Florida's Latest News

Florida agriculture commissioner pushes back after farm bill postponed in Senate

A sweeping agricultural bill that addresses land use, environmental regulations and local government ran into an unexpected delay on Tuesday after a key Senate committee temporarily postponed voting on the measure, triggering immediate backlash from Florida’s top farm official.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Keith Truenow, was scheduled to be heard by the Senate Committee on Rules, the final stop before reaching the Senate floor. Instead, Truenow requested that the bill be temporarily postponed, citing negotiations over the bill’s contents.

In the Florida Legislature, a “temporary postponement” is often viewed as a procedural move that can effectively stall — or even quietly doom — a bill for the session. But Truenow, a Lake County Republican, told the committee that the delay was tied to continued discussions with stakeholders and concerns that testimony taken that day could reflect provisions likely to change.

“I think ongoing conversations with these parties will be ongoing, so some of the testimony that you may hear today is on the bill as it stands today,” Truenow said, adding that he expected some issues to be “rectified in the future.”

Florida Medical Association PAC backs Eric Stelnicki for HD 100nor

A political arm of Florida’s largest physicians’ advocacy organization is getting behind Davie pediatric surgeon Eric “Doc” Stelnicki’s bid for House District 100.

FMA PAC, which represents the interests of the Florida Medical Association, just endorsed Stelnicki, who is running to succeed outgoing Rep. Chip LaMarca, a fellow Republican, next year.

“The Florida Medical Association PAC is pleased to endorse GOP candidate and physician, Doc Stelnicki in his bid for House District 100,” FMA PAC President Andrew Borom said in a statement.

“Dr. Stelnicki has a unique understanding of the issues impacting Florida physicians not only as a medical professional, but as a businessman navigating the myriads of regulations and obstacles that prevent doctors from practicing medicine. We look forward to working closely with him in the Florida Legislature.”

Stelnicki, in turn, said he’s “proud to have the support” of FMA PAC, whose members “understand better than anyone the challenges facing our healthcare system, from workforce shortages to rising costs and regulatory red tape.”

House panel approves resolution to slow property tax increases

A proposed joint resolution designed to slow local property tax increases in Florida was approved by the House Ways and Means Committee Tuesday.

But the measure (HJR 213) drew sharp backlash from local government officials who complained the state was trying to strip away local control over tax rates.

The legislation sponsored by Panama City Republican Rep. Griff Griffitts would slow the growth in the assessed value of non-school homestead property taxes to 3% over three years for homestead property (currently 3% per year) and 15% over three years for non-homestead property (currently 10% per year) if approved by state voters.

“What we’re trying to stop is the exponential growth” in local municipal budgets, Griffitts said before the committee. “We’re trying to slow that growth. This isn’t about a tax cut … This will just slow the (tax) rate down.”

If approved by both chambers, the issue would go before to voters and clear 60% approval to make it into the Florida Constitution.

Bill boosting student volunteers at polls rolls on in Senate

Legislation that would open the door for civic-minded students to participate in the Democratic process is proceeding through Senate committees.

The Senate Education PreK-12 Committee is giving good marks to SB 564. The proposal from Jacksonville Republican Sen. Clay Yarborough would hold that the ban on privately funded election-related expenses would not prohibit students who are registered or preregistered to vote from voluntarily helping poll workers in exchange for community service hours that apply to Bright Futures scholarships.

Students can preregister on their 16th birthday.

The bill would take effect July 1, meaning that eligible students could begin participating in the process during the August Primaries this year if it becomes law.

An amendment was adopted at this committee stop clarifying how the community service hours would be applied to high school graduation or post-graduate financial aid.