Statewide News

Last week Gov. Ron DeSantis held a roundtable on artificial intelligence at New College of Florida in Sarasota where he stressed that the state has a responsibility to channel technology to benefit people and enhance, rather than supplant, the human experience. (Photo/Joe Raedle/Getty Images via News Service of Florida)

Last week Gov. Ron DeSantis held a roundtable on artificial intelligence at New College of Florida in Sarasota where he stressed that the state has a responsibility to channel technology to benefit people and enhance, rather than supplant, the human experience. (Photo/Joe Raedle/Getty Images via News Service of Florida)

DeSantis, state House of Representatives differ on AI legislation

Jim Turner
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
News Service of Florida — Gov. Ron DeSantis ratcheted up his concerns last week about potential “serious harms” from the growth of artificial intelligence and the need for state regulations.Yet as the Legislature approaches the scheduled midpoint of the regular session, only the Senate has moved...
(Photo/Tom Urban, News Service of Florida)

(Photo/Tom Urban, News Service of Florida)

Senate passes housing bill

Jim Turner
Friday, February 6, 2026
News Service of Florida: A proposal to boost affordable housing through garage apartments and other accessory dwellings on single family home lots passed the Florida Senate on Wednesday.However, the action once again awaits action by the House.The Senate quickly and unanimously voted in support of...
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.With litigation...
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.The GOP-controlled House Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee on Wednesday voted 11-6 along...
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.The Republican-dominated House Ways & Means Committee voted mostly along party lines to approve a proposed...
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.The Republican-controlled House,...
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.
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.The Republican-controlled House State Affairs Committee voted along party...
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.”
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