A recent statewide survey by the James Madison Institute reveals that Florida voters are increasingly burdened by rising living costs, with insurance and property taxes driving housing unaffordability. While expressing concern over national divisions, a strong majority of Floridians support significant policy reforms, including property tax levy caps, expanded energy generation, and education unbundling. In the 2026 governor’s race, Byron Donalds currently leads the Republicans.
Florida
Florida Senate Approves Data Center Legislation To Shield Local Communities From Massive Utility Costs
The Florida Senate unanimously passed a bill imposing new restrictions on large-scale data centers to prevent local utility ratepayers from shouldering the immense electricity and water costs associated with the booming artificial intelligence industry. Spearheaded by Governor Ron DeSantis, the legislation mandates public disclosure when data center plans are filed and requires the Public Service Commission to ensure these facilities cover their own utility expenses.
Controversial Bill Allowing Armed Civilians On Florida College Campuses Advances After House Approval
The Florida House of Representatives recently passed a bill expanding the school guardian program to state colleges and universities. The legislation allows college presidents to designate faculty and staff to carry concealed weapons on campus. While supporters cite safety concerns following previous campus violence, opponents question the adequacy of the proposed training and highlight funding disparities for law enforcement between colleges and state universities.
Florida May Be Left Holding Bag for $608 Million Cost of ‘Alligator Alcatraz’
The Justice Department announced that a highly anticipated $608 million federal reimbursement from FEMA will not cover construction costs for Florida’s state-run migrant detention centers, including “Alligator Alcatraz.” Court filings reveal any potential funding would only apply to operational expenses, contradicting prior claims by the DeSantis administration. The funding delay occurs amid a major restructuring at the Department of Homeland Security under Secretary Kristi Noem.
Florida Patients and Doctors Scramble As Proposed AIDS Drug Program Cuts Threaten Care And Public Health
Proposed budget cuts by the Florida Department of Health threaten the state’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program, which helps low-income residents access vital HIV medications and insurance coverage. Tightened eligibility requirements and restricted drug options could leave thousands without lifesaving treatment, likely increasing transmission rates and public health costs. Advocacy groups have filed lawsuits to block these changes while the legislature debates additional program funding options.
In Year’s Second Execution, Florida Kills Melvin Trotter, 65, For 1986 Murder Of Grocery Store Owner
Melvin Trotter, 65, was executed by lethal injection at Florida State Prison for the 1986 murder of Palmetto grocery store owner Virgie Langford. The Florida Supreme Court denied his stay of execution, rejecting claims about lethal injection procedures and his age. Catholic leaders unsuccessfully urged Gov. Ron DeSantis to commute the sentence, criticizing Florida for its accelerated pace of executions after a highly active year.
Flagler Sheriff Among 18 Police Agencies Sharing $40 Million State Aid for Immigration Enforcement
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office is receiving $6,500 for 100 mattresses, $198,000 for 60 rapid ID devices, $46,000 for five in-car cameras, $7,500 for five handheld inmate-tracking devices, and $2,800 for 400 blankets. Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Cabinet approved the $40 million ask from local police agencies Tuesday morning. It’s part of a broader, $250 million state grant created last year to both encourage and reimburse local agencies participating in the sweeping illegal immigration crackdown pushed by President Donald Trump and at the state level by DeSantis.
Florida Senate Unanimously Backed Black History Museum in St. Johns, But Will House Meet The Moment?
Florida’s Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 308, sponsored by Sen. Tom Leek, to establish a state-funded Museum of Black History in St. Johns County, correcting a historical omission. The proposed museum would offer space for education and heritage tourism on land holding deep personal and historical significance. While the Senate acted decisively, the companion bill currently stalls in the House, leaving lawmakers to choose between symbolic gestures and meaningful action.
Florida Sugarcane and Citrus Growers Face Losses of Over $3 Billion Following Two Winter Freezes
A pair of severe winter storms in early 2026 caused an estimated $3.17 billion in agricultural damage across Florida, according to preliminary state reports. The freezing temperatures devastated crops that were not yet ready for harvest, severely impacting sugarcane, citrus, strawberries, and other vital commodities. These extensive crop losses will likely disrupt future yields, prompting state officials to immediately seek necessary federal emergency assistance.
