Florida's Latest News

Corey Simon files Rural Renaissance bill to invest in Florida’s country

Sen. Corey Simon has filed the 2026 Rural Renaissance package that carries the support of Senate President Ben Albritton and seeks to add more resources to lift up rural areas by expanding health care, improving roads and more.

“As we prepare to embark on a nationwide celebration of America’s 250th Anniversary, there is no better time to celebrate and renew our focus on heritage farming communities across our state and nation,” Albritton said in a statement.

SB 250 would update the definitions of “fiscally constrained counties” to provide more support, create an Office of Rural Prosperity to offer help, and allocate block grants to grow populations, among other provisions that are part of the nearly $218 million Rural Renaissance package.

Simon, a Tallahassee Republican, said the bill is needed to help rural communities facing struggles and disappearing. 

“Quality of life in rural areas can be impacted by access to job opportunities, education and health care. Rural Renaissance combines enhancements to the traditional infrastructure for schools and hospitals with innovations that drastically expand opportunities for education, commerce, and health care in rural Florida,” Simon said.

Randy Maggard bill seeks full state control over water quality and wetlands regulation

A new bill would block Florida cities and counties from setting their own rules on water quality, wetlands and pollution control.

HB 479, filed by Republican Rep. Randy Maggard of Pasco County, would bar local governments from adopting any laws or policies dealing with water quality or quantity, pollution control, pollutant discharge prevention or removal, and wetlands. Those powers would be fully preempted to the state.

It would also require that the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) notify the Chief Financial Officer if a city or county violates state preemption, and would require the CFO to withhold state funds from local governments if they violate state preemption.

The bill includes limited exceptions, such as interlocal agreements between DEP and any agency, water management district, or local government conducting programs affecting the water resources of the state.

HB 479 would also create an exemption that allows regulations needed to operate a local water, wastewater or stormwater systems, and would repeal a separate statute on land management review teams. That statute requires water management districts to convene multiagency review teams that evaluate whether district-owned conservation and recreation lands were being managed according to their approved plans. 

Backroom Briefing: The Right Medicine for UF?

After the state’s university system’s Board of Governors in June rejected a nominee to become president of the University of Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis this week praised Interim UF President Donald Landry as “the real deal.”

“He is incredibly accomplished. Tremendous doctor. Tremendous scholar. And obviously he's hit the ground running here, and I think he's done a great job,” DeSantis said during an event to mark the conversion of the Old Infirmary at UF into the Hamilton School for Classical and Civic Education. “And as the University of Florida continues to reach new heights, you've got a great guy at the helm who's able to lead this effort.”

Landry, a physician and former chairman of the Columbia University Department of Medicine, was brought in for the interim role in September.

The UF Board of Trustees this spring picked former University of Michigan President Santa Ono to become president on a permanent basis. At the time, DeSantis said he would “let the process play out.”

“I will say this, there can be no ambiguity, I don't think anybody is unclear about what the expectations are in the state of Florida with respect to higher education. We reject woke indoctrination,” DeSantis said when asked in May about the Ono selection.

James Uthmeier rolls out retail theft task force

The state is launching a push to combat coordinated efforts to steal merchandise from stores around Florida.

Attorney General James Uthmeier says the Retail Theft Investigative Special Task Force will ensure Florida consumers are spared the problems that plague Blue States.

“Instead of having toothpaste locked behind plexiglass like CA & NY, we are taking decisive action to combat organized retail theft,” Uthmeier said.

”Shoppers suffer when retail thefts drive up prices. This partnership between law enforcement and the Florida Retail Federation will help keep prices down and put criminals behind bars.”

Uthmeier joined state and local officials to roll out the initiative at a Home Depot in Jacksonville Friday.

The goal of this effort is to eliminate jurisdictional barriers and allow collaboration to stop these schemes and collar the criminals.

“Anyone who chooses to commit a crime in Florida will be dealt with swiftly,” said Statewide Prosecutor Brad McVay. “The task force will strengthen our ability to get criminals off the street even faster by ensuring seamless coordination among law enforcement partners across the state.”