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Legislature wants to make it impossible for local governments to build back better after hurricanes
Pittman: “How did we get here? Bear in mind that we’re a state surrounded on three sides by water, so we’re especially vulnerable to a rising sea level. Yet our state has seen rampant overdevelopment in flood-prone spots in recent years.”
Florida emergency managers prep for hurricane season amid FEMA uncertainty
Last week's tabletop exercises and drills, which run ahead of the June 1 start of hurricane season, bring together state and local agencies to practice response coordination. This year, discussions are shadowed by federal proposals to overhaul disaster recovery, leaving officials focused on shoring up state and local resources.
The return of Alan Grayson
In a wide ranging interview with The Apopka Voice, Grayson spoke about his motivations for re-entering the political arena, his legislative priorities, and the battles he's ready to wage in Tallahassee.
Could Coretta Anthony-Smith be a new voice in the Florida Legislature?
Coretta Anthony-Smith may not be a household name in Orange County politics, but she is is a seasoned trial lawyer, a mother, a fierce advocate, and someone tired of watching from the sidelines as issues affecting everyday Floridians fall through the cracks.
OP/ED: Floridians don't want trophy hunts of bears
This unprecedented and isolated incident has understandably triggered strong emotions. But emotional reactions - particularly fear and a desire for retribution - must not guide state wildlife policy.
The Florida Capitol building on Aug. 12, 2024.
All eyes on Florida’s new statewide Medicaid managed-care bill
The program would open to every Medicaid-eligible intellectually disabled person, including those already enrolled in the iBudget program and a different Medicaid managed-care program known as the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care long-term care program.
Florida is full of expensive restoration projects, but conservation would be cheaper
Florida started working on fixing Lake Apopka in the 80s. By 2024, the water had become clear enough that 95% of the lake’s aquatic vegetation returned. The cost over four decades? $200 million.
Florida hemp industry wins another reprieve from regulations this year
With Congress largely silent on the issue, it has been up to the states to regulate hemp-derived THC products since the U.S. Farm Bill legalized hemp in 2018.
An early phosphate mine in the Bone Valley region of Central Florida.
Florida legislators want to protect the phosphate giant from suits over radioactive land
Senate Bill 832 would provide new legal protections to companies that mine phosphate in Florida and leave behind radioactive spoils.
Paper cutout family with house under a Medicaid umbrella
Medicaid cuts could rock state’s budget, provider pay, and the care being delivered
Deep reductions in spending on Medicaid and food programs for low-income families would have a crushing effect on Florida.
Lawmakers convene in a joint session in the Florida House of Representatives chamber to hear Gov. Ron DeSantis deliver the State of the State address on March 4, 2025.
House marries insurance litigation changes to phosphate mining bill
The original Senate proposal would establish a defense for companies from lawsuits related to pollution on sites of former phosphate mines, which had drawn wide support, with only three senators voting against it on April 15th. The House tacked on a proposal Friday that would award attorney’s fees to the winning party in insurance litigation to a Senate bill that would extend new legal …
Judge finds manatee die-off proves Florida broke endangered species law
Because of the DEP’s failure, a federal judge ruled on April 11 that the agency had violated the Endangered Species Act.
Florida State University
Students, lawmakers clash over gun violence response after FSU shooting
The protest follows last week's shooting at FSU's Student Union, the state's sixth mass shooting this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive.