Florida's Latest News

Budget squabbles continue, but progress may be on the way as chambers talk business rent tax cut

'We think the cleanest way to do it is via a sales tax cut, but what we’re after is reducing the recurring spending.'

Progress seems to be emerging on budget negotiations after weeks of uncertainty, though lawmakers won’t convene for budget conferences until at least next week.

A deal on tax relief, while getting closer, also still remains unfinished.

Republican Sen. Ed Hooper, the upper chamber’s budget chief, told Florida Politics Monday morning that the Senate had received an offer from the House on Friday, and that he expected to send another back to them sometime Monday.

The House offer, Hooper said, notably did not include a recurring sales tax reduction, as has been a sticking point in the House. The House budget originally contemplated cutting the sales tax by three-quarters of a percentage point, a number later revised down to a quarter of a percentage point.

Hooper didn’t elaborate on tax relief in the House offer, but said “business rent was a big part.” Reducing or eliminating the business rent tax has been a priority of House Speaker Daniel Perez, and Hooper had previously hinted that negotiations were beginning to move in that direction.

Governor signs measure enhancing regulations on drone use

'These changes enhance the state's ability to prevent dangerous and illicit activities involving unmanned aircraft systems.'

Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed legislation that increases regulations around the use of drones and safety risks they pose to critical infrastructure.

Lakeland Republican Rep. Jennifer Canady sponsored the measure (HB 1121).

During the bill’s passage through committee, Canady explained to the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee that the measure aims to address public safety concerns and national security threats posed by the misuse of drones.

“These changes enhance the state’s ability to prevent dangerous and illicit activities involving unmanned aircraft systems, such as the delivery of contraband to correctional facilities, surveillance of critical infrastructure, and even the potential use of chemical warfare,” Canady said.

The law updates the definition of “critical infrastructure facility” to include additional sites such as airports, military installations, dams, wireless communication facilities and correctional facilities.

How budget cuts could harm Florida’s fishing economy, threaten red tide research

Sweeping cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration could imperil Florida’s multibillion-dollar fishing industry and coastal economy, industry leaders and scientists warn — a dire prospect for a region built on tourism, seafood and the health of its waters.

Beyond running the national weather monitoring and alert systems — its most visible role — NOAA also works to prevent overfishing, monitor the coastal environment and support local ocean research.

For Florida’s Gulf Coast, that means researching red tide, addressing habitat loss and restoring overfished species. Since 2020 alone, NOAA has supported these efforts with more than $35 million in grants and contracts for Suncoast governments and nonprofits, including Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium in Sarasota.

But after U.S. President Donald Trump took office in January, more than 2,000 employees have left NOAA as Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency makes its way through the agency, sources with knowledge of the matter told Suncoast Searchlight.

‘Boater capital of the world’: Jay Trumbull’s Boater Freedom Act signed by Governor

The measure prohibits law enforcement from boarding boats without probable cause.

The “Free State of Florida” is looking to extend that reputation to its seas, as Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the Boater Freedom Act during a press conference in Panama City.

“This Boater Freedom Act is going to make sure that Florida remains the boater capital of the world,” DeSantis said at the press conference. “This is really significant legislation today. I know there’s a lot of people throughout Florida that are going to be happy that this legislation finally got across the finish line.”

SB 1388 prohibits an officer from performing a vessel stop or boarding a boat without probable cause. Sen. Jay Trumbull, whose district includes a long stretch of Florida’s Gulf coast, sponsored the bill.

“We’ve worked to make Florida the freest state in the nation, and that freedom should extend to our waters,” the Panama City Republican said upon filing the bill earlier this year. Rep. Griff Griffitts sponsored the House companion.