Florida's Latest News

DeSantis on new energy plan: ‘We want to give people relief at the pump’

Florida Governor and GOP presidential candidate Ron DeSantis said on Tuesday that his energy plan aims to “give people relief at the pump.”

“We need to embrace the resources that we have, both in terms of hydrocarbons but also in terms of having an auto industry that makes sense,” DeSantis said in an interview on Fox Business Network. “We’re going to get rid of the EV mandates, so that people can buy the cars they want.”

DeSantis is expected to drop his energy plan on Wednesday. His comments come as the average price for gas hit $3.88 earlier this week, up about 20 cents from a year ago.

In states like California, Washington, Nevada, Hawaii and Oregon, gas prices are well over $4.00, according to AAA data. States like Mississippi, Georgia, Louisiana, Alabama and South Carolina, meanwhile, all have average gas prices lower than $3.50. In DeSantis’s Florida, average gas prices are somewhere in the middle: around $3.70 per gallon.

Gas prices remain lower than they were last June, when the national average was $5.01 per gallon.

Gov. DeSantis, Florida Cabinet approve of Pharmacy Benefit Manager regulations

Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet on Monday approved a series of rules as part of the broader Prescription Drug Reform Act (SB 1550), which places new restrictions on pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).

Under the new regulations, Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) must secure approval as insurance administrators to continue their operations in Florida past December 31, 2023. Non-compliance after January 1, 2024, will trigger fines of $10,000 per violation per day. The Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) has further enforced these mandates by formally communicating them to all PBMs currently active in Florida. The OIR has also guided the handling of appeals from network pharmacies and pharmacists, along with outlining compliance procedures for health plans and payors.

Moreover, the Department of Business and Professional Regulation is implementing a requirement for pharmaceutical companies to disclose price increases that lead to a 15 percent surge within a year or a 30 percent escalation within three years.

Florida invests $50 million to boost semiconductor industry

The State of Florida is investing $50 million in its semiconductor industry to support semiconductor manufacturing, advanced packaging, and development projects.

The allocation will be administered through FloridaCommerce and the Florida Department of Education with the aim of bolstering the state’s manufacturing capabilities, securing its supply chain, and creating jobs. Florida currently ranks fifth in the nation for semiconductor manufacturing jobs and third for semiconductor establishments.

The $50 million will be equally divided, with $25 million allocated through the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund by FloridaCommerce and the other $25 million through the Workforce Development Capitalization Incentive Grant Program by the Florida Department of Education.

“Florida is quickly becoming the global hub for semiconductor manufacturing in the space and defense industries,” said Gov. Ron DeSantis. “By dedicating $50 million to expand our manufacturing capabilities, we are strengthening Florida’s supply chain and ensuring Florida maintains a strong economy that supports Florida families.”

Florida ranks in Top 5 most sustainable states on Forbes Home report

Forbes Home named Florida as the fifth most sustainable state in the U.S. in its latest sustainability index report, just below Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York and California.

The report showcases that there are different levels of involvement from each state, where some states prioritized conservation and eco-consciousness better than others. Overall, Forbes found that the country as a whole is moving toward greater sustainable practices.

Florida was ranked fifth on the overall list and ranked No. 15 for lowest water usage and No. 7 for lowest energy use and solar friendliness.

To determine the State Sustainability Index, Forbes Home included three metrics that capture a state’s commitment to minimizing its impact on the natural environment. These metrics were water use, energy use and solar-friendliness. The three metrics were ranked and weighted across all 50 states to calculate the final State Sustainability Index.