Florida's Latest News

Ileana Garcia champions coastal protection with nature-powered bill

Sen. Ileana Garcia wants to establish a framework to protect Florida’s coastlines.

The Miami Republican filed legislation (SB 302) that would implement nature-based infrastructure strategies to better protect coastlines from the effects of flooding, erosion, and storm surge.

The bill further aims to promote ecological restoration and economic resilience in the wake of major storm events.

Nature-based strategies to protect coastal communities and restore natural habitats include promoting beach renourishment, reinforcing dunes, and restoring wetlands. This would also involve encouraging living seawalls, shoreline planting, and the use of economically sound building materials.

Several infrastructure types are defined within the legislation. Gray infrastructure is traditional engineered systems, like seawalls and storm drains. Green infrastructure is defined as natural systems, such as wetlands and mangroves, that manage water and reduce flooding. Hybrid systems are defined as the combination of gray and green elements to enhance resilience.

Robin Bartleman rolls out luggage bill to empower foster children

Rep. Robin Bartleman wants to ensure children entering out-of-home care in Florida are provided with appropriate luggage when traveling.

The Weston Democrat filed a bill (HB 279) that recognizes that children can suffer emotional harm when they are forced to carry their belongings in trash bags while entering foster care. The measure aims to mandate that children have access to reusable, durable luggage — such as backpacks and suitcases — to promote emotional well-being and dignity during transitions.

The Department of Children and Families (DCF) would be responsible for supplying luggage to children in its custody. The luggage must be suitable for storing and transporting the child’s belongings, and it would become the child’s property thereafter and cannot be reclaimed by caregivers or DCF.

Known as the “Fostering with Dignity Act,” the bill would amend and revise two Florida Statutes to update the requirement that children be given luggage upon being placed in care, and to include that the luggage is part of the child’s right to dignity.

DeSantis calls for crackdown on H-1B visa holders at Florida universities

Gov. Ron DeSantis is instructing Florida’s state university system to “pull the plug” on H-1B visas.

DeSantis, in a news conference Wednesday at the University of South Florida’s Tampa campus, called the temporary visas for specialty occupation workers disappointing “cheap labor.”

Many Florida universities employ H-1B visa holders in a variety of academic departments. DeSantis said state universities need to ensure Florida citizens are first in line for job opportunities.

It’s unclear whether DeSantis’ crackdown on H-1B visa holders would involve prohibiting some or all future applicants or firing current employees who have the visas. Federal law prohibits firing on the basis of immigration status, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The governor’s announcement came amid an evaluation by the state’s Department of Government Efficiency of Florida universities’ spending and policies.

Collier County dedicates part of Immokalee Road as 'Charlie Kirk Memorial Highway

The memorials to slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk keep coming from Collier leaders.

Collier County Commissioners are designating a stretch of Immokalee Road from Oil Well Road to U.S. 41 as the “Charlie Kirk Memorial Highway.”

The vote was 4 to 1 at the Oct. 28 meeting with Commission Chairman Burt Saunders casting the ‘no’ vote because it was a divisive issue and not something the county has to do.

The memorial designation, which is not a renaming of Immokalee Road that some in the public thought was the case, caused commissioners to receive hundreds of emails.

The original proposal was to install up to six signs at a cost of roughly $3,000 at key locations.

Trinity Scott, the county’s head of transportation, proposed four signs. The county will coordinate with the Florida Department of Transportation on the signs.

The Kirk memorial was proposed by Commissioner Chris Hall. It was originally placed on the board’s consent agenda reserved for routine matters but moved to the regular agenda for discussion by Commissioner Rick LoCastro.