Local Governments Clash With Federal Agencies Over Massive ICE Detention Centers
As the Trump administration rapidly expands immigration detention through a massive federal budget, local communities across the United States are vehemently opposing new plans to convert industrial warehouses into large holding facilities. Citing a profound lack of federal transparency, severe economic strain, and deep humanitarian concerns, city leaders are utilizing zoning laws, moratoriums, and public pressure campaigns to successfully block these highly controversial new developments.
Florida Senate Approves Fix for SB 180’s Unintended Consequences on Land-Use Law, But House Dithers
The Florida Senate unanimously passed a bill to scale back a 2025 hurricane recovery law that inadvertently hindered local governments from protecting critical infrastructure. Sponsored by Sen. Nick DiCeglie, the new legislation reduces the geographical restrictions of the original law and clarifies land-use rules. Senators are now urging the House to advance the companion bill before the legislative session ends to resolve ongoing local disputes.
Florida Tourism Hits Record 143.3 Million in 2025 Despite Drop in Canadian Visitors
Florida welcomed a record 143.3 million visitors in 2025, driven heavily by strong domestic tourism numbers and a steady increase in overseas travelers. Tourism from Canada dropped significantly by nearly fifteen percent amid ongoing political friction, prompting state tourism leaders to expand outreach efforts toward the northern neighbor. Despite this sharp Canadian decline, the state successfully achieved record overall visitation and highly robust fourth-quarter growth.
Randy Fine’s Bigotry and the Silent Complicity of Florida Republicans
Congressman Randy Fine’s long history of deploying bigoted, dehumanizing language against Palestinians and Muslims reflects a broader political decay. Condemnations have been rare except by his rivals, and what outrage there’s been frequently feels performative. Otherwise, silence. This widespread complicity from elected officials actively normalizes hateful rhetoric, rewarding fascist behavior and degrading the fundamental standards of our national civil discourse.
Florida Senate Unanimously Passes Public Registry for Animal Abusers
The Florida Senate unanimously passed a bill to create a public registry for individuals convicted of animal abuse, maintained by the Department of Law Enforcement. The legislation also aims to crack down on puppy mills by introducing consumer protections, eliminating limits on recoverable veterinary costs, and establishing a voluntary best-practices program for dog breeders. A companion bill is currently advancing through the Florida State House.
Florida Senate Passes Bill Mandating Washington and Lincoln Portraits in Public Schools
The Senate voted 36-2 on Thursday in support of a proposal that directs county school districts to place portraits of Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln in every public school.
Florida House Votes to End All Non-School Homestead Property Taxes, But Senate Odds Remain Slim
The Republican-controlled Florida House passed a joint resolution to ask voters to eliminate non-school property taxes for homesteaded properties by 2027. The sweeping measure faces doubtful success. The Florida Senate has not introduced companion legislation and Governor Ron DeSantis prefers a special session. Democrats heavily criticized the proposal, warning that it would bankrupt local governments and defund essential local public services.
Florida House Approves New Hurdles on Already Strict and Stingy Jobless Benefits
The Florida House passed a bill Tuesday adding strict eligibility requirements for unemployment benefits, including mandatory weekly employer contacts and interview attendance. While Republicans argue the measure is necessary to stop fraud, Democrats contend it penalizes valid claimants in a system that already offers some of the nation’s lowest benefits. The bill also mandates the Department of Commerce perform bi-weekly checks on claimants’ incarceration and employment status.
A Day After Blocking Diverting Emergency Money to Migrant Enforcement, House Backs Down
The Florida House on Tuesday backed down from its proposal to block emergency funds from being used on illegal immigration enforcement following harsh criticism from the DeSantis administration. This represents a massive pivot from the GOP-dominated House’s original proposal to exclusively use the Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund on natural disasters, an idea blasted as “moronic” by the state Attorney General James Uthmeier, a former aide to Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Flagler County Clears 1st State Hurdle to Acquire 153 Acres of Summertown for Conservation, Valued at $4.4 Million
A state environmental panel approved adding 153 acres of the Summertown development to the Florida Forever project list, making Flagler County eligible for conservation funding to purchase the land. While the developer is a willing seller, funding is not guaranteed, and tensions remain over a potential conservation easement if the purchase fails before the two-year deadline.
