Florida's Latest News

DeSantis appoints Pinellas native judge to Florida Supreme Court

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday appointed Adam Tanenbaum, a judge for the 1st District Court of Appeal, to the Florida Supreme Court.

DeSantis announced the appointment at Tanenbaum’s alma mater: Seminole High School in Pinellas County, where he graduated first in his class in 1989 — the same year as the kids in “Stranger Things,” Tannenbaum joked to students.

Tanenbaum’s placement means the state’s high court will be overwhelmingly represented by DeSantis appointees. Already, five of the seven justices have been seated by DeSantis since he took office in 2019.

Tanenbaum will replace Justice Charles Canady, who stepped down to lead the University of Florida’s Hamilton School for Classical and Civic Education.

Only Justice Jorge Labarga, who will hit the court’s mandatory retirement age in October 2027, was appointed by another governor, Charlie Crist.

Daniel Perez draws line on property taxes, presses Gov. DeSantis for details

House Speaker Daniel Perez used remarks before business leaders to lay down clear markers at the start of the 2026 Legislative Session.

Speaking at the Florida Chamber’s 2026 Legislative Fly-In, the Miami Republican said his chamber will approach spending conservatively, protect core state responsibilities and resist sweeping property tax changes unless the math behind them adds up.

“I don’t know what bills will pass. I don’t know what the Senate’s going to take. I don’t know what the Governor is going to veto,” Perez said. “But what we do control is the budget.”

Perez said the House intends to cut the budget again this year, arguing that years of revenue growth have masked long-term structural concerns. While Florida continues to carry large reserves, he warned that prior Legislatures have also spent aggressively during good years, leaving the state vulnerable if conditions change.

“The future of the state of Florida, although I think it’s prosperous, I don’t think it’s as rainbow and butterfly-ish as people think. We have been so accustomed to seeing our revenues surpass all projections … and what did we do with that extra money? Well, everyone before me has spent it,” Perez said.

Want your Florida HOA to go away? What to know about bill HB 657

Does your HOA really get on your nerves? Under a House bill under consideration by Florida lawmakers, if enough of your neighbors agree you could just vote to make it go away.

HB 657, filed in December by state Rep. Juan Porras, R-Miami, would create the "Homeowners' Association Dissolution and Accountability Act" to allow homeowners whose needs were no longer being served by their HOAs to dissolve them if at least 20% of their fellow voting members sign a petition to do so and at least two-thirds of the HOA voters approve it.

This could be a huge deal for Florida, which has the second-highest number of HOAs in the country behind California. There were more than 50,000 in the Sunshine State as of 2024, according to the Foundation for Community Association Research.

Porras has previously called HOAs in Florida a "failed experiment" and called for abolishing them completely. He also pointed out, in a recent interview with USA TODAY NETWORK - Florida, that that rising HOA fees and assessments are "a key part of the affordability crisis in Florida.

"We have frustrated homeowners from North Florida to the Keys," he said. "Our state agencies, especially DBPR (the Department of Business and Professional Regulation) have not done a good job of resolving condominium and homeowner disputes."

Legislative Session preview: Tom Fabricio highlights bills on tax relief, vehicle registration, teacher oath

Miami Lakes Republican Rep. Tom Fabricio is bringing a package of policy proposals both new and familiar into the 2026 Legislative Session.

Some cover widely publicized issues, such as property taxes and affordability. Others center on more under-the-radar concerns, from red tape in day-to-day government transactions to a renewed push for what he calls constitutional clarity in Florida’s classrooms.”

“This Legislative Session will, yet again, be an opportunity to do the work of the people,” Fabricio said in a statement.

On affordability, Fabricio is carrying legislation (SB 1184, HB 6027) with Doral Republican Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez to tighten rules around homestead portability, the system that lets many homeowners carry forward accumulated property tax savings when they move from one primary residence to another.

Fabricio described the measure as an attempt to match state law to the promise 64% of voters thought they were approving when they OK’d the provision in 2008. He called it a “technical fix.”