Florida's Latest News

DeSantis takes on new role: Pushing for congressional term limits

Gov. Ron DeSantis is term-limited by Florida state law — his time running the Sunshine State is slated to come to a close in January of 2027 — but he’s already taking on a new role as a co-chair of a campaign that seeks to enact term limits in Congress.

As part of his work to make that goal a reality, DeSantis has teamed up with former Democratic Rep. David Trone of Maryland to co-chair a campaign with the organization U.S. Term Limits.

“Our Founders wouldn’t recognize the 119th Congress if they saw it today," DeSantis and his Democratic counterpart, former Rep. David Trone said in a statement. "Congress is now less a representative body and more like an elite country club of career politicians who are consumed by an obsession to remain in power – a far cry from its original purpose.” 

Florida Gulf Coast University professor Sandra Pavelka said that if DeSantis decides to run for president again in 2028, it gives him a platform and an issue to campaign on.

"Certainly, he has the experience from being a congressman and a governor, and this is going to add to his resume," she said. 

Senate panel narrowly advances controversial bill allowing wrongful death lawsuits for fetuses

A bill allowing wrongful death lawsuits to be filed when an unborn child dies narrowly advanced through a first Senate committee vote.

The Senate Judiciary Committee OK’d SB 164 via a 5-4 vote that drew a spirited debate and divided Republicans, the majority party in Tallahassee.

Sen. Tom Leek and Sen. Kathleen Passidomo, both Republicans, joined Democratic Sens. Lori Berman and Tina Scott Polsky in opposing the bill to codify civil liability for the death of a fetus “at any stage of development,” including the point of conception.

Leek and Passidomo did not expand on their views before voting.

Sen. Rosalind Osgood, a Democrat, and Sen. Nick DiCeglie, a Republican, did not attend Tuesday’s committee hearing. It’s unclear whether their attendance would have affected the outcome.

Sen. Erin Grall filed a similar bill that died in the committee process last Session, although a companion bill cleared the House.

Florida to reopen bay nationally known for its oysters

North Florida's Apalachicola Bay will reopen for wild oyster harvesting, a move that supporters hope will breathe life into one of the last historic working waterfronts in a state where much of the picturesque coastline has long given way to high-rise condos and strip mall souvenir shops.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved the plan Wednesday to reopen the bay for a limited oyster season on Jan. 1, 2026, five years after the waters that had been nationally known for the sweet, plump shellfish were closed because of dwindling populations.

The closure of the bay along what is known as Florida's "Forgotten Coast" dealt a blow to an area that historically produced 90% of the state's oysters and 10% of the nation's supply.

Apalachicola oysters were iconic, comparable to Maine lobster and Maryland blue crabs, and their loss marked another sign that a way of life for generations of commercial fishermen is disappearing along with their harvest.

The once-booming oyster industry is part of the lifeblood of the town of Apalachicola, which in the 1800s became the third-largest port on the Gulf of Mexico, trailing only New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama.

Florida judge tosses latest challenge to online sports betting

A Leon County circuit judge has rejected a lawsuit alleging that a state deal allowing the Seminole Tribe of Florida to offer online sports betting violated a 2018 constitutional amendment aimed at limiting casino gambling.

Judge Jonathan Sjostrom, in a decision issued Friday, said the plaintiff in the case, Protect the Constitution LLC, did not show it had legal standing to pursue the challenge. While he dismissed the lawsuit, Sjostrom gave Protect the Constitution until Nov. 21 to file a possible revised version.

The lawsuit identified Protect the Constitution as a Delaware company and said each of its members “offers products in the state of Florida and has suffered harm, including reduced revenue, as a result of the legislation purporting to authorize ‘casino gambling’ throughout the state.” The lawsuit did not name Protect the Constitution’s members.

In granting a motion by the state to dismiss the case, Sjostrom wrote that because the lawsuit “fails to provide meaningful information regarding the identity, activities, location, business and business methods of its constituent members, it fails to allege facts to demonstrate standing.”