Florida's Latest News

Vern Buchanan Spearheads Demand for HHS Kidney Research

Representative Vern Buchanan (R-FL) is spearheading a bipartisan letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Director Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., urging increased federal efforts to research and treat chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Rep. Buchanan is calling for the establishment of an Officer of Kidney Health and Transplantation within HHS, who will serve as a centralized leader to coordinate federal research on CKD, kidney care, and education, including with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

According to Rep. Buchanan's letter, 37 million Americans suffer from CKD, which is linked to diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and obesity, yet even as it costs the federal government $150 billion per year, he argues that we have "treatment modalities remaining largely unchanged since Medicare began paying for dialysis treatment services for individuals with ESRD in 1973."

In other words, chronic kidney disease is a bigger problem than the United States realizes, and encouraging innovation in the field is essentially nonexistent.

No budget expected prior to special session

A plan for mid-April budget negotiations is still up in the air after legislators failed to agree on a budget during the regular session.

Senate President Ben Albritton said in a memo to senators Wednesday that there will be no agreement on the budget ahead of a special session scheduled to address congressional redistricting.

“Over the past few weeks, Chair Hooper and I have had productive discussions with our partners in the House on joint budget allocations,” Albritton wrote. “While I believe we are making great progress, it will not be necessary for you to return to Tallahassee prior to the special session called by Governor DeSantis. We will share a schedule for that special session as soon as possible. I’m grateful for everyone’s patience, understanding, and support as we work with our House partners to finalize joint allocations and develop our schedule for the budget conference. I look forward to seeing you soon.”

When the regular session wrapped up in March, there was still a $1.4 billion difference in the House and Senate budgets, according to an analysis by the Florida Chamber of Commerce.

New Florida law will change what appears on driver’s licenses in 2027

Driver’s licenses and ID cards that meet REAL ID requirements in Florida will indicate the legal status of their holders beginning in 2027 under a new state law.

House Bill 991 was signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis as part of the Florida SAVE Act legislative package, which focuses on election “security.”

Under the law, new, renewed and replacement driver’s licenses issued on or after Jan. 1, 2027, will indicate whether the holder is a U.S. citizen or has another legal immigration status.

Miami-Dade County Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez issued a statement on HB 991, describing it as “a comprehensive measure that strengthens verification processes, enhances data coordination and modernizes how identification and eligibility are handled across Florida.”

Chris Collins puts more than $900K toward CD 19 campaign

Former U.S. Rep. Chris Collins put a $900,000 loan toward his effort to return to Congress, this time representing Florida.

The New Yorker-turned-Marco Island resident, one of several Republicans looking to succeed U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, teased a run for much of 2025 but only formally filed his candidacy in Florida’s 19th Congressional District in January. His current federal committee, Collins for Congress, organized in June with wife Mary Sue Collins as Treasurer.

Now, he has reported $905,000 in fundraising for the race, all of it out of pocket. In addition to the $900,000 loan to the campaign from Chris Collins, he also donated $5,000 cash.

That’s less than the $1 million that GOP Primary opponent Jim Schwartzel, Sun Broadcasting President, put into his own campaign last year. It’s also under a third of the $3.1 million personal investment by Republican candidate Jim Oberweis, a former Illinois state Senator and dairy business owner.