSF

AI eyed in Insurance claim denials

Jim Saunders
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA — A Florida Senate committee Tuesday approved a bill that would prevent insurers from using artificial intelligence as the sole basis for denying claims, with the proposal saying decisions should be made by a “qualified human professional.
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