Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie gives an explanation after Hurricane Ian in 2022. PHOTO/JIM TURNER, NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

A well-connected group of Florida business leaders thinks its members can help fill a void that opened last year when lawmakers broke up the business-recruitment agency Enterprise Florida.

The bill to regulate vacation home rentals at the state level was a point of contention among the legislative delegation from Osceola County, called the "Vacation Home Capital of the World." PHOTO/GLOBAL RESORT HOMES

The tax “holiday” will allow shoppers to avoid paying sales taxes on a wide range of recreational items and activities throughout July.

At Tuesday’s Osceola Legislative Delegation Update presented by the Osceola Chamber, from left, Walt Disney World Senior Government Advisory Manager Leticia Adams, Osceola County legislators Sen. Victor Torres and state Rep. Kristen Arrington, Paula Stark and Tom Keen engaged in conversation about the 2024 session. PHOTO/KEN JACKSON

Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed about $950 million in funding projects — including a few local ones — in signing the $116.5 billion budget. NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA FILE PHOTO

In the past, municipal officials were required to file what is known as a “Form 1,” which provided less-detailed financial information. The law required them to file a more-detailed “Form 6,” the type of disclosure filed by state elected officials.

The Florida Supreme Court Thursday upheld Gov. Ron DeSantis’ decision to suspend 9th Circuit State Attorney Monique Worrell. FILE PHOTO

Step Up for Students, an organization that administers vouchers for the state, will continue to accept applications through the beginning of the school year.

Lawmakers have touted the proposed 2024-2025 budget as being a reduction from the $119.1 billion budget plan for the current year, which ends June 30, but that doesn’t take into account money included in separate bills.