Florida's Latest News

Resilient Florida: DeSantis awards more than $404 million for environmental projects across the state

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Tuesday his plans to award more than $404 million for 113 environmental projects across the state through the Resilient Florida Grant Program.

The projects aim to protect coastal and inland communities from flooding and storm surge in 25 counties, including some Central Florida and Tampa Bay area counties.

The grant program allocated funds for several projects in Brevard and Pinellas counties, as well as projects in Hillsborough, Lake, Manatee, Orange, Pasco, and Polk counties. Tap here for the full list of Resilient Florida projects.

“Today’s record investment, as well as the projects included in the statewide plan for future funding, will strengthen our infrastructure to withstand the impacts of flooding and storm surge,” said DeSantis. “For the first time ever, Florida has a strategic coordination of statewide efforts to protect our coastal and inland infrastructure, and the dedicated funding to support these projects. This announcement is just the beginning. My administration will continue to support our communities’ resilience efforts across the state.”

Pharmacy benefit manager bill clears last House committee, Senate panel hears similar bill Wednesday

Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) that don’t register with the state can face a $10,000 fine under a bill moving its way through the House.

The House Health & Human Services Committee Tuesday unanimously approved HB 357. The bill now is available for consideration by the full House. According to House documents, 96 lobbyists have registered to lobby on the bill.

Its Senate counterpart (SB 1476) by Sen. Tom Wright has not been heard by any Senate panel. While the House bill drew nearly 100 registered lobbyists, there are just 16 lobbyists registered on the Senate bill, documents show.

The House bill passed unanimously and was supported by a variety of lobbyists from hospitals to physicians to small independent pharmacists, all of which waived their testimony in support of the bill.

Could Florida’s proposed 15-week abortion ban hurt Republicans in 2022?

Voters don’t want to hear elected officials talk about abortion. So says Democratic pollster Molly Murphy. As the calendar inches closer to the 2022 elections, she said in an interview, the electorate has more pressing concerns, such as inflation, the coronavirus and local schools.

“Even just the idea that a politician is focusing on abortion legislation not only puts them on the wrong side of the issue, but it puts them on the wrong side of getting what voters are going through right now,” Murphy said.

Florida Republicans, however, are instigating a potential abortion showdown this legislative session. A bill that would ban most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy is sailing through the GOP-controlled Legislature. The bill has already cleared two House committees and it will be heard in its first Senate committee Wednesday. House Speaker Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, Senate President Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, and Gov. Ron DeSantis have all said they support the measure.

Organized retail theft bill earns unanimous approval at second committee stop

The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice approved a bill Tuesday that seeks to crack down on the uptick in “boosters” and organized crime rings stealing from retail stores.

The bill (SB 1534), carried by Bradenton Republican Sen. Jim Boyd, would increase penalties for those who steal multiple items from multiple stores in a short period of time. The legislation was cleared in a unanimous vote and is now headed to its final committee.

“I think we’ve all seen and heard and watched these kind of smash-and-grab trips that are going on across the country, and the impact that those have had on small business owners and others,” Boyd said when presenting the measure. “In Florida, we’re saying that’s not something we’re going to stand for.”

Individuals or groups would be subject to third-degree felonies for, within 30 days, committing five or more retail thefts and stealing 10 or more items from at least two different locations. Those who steal 20 or more items would see that bumped up to a second-degree felony.