Statewide News

The Republican-controlled Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis approved a suite of measures Thursday aimed at strengthening enforcement of illegal immigration.

The Republican-controlled Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis approved a suite of measures Thursday aimed at strengthening enforcement of illegal immigration.

State lawmakers pass illegal immigration crackdown

Dara Kam
Friday, February 14, 2025
News Service of Florida: President Donald Trump emerged as the biggest winner Thursday as the Republican-controlled Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis approved a suite of measures aimed at strengthening enforcement of illegal immigration.
Senate President Ben Albritton (shown in photo) and House Speaker Daniel Perez on Monday called a special legislative session to address illegal immigration. NSF PHOTO/COLIN HACKLEY

Senate President Ben Albritton (shown in photo) and House Speaker Daniel Perez on Monday called a special legislative session to address illegal immigration. NSF PHOTO/COLIN HACKLEY

New special session called on immigration

Jim Saunders
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
News Service of Florida — After a special session late last month spiraled into a clash between Republican legislative leaders and Gov. Ron DeSantis, Florida lawmakers will meet in another special session Tuesday to pass a package of bills targeting illegal immigration — with DeSantis’ support.
The announcement about the House’s veto review came as a standoff over immigration plans continues to linger.

The announcement about the House’s veto review came as a standoff over immigration plans continues to linger.

State budget vetoes eyed amid broader fiscal, immigration disputes

Dara Kam
Sunday, February 9, 2025
News Service of Florida: Special Florida House panels are teed up next week to scrutinize Gov. Ron DeSantis’ line-item budget vetoes, setting up possible overrides amid a dispute between the governor and Republican legislative leaders over immigration-enforcement plans.
The proposal is an initial step as lawmakers prepare to negotiate a final budget during the regular legislative session, which will start March 4.

The proposal is an initial step as lawmakers prepare to negotiate a final budget during the regular legislative session, which will start March 4.

DeSantis proposes $115.6B state budget

Jim Turner
Tuesday, February 4, 2025
Gov. Ron DeSantis has proposed a $115.6 billion budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year that calls for increasing pay for state law-enforcement officers and firefighters, eliminating a commercial-lease tax and holding a new sales-tax “holiday” on guns and ammunition.
Osceola News-Gazette

Osceola News-Gazette

DEO — Florida jobless rate stays at 3.4%

Jim Turner
Friday, January 31, 2025
Despite retirees continuing to reduce the size of the labor force and a slight bump in the number of Floridians out of work, the state’s unemployment rate held steady in December.The Florida Department of Commerce on Friday released a report that said the unemployment rate was 3.
Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, was a sponsor of immigration legislation that passed Tuesday. PHOTO/COLIN HACKLEY

Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, was a sponsor of immigration legislation that passed Tuesday. PHOTO/COLIN HACKLEY

Despite DeSantis' objections, Immigration bill passes

Jim Saunders
Tuesday, January 28, 2025
NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: Saying they are trying to help President Donald Trump crack down on illegal immigration, Florida’s Republican-controlled Legislature late Tuesday passed a plan that includes boosting criminal penalties for undocumented immigrants, ending in-state tuition rates for...
House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, said Monday the House will "not be moved by threats." PHOTO/COLIN HACKLEY

House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, said Monday the House will "not be moved by threats." PHOTO/COLIN HACKLEY

Lawmakers rebuke DeSantis, will address immigration in special session

News Staff
Tuesday, January 28, 2025
By Jim Saunders, Dara Kam and Jim Turner News Service of Florida  Florida’s Republican-controlled Legislature will revamp immigration laws this week but issued a sharp rebuke Monday to Gov. Ron DeSantis that included overriding a budget veto from last year.
Gov. Ron DeSantis called a special session but got blowback from legislative leaders. PHOTO/JIM TURNER, NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

Gov. Ron DeSantis called a special session but got blowback from legislative leaders. PHOTO/JIM TURNER, NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

Intrigue surrounds Florida Legislature's special session

Bill Cotterell
Monday, January 27, 2025
News Service of Florida — There are often enticing little subplots and sidebar stories when the Florida Legislature meets, and the special session Gov. Ron DeSantis has called beginning Monday has two intriguing side bets that you won’t find on the printed calendars of the House or Senate.
In an order he issued about this week’s winter storm, Gov. Ron DeSantis Monday referred to an “area of low pressure moving across the Gulf of America,” falling in line with President Donald Trump's executive order changing the body of water's name.

In an order he issued about this week’s winter storm, Gov. Ron DeSantis Monday referred to an “area of low pressure moving across the Gulf of America,” falling in line with President Donald Trump's executive order changing the body of water's name.

'Gulf of Mexico' flows through state laws

Jim Saunders
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
News Service of Florida — After President Donald Trump on Monday issued an executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf America, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis jumped on the idea.
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday announced his selection of Attorney General Ashley Moody to serve in the U.S. Senate. PHOTO/TOM URBAN, NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday announced his selection of Attorney General Ashley Moody to serve in the U.S. Senate. PHOTO/TOM URBAN, NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

DeSantis taps AG Ashley Moody for Rubio's Senate seat

Jim Turner
Thursday, January 16, 2025
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody was named Thursday by Gov. Ron DeSantis to replace U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, who is in line to become President-elect Donald Trump’s secretary of state.
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