Florida's Latest News

Bill creating teacher mentorship program heads to Senate floor after its House companion falters

A bill to create a new teacher training and mentorship program for public and charter schools across Florida is now one vote from passing in the Legislature’s upper chamber.

The measure (SB 182), sponsored by Miami Gardens Democratic Sen. Shevrin Jones, cleared its final Committee hurdle this week — with unanimous support, the same as it got from two prior panels — and is now en route to the Senate floor.

But there’s a complication: Its House companion (HB 157) by Gainesville Democratic Rep. Yvonne Hinson faltered in its last Committee stop after clearing two prior hearings with only “yes” votes.

That narrows the path for the legislation to become law this year. More on that later.

SB 182, if passed, would create the “School Teacher Training and Mentorship Program” within the Florida Department of Education (FDOE). Under the program, School Districts, charter schools and charter management organizations could place experienced or retired classroom teachers in schools that received a “D” or “F” grade to serve as mentors for other teachers.

Florida lawmaker seeks to amend law penalizing drivers for license plate frames

Since last October, decorative license plate frames have become a problem for many Florida drivers, including Iñigo Aldecoa. 

“I had just bought this car a couple days ago. A couple days before, and it was my first time driving the car, and it was the license frame that the dealership had given me," he said.

Aldecoa was fined $176 under a new law that prohibits interfering “with the legibility…visibility, or detectability of any feature or detail on the license plate.” The new law elevated what used to be a civil infraction to a misdemeanor punishable by up to 60 days in jail.

But what exactly qualifies as a “feature or detail”? That’s the question. 

Demarquize Dawson was arrested by Davie Police while driving a rental car.

“He said I'm arresting you because the 'S' on your license plate is obscured,” Dawson told NBC6. 

Davie Police later dismissed the case and acknowledged that the law’s initial wording “was vague... and appeared to be open for misinterpretation.”

Are gambling machines legal in Florida? 525 seized from bars, other businesses

Gambling laws in Florida have undergone some changes in the last few years, but slot machines and other gambling machines are still illegal unless they're at tribal casinos and pari-mutuels.

Florida law enforcement, working with the state Gaming Control Commission and state prosecutors, seized 525 gambling machines and $190,000 in gambling proceeds in a two-day sting operation last week, state Attorney General James Uthmeier said in a release Friday, Feb. 27.

The crackdown, dubbed "Operation Reels of Fortune," was carried out at 39 locations in Volusia, Brevard, Duval, and Flagler counties, Uthmeier said.

“Unlawful gambling operations often play a role as the financial backing behind criminal networks,” Uthmeier said. “These illegal casinos fuel organized crime, prostitution, and other illicit activities. Florida will see a major statewide crackdown on illegal gaming in 2026. If you’re running an illegal operation, don’t roll the dice; shut it down now.”

Mike Haridopolos joins Tobacco Harm Reduction Caucus

U.S. Rep. Mike Haridopolos is the latest member of the Florida delegation to join the House Tobacco Harm Reduction Caucus, a bipartisan coalition aimed at adopting harm reduction methods and innovation as part of a comprehensive approach to tobacco control.

Haridopolos’ inclusion follows Republican U.S. Reps. Laurel Lee and Neal Dunn, who joined in October, and Byron Donalds and Aaron Bean, who joined in August.

U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, a Democrat, also previously joined the caucus.

Rather than solely pushing for a quit-only approach — the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that only about 10% of adult smokers successfully quit each year — the caucus pushes for policy that emphasizes harm reduction, such as vapor, nicotine pouches or heat-not-burn products.

Additionally, the caucus works to tackle underage use, promote smoking prevention, and identify methods to improve public understanding of less harmful products available.