Florida's Latest News

Ben Albritton names South Floridians to leadership posts in most Senate committees

Only 11 of Florida’s 40 Senators serve from Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. But they’ll hold a disproportionate share of the chamber’s committee leadership posts in the coming Session.

Senate President Ben Albritton just released his list of committee Chairs and Vice Chairs for the 2025 Legislative Session. More than half of the chamber’s 26 panels — 14 committees — will have a South Floridian in a pivotal role.

Most will be Vice Chairs, since South Florida is still mostly represented in the Senate by Democrats. But all four Republican members from the area — Sen. Bryan Ávila of Hialeah Gardens, Sens. Alexis Calatayud and Ileana Garcia of Miami, and Ana Maria Rodriguez of Doral — received Chair designations.

Ávila, who won his Senate District 39 seat in 2022 after eight years in the House, including a final stint as Speaker Pro Tempore, will lead the Finance and Tax Committee with Sarasota Republican Sen. Joe Gruters as Vice Chair.

Garcia, who has served in Senate District 37 since 2020, will helm the Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice. Fort Myers Republican Sen. Jonathan Martin will be her second-in-command.

He said Florida’s insurance market is ‘on the brink’ of collapse. Then came the subpoena

Florida regulators issued subpoenas to a Palm Beach Gardens-based ratings agency last month to force it to justify its “dire predictions” for the state’s insurance market.

Weiss Ratings founder Martin Weiss wrote in October that homeowners insurers are “on the brink of a collapse” and that homeowners are at a “high risk” of not being paid for their claims related to hurricanes Helene and Milton.

The Office of Insurance Regulation demanded that Weiss and his company turn over any emails, text messages and other records that back up those statements by Nov. 30.

“We take our responsibility to protect consumers very seriously, and we will not ignore any potential warning signs,” the cover letter from Deputy Commissioner Sheryl Parker states.

Weiss said he hasn’t decided whether to comply. His statements, which were posted on his company’s website, were protected by the First Amendment, he said. 

Vern Buchanan introduces tax relief bill for Hurricane Helene, Milton victims

U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan will seek tax relief for victims of Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

The Longboat Key Republican filed legislation seeking specific relief for those communities hit this year by back-to-back storms.

“Our constituents deserve the full support of the federal government as they work to recover and rebuild from these two devastating hurricanes which hit within two weeks of one another,” Buchanan said.

“Many of my constituents incurred thousands of dollars in disaster-related expenses, with some losing everything, and the burdensome tax code should be the last thing standing in their way of receiving the support they need.”

Buchanan serves as Vice Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, which deals with tax policy. Other members of that committee signed on quickly as co-sponsors, including U.S. Rep. Greg Steube, a Sarasota Republican.

Florida social media minor restriction won't be immediately enforced against top platforms

A Florida law restricting minors' access to social media will take effect on Jan. 1 – but it won’t be immediately enforced against major social media platforms.

Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office is holding off going after any of those running afoul of that law until the first stage of a court battle is complete.

“In order to obtain a full record and obtain discovery, Florida agreed to stay enforcement of its statute until the court rules on the motion for preliminary injunction,” Chase Sizemore, press secretary for the office, said in a statement.

If it’s not blocked by Tallahassee-based Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker, the statute (HB 3) would bar minors under 16 from social media platforms, unless they're 14- or 15-year-olds who get a parent's permission.

Trade associations representing social media platforms — NetChoice and the Computer & Communications Industry Association — filed a federal First Amendment lawsuit against the impending law last month.