Florida's Latest News

Cory Mills Cosponsors Bill Improving Veterans' Thrift Savings Plans

Representative Cory Mills (R-FL) is cosponsoring Representative Jen Kiggans' (R-VA) bill improving disabled veterans' Thrift Savings Plans (TSPs).

A Thrift Savings Plan is effectively a retirement fund for veterans. However, once members leave the service and/or are rated as 100% disabled, they are not allowed to continue contributing funds to the system, even if it is their only retirement savings tool.

The Financial Opportunities for Retirees and Warriors Advancing Retirement Development (FORWARD) Act, then, is simple yet impactful: veterans can continue contributing to their TSPs after leaving the service or after being qualified as 100% disabled.

Additional provisions include allowing military retirement pay or VA disability compensation to be rolled into TSPs and requiring the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board to implement regulations within 180 days, in coordination with the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs.

"This is a common-sense, bipartisan fix that honors our veterans' continued service by giving them the tools to build a strong financial future," said Rep. Mills in a statement. "Our 100% disabled veterans and military retirees have earned the right to keep contributing to the retirement system they trusted while in uniform. The FORWARD Act is a small but meaningful way to help them continue planning for the future they deserve."

Florida gambling bill targets illegal fixed bets, clarifies daily fantasy rules

A House panel in Florida has advanced a sweeping gambling package that tightens penalties around match-fixing, defines daily fantasy sports and strengthens enforcement against illegal machines, positioning the state for a sports betting integrity and gaming rules discussion when the new session gavels in this January.

The House Industries and Professional Activities Subcommittee approved PCS for HB 189 Tuesday afternoon. HB 189 is a nearly 100-page gambling bill that would overhaul Florida’s gambling laws, including provisions related to match-fixing.

The proposal creates new felony offences tied to sports betting integrity, including betting with knowledge of a fixed result and bribery-related conduct. That includes felonies for anyone who conspires or promises a bribe to influence a game, anyone who accepts a bribe as part of a match-fixing scheme and anyone making a bet with knowledge of the bribe. Those newly proposed felonies come after the arrest of Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier last month as part of an FBI sports betting probe.

The subcommittee’s approval comes two months ahead of the start of Florida’s legislative session in January. The measure was referred to the Commerce Committee and the Criminal Justice Subcommittee.

Hillsborough lawmakers advance Superintendent, County Commission proposals, sending them to Tallahassee

Hillsborough County lawmakers voted to advance several major local bills, including a proposal to make the Superintendent an elected and partisan office and another to expand the County Commission to nine single-member districts.

The delegation also approved a third measure creating a new Land Reserve Stewardship District. Both the Superintendent question and the County Commission expansion would be placed on the 2026 ballot.

Delegation members tabled a proposal involving ad valorem taxes for the Tampa Port Authority.

The approved measures now head to the Legislature for consideration during the 2026 Session. If lawmakers sign off on the Superintendent and County Commission charter reform proposals, Hillsborough voters will decide whether to adopt the changes in 2026.

Only two votes saw dissent, both from House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell, who opposed the Superintendent and charter reform bills. Sen. Darryl Rouson and Reps. Linda Chaney, Dianne Hart and Michele Rayner were absent from the meeting.

The Superintendent bill, sponsored by Rep. Michael Owen, would move the job from a School Board appointment to a partisan elected office if the Legislature and voters approve it. 

Firefighters fall in behind ‘remarkable advocate’ Blaise Ingoglia in CFO race

Chief Financial Officer and Fire Marshal Blaise Ingoglia is getting a boost from a first responder union.

The Florida Professional Firefighters are backing the Spring Hill Republican just days after Rep. Kevin Steele announced a Primary challenge to the incumbent.

“Florida’s firefighters have found a remarkable advocate in the CFO’s office,” said FPF President Wayne “Bernie” Bernoska.

“Blaise Ingoglia has demonstrated time and again his commitment to the issues that matter most to the men and women serving our communities. From training, equipment, and safety protocols to safeguarding firefighter retirement and cancer benefits, firefighters know Blaise has our back. The Florida Professional Firefighters proudly endorse his candidacy for state CFO!”

The FPF was formed in 1944 and has statewide reach. More than 30,000 firefighters and emergency medical services personnel are members, and their endorsement suggests public safety has a comfort level with Ingoglia.

The Spring Hill Republican served in the House and Senate before Gov. Ron DeSantis picked him to fill a vacancy left by Jimmy Patronis when Patronis was elected to Congress this Spring.