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A missing eagle nest in Pasco County’s Lake Jovita subdivision led to a bill aimed at shutting down every county and city’s rules against pollution and wetlands destruction.
Florida lawmaker is back with bill promoting water pollution
As the 2026 Florida legislative session begins, one lawmaker’s proposal is already drawing sharp criticism for its potential environmental impact. A bill that would strip cities and counties of authority to protect wetlands and prevent water pollution is being labeled by critics as a serious threat to Florida’s water quality and local governance. more
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A Florida bill would ban the use of cell phones on the road.
Florida drivers can’t hold their phones on the road, a new bill says
A Florida bill that would prohibit drivers from holding or using handheld devices while driving has been refiled ahead of the 2026 legislative session. Supporters say the measure would strengthen the state’s distracted driving laws and align Florida with more than 30 other states that already require hands-free driving. more
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Proposal would extend Florida medical pot registrations for up to two years
Florida medical marijuana patients could see fewer doctor visits and expanded access under legislation filed this week in the state Senate. The proposal would significantly reduce renewal requirements, increase allowable prescription limits, and eliminate registration fees for some veterans. more
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Florida minimum wage to rise to $15 an hour in 2026 under voter-approved amendment
Florida’s minimum wage will increase to $15 an hour on Sept. 30, 2026, completing a series of annual raises approved by voters five years ago. Supporters say the increase has helped workers and businesses, while critics continue to warn of higher prices and potential job losses. more
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Florida Department of Juvenile Justice HQ in Tallahassee.
Florida Department of Juvenile Justice highlights major accomplishments in 2025 year in review
The Florida Department of Juvenile Justice is reflecting on a year of significant progress in 2025, marked by expanded educational access, strengthened family support initiatives, and professional development for juvenile justice leaders. more
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Florida considers eliminating vehicle registration stickers
Florida drivers may no longer need the familiar yellow registration decal on their license plates under legislation introduced in the state Legislature. Supporters say electronic verification would cut costs, reduce fraud, and modernize how vehicle registrations are tracked. more
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A trail leads through a forest in St. Johns County. Two bills that would radically alter how development occurs in Florida appear to be the work of a timber company that owns 11,000 acres in St. Johns County.
Florida lawmakers promote ‘Blue Ribbon’ developers at public’s expense
Two bills moving through the Florida Legislature would dramatically limit public input on large-scale development, granting automatic approval to qualifying projects with minimal local oversight. Critics say the measures favor wealthy landowners while sidelining residents, local governments, and long-standing growth protections. more
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Study warns proposed property tax cuts could destabilize city budgets across Florida
Eliminating or significantly reducing Florida’s homestead property taxes could fundamentally disrupt how cities pay for core services, according to a new study released by the Florida League of Cities. The findings come as several property tax relief proposals advance through the Florida Legislature. more
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Florida launches America 250 license plate
“The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles is honored to give Floridians a meaningful way to participate in our nation’s 250th anniversary,” said Executive Director Dave Kerner. more
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New Florida license plate law causes confusion, but decorative frames remain legal
A new Florida law targeting license plate obstruction has sparked confusion among drivers after misinformation spread online. State Rep. Doug Bankson and the Apopka Police Department say the law does not ban decorative license plate frames, as long as the required plate information remains visible. more
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Heather Bossowski’s “A Camp Sunrise at Gamble Rogers” depicts a beachfront sunrise at Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area in Flagler Beach, earning the Grand Prize in the Park Adventures Division.
Florida State Parks announces the winners of the 2025 “Capture the Real Florida” photo contest
Florida State Parks has revealed the 2025 winners of its Capture the Real Florida Photo Contest, recognizing photographers in five categories that showcased the state’s diverse natural and cultural treasures. more
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Florida Black Bear.
Florida pushes ahead with controversial bear hunt as critics say science is being ignored
Florida wildlife officials are moving forward with a bear hunt critics say is driven by politics, not science, sparking renewed concern about declining bear populations and agency transparency. Former biologists, conservation leaders, and advocacy groups argue that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission manipulated data to enable the hunt in regions that should be off-limits. more
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Myakka River State Park.
Florida’s state parks face $759 million repair backlog, new report shows
A new report from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection shows that the state’s 175 parks require nearly $759 million in repairs, maintenance, and upgrades by 2035. Long-term expansion and modernization plans could push the total need to more than $1.39 billion. more
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Interior Secretary Doug Burgum tours an offshore oil rig during a visit to the Gulf of America to discuss energy policy, May 1, 2025.
