Florida's Latest News

Ron DeSantis says he’d debate Iowa opponents if he was in Donald Trump’s position

Ron DeSantis claims he would debate other candidates in Iowa even if he had a massive lead like Donald Trump does in polls. During an interview Tuesday on Fox News, the 2024 presidential candidate questioned why the former President won’t appear on the stage with his opponents.

“Yes, I would debate because that’s what you do.  This is about the people. It’s not about you. And look, he’s got a situation where he gets up a lot of air cover from cable networks, including this one,” DeSantis said on “The Ingraham Angle.”

“I get that. And so from a strategic perspective. But the question is, is that the right thing to do? No, the right thing to do is to stand and talk about your record. Why shouldn’t he have to answer questions?”

The Governor acknowledged that “if you go by polling, it hasn’t hurt” Trump not to debate, but he added that voters “do expect you to answer those questions." Indeed, polling is lopsided.

$1.8 billion judgment could impact Florida real estate market

A recent antitrust court case in Missouri, along with similar lawsuits, may bring about changes to the standard 6% commission paid to real estate brokers, along with who is responsible for paying that fee. Callen Jones of Jones Home Team Inclusive Real Estate is a Florida real estate agent who says they are already seeing the impact of that verdict locally.

Throughout their career, Jones has printed out thousands of pages of documents. "So this is the listing agreement,” Jones said. The Florida real estate contract lays out the terms and conditions between a buyer and seller for the transfer of property. “So it talks about the address and types of loans they will accept,” they said.

The contract specifies details about the commission. Real estate agents usually charge 5-6% of the sale price, and the seller pays the entire commission. “Part of that percentage is going to the agent who would be bringing the buyer,” Jones said. Jones says the landmark lawsuit could lead to changes in who pays commission rates and how much.

The verdict was in favor of more than 500,000 home sellers who disagreed or were unaware that part of the commission they paid was going to the buyer’s broker.

DeSantis' 2024 budget includes tax relief on homeowner's insurance premiums, tax holidays, more

The second back-to-school sales tax holiday in Florida is going on now through Jan.14, the first time the state has authorized two such school supplies in one school year.

If Gov. Ron DeSantis gets his wish, it'll happen again in the 2024-2025 school year, along with several other big tax breaks for Floridians he has included in the proposed state budget he'll present to the Florida Legislature when the new session begins Jan. 9. This time, he's going after surging insurance premiums.

In previous years DeSantis has proposed and gotten a month-long tax cut on state and county gas taxes, year-long tax breaks on items such as diapers, children's clothes, pet food, household items under $25 and even Daytona 500 tickets; permanent sales tax exclusions for baby necessities; and tax holidays on back-to-school items, disaster preparedness, children's books, recreation equipment, tools and home improvement items.

Several of those 2023 tax exemptions such as gas stoves, home hardening, and Energy Star-rated appliances remain in effect until June 30, 2024.

Ileana Garcia, Rita Harris want to reform Florida’s guardianship system

A bipartisan push is underway to reform Florida’s guardianship system after local and national investigations revealed that incapacitated seniors have been having their homes sold out from under them by agencies responsible for their care.

Miami Republican Sen. Ileana Garcia and Orlando Democratic Rep. Rita Harris have filed substantively identical bills (SB 48, HB 887) aimed at improving the state guardianship process.

The bill is to be named “Doris’ Law” after Polk County senior Doris Beaty, who was allegedly blocked through the guardianship program from accessing and officiating the estate of her late husband, Pete Beaty, after he began showing early signs of dementia. Her son, Jacksonville-based legal consultant Rey Contreas, is working with lawmakers to pass the legislation.

Among other things, the legislation would secure family visitation rights unless there is “clear and convincing evidence” visitation or other contact is not in the guarded person’s best interest. Under current law, the appointed guardian is responsible for making that determination.