Florida's Latest News

Jason Weida tapped as Ron DeSantis’s next Chief of Staff

'Florida Politics suggested Weida was the top pick Saturday in Takeaways from Tallahassee.

In a significant shake-up in Gov. Ron DeSantis’ inner circle, Jason Weida, the current head of Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), will be named as the Governor’s new Chief of Staff, sources revealed to POLITICO’s Gary Fineout.

The move comes as James Uthmeier, a longtime DeSantis confidant, prepares to become Florida’s Attorney General.

Florida Politics suggested Weida was the top pick Saturday in Takeaways from Tallahassee.

Weida, an attorney who worked as an assistant federal prosecutor, has been at the helm of AHCA since 2022. His agency oversees Florida’s massive $35 billion Medicaid program, giving him a deep understanding of the state’s health care landscape. During President Donald Trump’s first term, he was also floated for a high-ranking federal appointment.

On Tuesday, the Governor’s office began informing top aides about the impending change. His anticipated appointment as Attorney General drives Uthmeier’s departure. This position opened after DeSantis appointed Ashley Moody to the U.S. Senate following Marco Rubio’s move to Secretary of State

Bipartisan lawmakers file condo resilience program to strengthen hurricane protections 

A House bill filed on Tuesday seeks to strengthen hurricane resilience for condominium buildings across the state through a pilot program offering state-backed mitigation grants.

House Bill 393, filed by Rep. Vicki Lopez and Rep. Christine Hunshofsky, seeks to amend the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program, a state initiative designed to provide inspections and financial assistance for condominium associations undertaking storm-resistant improvements. If enacted, the bill would revise eligibility criteria, modify the grant approval process and establish new funding structures for hurricane mitigation projects.

Under the bill’s purview, associations seeking funding must first obtain approval through a majority vote of the board of administration or the total voting interests. A separate vote among affected unit owners would require at least 75 percent approval, replacing the previous unanimous consent requirement. The measure would limit participation in the pilot program to condominiums that are three stories or taller, excluding detached units on individual parcels of land. To qualify for grant funding, a structure must contain at least one residential unit.

The legislation also introduces changes to how mitigation grants are allocated and utilized. The state would provide $2 in matching funds for every $1 contributed by an association. Roof-related projects would be funded at a rate of $11 per square foot of a replacement roof, capped at $1,000 per unit, with the state covering up to 50 percent of the total project cost.

Pam Bondi sworn in as U.S. attorney general Wednesday

Pam Bondi was sworn in as U.S. attorney general on Wednesday, putting a longtime ally of Donald Trump at the helm of a Justice Department that has already been rattled by the firings of career employees seen as disloyal to the Republican president.

What You Need To Know

• Pam Bondi was sworn in as U.S. attorney general Wednesday


• The Senate confirmed Bondi on Tuesday night, putting a longtime ally of Donald Trump at the helm of the Justice Department


• Bondi is a former Florida attorney general and corporate lobbyist


• She is expected oversee a radical reshaping of the department that has been the target of Trump's ire over the criminal cases it brought against him


• Bondi has sought to reassure Democrats that politics would play no part in her decision-making, but she has refused to rule out investigations into Trump's adversaries

The Senate voted Tuesday night to confirm Bondi. The vote fell almost entirely along party lines, with only Sen. John Fetterman, a Pennsylvania Democrat, joining with all Republicans to pass her confirmation 54-46.

DeSantis pitched a record-size education budget. Florida's teacher union still has concerns

Gov. Ron DeSantis has asked for a historic $29.7 billion for public education. Florida's largest teachers union, however, is concerned about the increase per pupil and added funds for the state's voucher program.

Gov. Ron DeSantis released his proposed education budget this week, and despite asking the Legislature for a historic $29.7 billion for K-12 education, and Florida's largest teachers union says it’s not enough.

DeSantis asked for a record $1.5 billion for teacher pay, an increase of about $246 million. He’s also asked for about $1.7 billion for early childhood education.
Yet, many teacher advocates are concerned that the budget only increases per pupil spending by about $222 at a time of record inflation. That includes the Florida Education Association teachers union.

“The fact that school districts are having to buy materials and supplies and resources and spending at a much higher rate now, as every family is, right, and to not give enough resources to our districts to make sure we're meeting the needs of students, is a failure, in my mind,” said Andrew Spar, the union's director.