Oil drilling off Florida gets pushback from state leaders
Federal plans to expand offshore oil and gas leasing into waters long protected off Florida’s coast are drawing swift opposition from state leaders. Critics warn that the proposal threatens Florida’s environment, military operations, and tourism-dependent economy. more
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The exterior of a home in Seaside, Florida.
Eight property tax relief proposals advance in Florida Legislature amid political divide
Eight Republican-backed proposals to reduce or eliminate property taxes in Florida cleared a key House committee, setting up a larger debate over how far the state should go in reshaping its tax structure. The effort has sparked sharp divisions, including pushback from Democrats, local governments, and Gov. Ron DeSantis, who supports tax relief but criticizes the multi-measure ballot strategy. more
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The DeSantis administration, under legal pressure, allows a proposed petition initiative to legalize adult use of marijuana to take another step toward placement on the 2026 ballot.
After lawsuit pressure, Florida advances marijuana amendment toward 2026 ballot
Florida election officials have advanced a recreational marijuana amendment just days after being sued for allegedly stalling the process. The move comes as the DeSantis administration faces legal scrutiny over its efforts to defeat marijuana legalization in 2024. more
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Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings.
Jerry Demings says the Legislature’s attack on home rule ‘has to change’
Orange County Mayor and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jerry Demings says one of his top priorities, if elected governor, will be reversing the Florida Legislature’s expanding use of state preemption over local governments. more
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As of September 2025, Florida permits open carry and permitless carry, in addition to its "stand your ground" law.
Florida’s new open carry law combines with ‘stand your ground’ to create new freedoms – and new dangers
Twenty years after Florida enacted the nation’s first stand-your-ground law, new research shows the policy has increased homicides, widened racial disparities, and failed to deter crime. With Florida now also allowing open carry and permitless carry, experts warn that the combination creates a far more dangerous environment for both residents and law enforcement. more
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A Tallahassee hemp store.
Floridians react to federal legislation that could ‘devastate’ state’s hemp industry
A new federal proposal tucked into the bill to reopen the government could dramatically curtail intoxicating hemp-derived products, putting Florida’s multi-billion-dollar hemp industry and more than 100,000 jobs at risk. more
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Some school librarians in Florida have found themselves in the midst of controversy over complaints of “obscene” titles in their libraries.
Federal judge overturns part of Florida’s book ban law, drawing on nearly 100 years of precedent protecting First Amendment access to ideas
When a Jack Kerouac classic quietly disappeared from an Orange County high school library shelf, it became a local example of how Florida’s House Bill 1069 empowered almost anyone to trigger the removal of books. more
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The Florida State Capitol is situated in Tallahassee, featuring a historic domed structure in the foreground and a tower in the background.
Florida lawmakers line up sweeping property tax relief proposals for 2026 session
Property tax relief is poised to be a central focus when Florida’s 2026 legislative session convenes Jan. 13, with lawmakers filing a series of joint resolutions that could dramatically cut or phase out non-school property taxes on homesteads. The proposals range from new and expanded homestead exemptions to changes in the Save-Our-Homes benefit, sparking debate between Gov. Ron DeSantis and legislative leaders over how far and how fast to proceed. more
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The Florida Governor’s Mansion
Florida’s race for governor is getting crowded
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings has officially entered Florida’s 2026 race for governor, setting the stage for a potentially historic and competitive Democratic primary. His candidacy adds new energy — and tension — to a crowded field that already includes prominent figures from both parties. more
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Florida County Association warns property tax cut proposals could gut local budgets
The Florida Association of Counties is warning that new legislative proposals to eliminate non-school property taxes could devastate local budgets and cripple basic public services. House Speaker Daniel Perez wants to put several property tax measures on the 2026 ballot, but critics — including Gov. Ron DeSantis — question their feasibility. more
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Aerial view of Pasco County wetlands surrounded by urban sprawl development.
‘You betrayed us’: Manatee County residents beg for repeal of Florida’s SB-180 planning restriction law
Senate Bill 180, signed this summer, restricts cities and counties from adopting land-use rules stricter than pre-storm regulations, sparking lawsuits and public outcry. Apopka must decide whether to challenge the law through protest, join ongoing legal efforts, or wait for legislative adjustments. more
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The Apalachicola National Forest land that Wakulla County wants is full of cypress swamps and sinkholes — not the best place to build recreational fields and playgrounds.
Florida county considers unpopular land swap with national forest
Wakulla County residents are pushing back against a proposed land swap with the Apalachicola National Forest that would allow the county to build a multi-sport recreational center on federal forest land. Community activists and longtime locals argue the swap threatens the peace, natural beauty, and ecological health of one of Florida’s most treasured forests. more
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