Florida's Latest News

3 notable health-related laws go into effect in Florida on New Year’s Day

Three health care reforms passed by the Legislature and OK’d by Gov. Ron DeSantis are going into effect Jan. 1. Two focus on people. The third affects how people care for their furry friends.

Let’s look at what each will do.

SB 188: Coverage for Diagnostic and Supplemental Breast Examinations

The first measure (SB 188) eliminates additional copayments, deductibles and other cost-sharing requirements for state employees’ diagnostic and supplemental breast examinations. It’s the product of a yearslong effort by Boynton Beach Sen. Lori Berman, a breast cancer survivor, and Hollywood Rep. Marie Woodson to save more lives through early detection of the disease.

Florida already has free mammograms for state workers. But in cases where an abnormality is detected or the patient has a family history of breast cancer, mammograms are merely the first step. Doctors must then perform diagnostic and supplemental examinations, including MRIs and ultrasounds, to determine the need for a biopsy and additional measures.

Those can cost as much as $1,000, a price point that Berman said has deterred people from seeking treatment.

Rep. Sam Garrison, former Congressman Ted Yoho talk property tax relief, national debt

Florida’s legislative session begins, Clay County leaders Ted Yoho and Sam Garrison shared their perspectives on the proposed property tax repeal and other key issues facing the region.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has pushed to reduce or eliminate property taxes on homesteaded properties, a topic Garrison said will be a major focus this year.

Garrison said that essential services must be protected.

“We’ve made it very clear that public safety, police and fire, teachers, education...that there’s absolutely no reduction in essential services.”

Garrison also highlighted UF’s downtown graduate campus and UNF as major growth drivers, calling UNF “a growth stock” and saying, “it’s an amazing asset that we have as a region to recruit, train, and retain top talent.”

Yoho also joined us to speak about Florida’s property tax repeal push, agricultural labor, and the national debt.

On eliminating or drastically reducing property taxes, he said, “it sounds great on the surface, but then you have to look at the unintended consequences,” warning that when government runs short of money, “they’re gonna have to make it up somewhere.”

Five Florida bills that could change how you drive

You've probably heard of the push to end vehicle registration stickers on Florida license plates. The measure, sponsored by Rep. Tom Fabricio, R-Miami Lakes, even has the governor's seal of approval.

“Good job Tom — get it done!” Gov. Ron DeSantis wrote on X.

But there are other bills that could affect many other Floridians on the road in 2026 if these bills get passed and signed into law as a result of this year's legislative session.

Booster seat age limits, school crosswalk requirements and gun storage in vehicles could all be debated after Jan. 13, the first day the Florida Legislature meets.

To be sure, many more bills are filed than ever get passed by both chambers of the Legislature in an average session. Moreover, bills filed by Democrats tend to have an even lower chance of survival in a body dominated by GOP members.

Still, take a look at five bills that could potentially impact the way you drive – if 'the ayes have it':

Work is progressing on Florida's bike trails, including one that will span the state

The state plans to make more progress this year on building out Florida's planned network of regional trails.

Regional trails are long distance or loop trail systems that cross multiple jurisdictions, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. They're made up of shorter, local trail segments that link together to form a more expansive system.

The state is prioritizing 13 regional trails to finish, including the Florida Coast-to-Coast Trail, which will ultimately stretch from Pinellas County to Brevard once complete. Apart from a few gaps in Central Florida, the Coast-to-Coast Trail is nearly finished, according to Florida Greenways and Trails Council Chair Mike Stephens.

"People are already riding it," Stephens said. "They just go around the gap that's there. But (the Florida Department of Transportation) is filling in the gaps as soon as possible."

Statewide, FDEP plans show 13 construction projects planned for regional trails next year, including nine projects in Central Florida. Two of those Central Florida projects are on the Coast-to-Coast Trail.

Richard Garrett is president of the Florida Bicycle Association, a nonprofit that advocates for bicycling as a "safe, practical and respected" mode of transportation. Fully building out Florida's regional trails will be a big step toward meeting that goal, Garrett said