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School choice dollars don’t always add up clearly, lawmakers found.
School Daze: Rapid expansion of voucher program leaves public, private schools underpaid
Florida’s rapidly expanding School Choice program has created a $47 million shortfall in the state’s education budget, with thousands of students mistakenly counted in both public and private systems. Lawmakers and education officials are scrambling to fix payment delays, tracking errors, and a decades-old funding formula that many say can’t keep up with modern school mobility. more
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State lawmakers are asking Congress to open the timber trade with Asia
Speakers of the House from five Southern states are calling on Congress to reopen Asian markets to U.S. timber, citing mill closures and deep economic losses across the region. The lawmakers say restrictive trade policies, fumigant bans, and sudden tariffs are devastating the South’s forestry industry and jeopardizing thousands of jobs. more
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This Burmese python got caught, but plenty of others are evading the state’s python hunting competitions.
Florida triples python removals from Everglades through new leather industry partnership
Florida has tripled the number of invasive Burmese pythons removed from the Everglades in just one year through a partnership with Miami-based Inversa Leathers, which transforms the snakes into wallets, shoes, and belts. Officials say the collaboration has eased the workload for state biologists and accelerated the removal of one of Florida’s most destructive predators. more
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Orange County challenges SB-180, citing threats to Vision 2050 and local growth planning
Orange County has joined a lawsuit against SB-180, warning that the law could invalidate Vision 2050 and limit local authority over land use and development. The county plans to continue operating under its current Comprehensive Plan while seeking legislative solutions and keeping the public informed throughout the process. more
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The Florida Capital
Florida House proposes referendum to eliminate non-school property taxes
Florida lawmakers are proposing a constitutional referendum that would let voters decide whether to eliminate nonschool property taxes, which make up more than half of the state’s property tax revenue. The sweeping package of bills would phase out or cap these taxes, provide exemptions for seniors, and protect law enforcement funding. more
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An advocate holds an SEIU sign protesting rising health care costs at a demonstration near the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025.
Florida Congressional members warn about Florida’s looming health care crisis
A trio of state lawmakers warned Tuesday that Florida stands to lose more than any other state if Congress lets enhanced premium tax credits expire at the end of the year. Without action, health insurance costs could skyrocket for millions of Floridians, with state officials facing criticism for staying silent on the looming increases. more
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New legislation proposed by Bracy Davis would let survivors of abuse break leases without penalty
A new bill filed by Florida Senator LaVon Bracy Davis would give survivors of abuse the legal right to end their leases without financial penalty, ensuring they can escape dangerous homes safely and confidentially. The legislation would take effect July 1, 2026, and includes provisions to protect survivors’ privacy and hold perpetrators accountable. more
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Lake Okeechobee, the largest lake in Florida, has been ranked as the dirtiest lake in the nation.
Big Florida lake ranked as the most polluted in the U.S.
The pollution crisis at Lake Okeechobee serves as a stark warning for Lake Apopka, showing how unchecked agricultural runoff and weak enforcement can devastate Florida’s waterways. Without stronger protections and investment in natural filtration, Lake Apopka risks repeating Okeechobee’s toxic algae and ecological decline. more
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AAA: Speeding hits just as hard as drunk driving; 40% of Floridians admit to driving over the speed limit in a new survey
Speeding is responsible for nearly as many deaths as drunk driving, yet it remains widely accepted. Through its new “Crashes Hit Different” campaign, AAA–The Auto Club Group is calling for drivers and lawmakers to shift perceptions, enforce new penalties under Florida’s Super Speeder Law, and make speeding just as unacceptable as driving under the influence. more
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A housing development in Kissimmee.
A second lawsuit has been filed to overturn Florida's planning-restriction law by an Orange County resident and an environmental group
An environmental group and an Orange County resident have filed a lawsuit challenging Senate Bill 180, arguing the new law unconstitutionally strips local governments of their ability to regulate land use and protect natural resources. The suit, the second in two weeks, claims the measure—tied to hurricane recovery—overreaches and silences local voices in growth and environmental planning. more
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The Florida Historic Capitol Museum is located in front of the new Capitol building in Tallahassee.
A closer look at some of the new laws that took effect on October 1st
More than 20 new Florida laws take effect today, covering topics from stronger penalties for abandoning animals during disasters to bans on license plate flippers and increased protections for utility workers. Other changes address behavioral health data, electronic monitoring, rental disclosures, sexual offender reporting, and stricter penalties for child exploitation and drone-related offenses. more
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Florida State Senator LaVon Bracy-Davis and House Representative Doug Bankson share the podium at the Apopka City Council's October 1st meeting.
From Tallahassee to Apopka: Bracy-Davis and Bankson brief City Council on Florida Legislature's 2025 session
Florida State Senator LaVon Bracy-Davis and State Representative Doug Bankson addressed the Apopka City Council, outlining key takeaways from the 2025 legislative session and their priorities for the year ahead. more
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Workers clear land at an environmentally sensitive site destined for development in Stuart.
Orange County among 25 Florida municipalities to sue state over new development law
A coalition of 25 Florida cities and counties has filed suit in Leon County seeking to block Senate Bill 180, a new law they argue strips local governments of their constitutional authority to regulate land use. The measure, originally intended to aid hurricane recovery, is now accused of overreach that could derail environmental protections, growth management, and resilience efforts statewide. more
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Vote now for Florida State Parks’ 2025 photo contest winners
Florida State Parks is inviting the public to vote in the 2025 Capture the Real Florida photo contest, which highlights stunning images of beaches, wildlife, and park adventures. Winners of the People’s Choice award will be selected in five categories, with voting open online until October 10th. more
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Push to expand Medicaid in Florida delayed by two years
Florida Decides Healthcare announced Thursday it will delay its Medicaid expansion initiative from the 2026 ballot to 2028, after new state laws made signature-gathering and campaign efforts significantly more difficult. Despite the setback, the group plans to expand its coalition, raise resources, and continue challenging HB 1205 in court. more
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‘Waste is in the eye of the beholder’: Local officials push back on property tax accusations
At a Florida House hearing, local officials countered Gov. Ron DeSantis’ accusations of financial abuse, defending property taxes as essential for schools, fire stations, and law enforcement. Lawmakers said the testimony underscored the complexity of property tax reform and the unlikelihood of a one-size-fits-all solution. more
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Florida lawmakers target ‘most hated tax’ in property tax committee meeting
Florida lawmakers continue exploring ways to cut property taxes while balancing the need to fund schools, firefighters, and local governments. Experts warned that reducing property taxes without new revenue sources could cost counties billions and complicate funding for essential services. more
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‘Gas station morphine’: Florida to issue emergency labeling rule for kratom compound 7-OH
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson has issued an emergency rule requiring retailers to disclose the concentration of the opioid-like compound 7-OH in kratom products. The move follows Attorney General James Uthmeier’s decision to classify 7-OH as a Schedule 1 drug, intensifying Florida’s crackdown on the controversial herbal substance. more
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Orange County has indulged in nearly $200 million of ‘wasteful spending,’ Florida CFO asserts
Florida CFO Blaise Ingoglia accused Orange County of wasting nearly $200 million over five years, citing his auditors’ findings of “excessive and wasteful spending” while pushing for statewide property tax relief. Mayor Jerry Demings pushed back hard, saying Ingoglia distorted the facts, ignored the costs of supporting the world’s top tourist destination, and was using “fuzzy math” for political gain. more
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Report: Materials impacted by tariffs are raising home construction prices in Florida
A new Florida TaxWatch report warns that tariffs and rising material prices are driving up the cost of homebuilding and road projects, adding about $10,000 to the price of a house and up to 9% to transportation construction. The report points to supply chain issues, higher labor costs, and reliance on imports for materials like lumber, metals, and gypsum as key pressures keeping construction costs elevated. more
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New Florida legislation means that Affordable Care Act premiums will rise sharply in Florida next year.
Up, up, and away: 2026 health insurance premiums set to double for millions of Floridians
Florida health insurance premiums are set to rise sharply in 2026, with double-digit increases hitting more than 4 million residents who rely on ACA marketplace plans or small employer coverage. more
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The Florida Department of Health has initiated rulemaking for the DeSantis administration's proposal to eliminate vaccine mandates.
New immunization rules announced for Florida; still no details
The Florida Chapter of the American College of Physicians and the Florida Academy of Family Physicians are urging state health officials to hold a public meeting on proposed rule changes that could eliminate school and childcare vaccination requirements. more
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Florida expert warns relaxed vaccine rules could spark measles outbreaks
Florida’s shift toward easing school vaccine mandates may have dangerous consequences, according to University of Florida public health expert Ira Longini. With childhood vaccine coverage slipping from above 90% to around 80%, Longini warns the state is edging closer to conditions ripe for outbreaks of measles, mumps, and whooping cough. more
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Major changes coming to Florida health insurance as open enrollment nears
Floridians who buy health insurance through the federal Marketplace should brace for significant changes during this fall’s Open Enrollment. With enhanced premium tax credits set to expire after 2025 and new enrollment requirements taking effect, many may face higher monthly costs and added steps to keep their coverage. more
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Apopka voters head to the polls Tuesday for the Florida Senate District 15 special election
On Tuesday, voters in Florida Senate District 15, which includes Apopka, will choose a successor for the late Sen. Geraldine Thompson. State Rep. LaVon Bracy Davis faces GOP challenger Willie Montague in a district that typically leans heavily Democratic. more
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