Florida House GOP Bill Blocks Dollars for ‘Alligator Alcatraz’
A Republican effort to block new funding for the so-called “Alligator Alcatraz” and “Deportation Depot” migrant lockups unanimously cleared its first House committee hearing Monday. The bill would prevent the state’s Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund from going toward immigration enforcement, a move that would starkly pivot legislative Republicans away from their all-in anti-illegal immigration crackdown pushed just one year ago.
House Plan Shifts USF’s Sarasota Campus Under Control of Right-Winged New College
This year’s budget negotiations will entail negotiating the future of University of South Florida’s Sarasota-Manatee campus. The Florida House Higher Education Budget Subcommittee Monday approved transferring the campus to New College of Florida on a party line vote, in line with Gov. Ron DeSantis’ budget proposal. The Senate is not on the same page, leaving such a swap completely out of its initial budget documents.
Parental Rights or Parental Property? The Looming Threat to Florida’s Minors
Florida is tightening control over youth autonomy through legislation requiring parental consent for essential medical care and state-mandated censorship of university curricula. By replacing sociology with sanitized history and restricting academic freedom, officials aim to shield students from diverse ideas. These efforts to blinker the next generation often backfire, as students naturally resist censorship and seek out forbidden knowledge.
Bill Would Ban Local Governments From Requiring Lot Sizes Larger Than 1,200 Square Feet
A proposal by a Port Charlotte Republican to ease local zoning rules to spur construction of smaller, more affordable homes has cleared its first House Committee. The House Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee advanced HB 1143, titled the “Florida Starter Homes Act,” on a 14-2 vote following debate over local control, infrastructure capacity and housing affordability.
Saturday in Byblos:
Raja Shehadeh’s Vanishing Palestine
Florida’s House Bill 31 seeks to rename the West Bank as “Judea and Samaria,” erasing Palestinian history and rights to their land and violating international law. Raja Shehadeh’s “Palestinian Walks,” originally published in 2007, explores the systematic expropriation of Palestinian land through legal chicanery, balkanization, theft and settler vigilantism. But it does so through six walks that, for all the politics and bitter history, also have the transcendent feel of inner discovery of the soul through nature or reverence for the deep roots of genealogy through places as ordinary as a hillside.
Florida House Approves Bill Broadening Definition of Books to Ban from School Libraries
The Florida House approved a measure Wednesday that puts a definition of “materials harmful to minors” into a controversial 2023 Florida law that led to books being removed from school libraries.
Bill Would Ban Local Governments from Adopting Climate Change Policies
Local governments would be severely restricted from implementing measures to reduce the effects of climate change under a bill approved Thursday by a Florida House committee. The measure (HB 1217) comes nearly two years Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation declaring that the state would no longer be required to consider climate change when crafting energy policy.
Misleading Bill Banning Use of ‘West Bank’ in Schools and State Documents Passes Florida House
“Judea and Samaria” are the biblical names for the region in the Middle East and is how the Israeli government refers to the area. The international community, including the U.S. government, refers to the territory as the West Bank (of the Jordan River) and doesn’t recognize Israeli sovereignty there. Approximately 3 million Palestinians and half a million Israeli settlers live in the West Bank. A legislative analysis accompanying the bill falsely states that Israel “liberated” the West Bank from Jordan in 1967. The West Bank is occupied territory as defined by international law.
Florida Kills Ronald Heath by Lethal Injection in First State Execution of 2026
Ronald Heath, 64, was executed by lethal injection Tuesday at Florida State Prison for the 1989 murder of Michael Sheridan. This marks Florida’s first execution of 2026, following a record-setting year of 19 executions under Governor Ron DeSantis. The U.S. Supreme Court denied final appeals regarding the case, which involved a robbery and stabbing detailed graphically in court records.
Florida Emergency Management Spent $405 Million in 7 Months Chasing Migrants, Meals and Badges
Records show that the Florida Division of Emergency Management used the state’s emergency respond fund to spend $405.6 million from August through February on 83 contracts with private vendors. That figure includes expenditures like $479,000 to one private jet firm for staff flights to and from the so-called “Alligator Alcatraz” detention center and to support evacuation of Americans during the Israel-Hamas war; thousands spent at 55 restaurants; and a $203.72 purchase at “Awards4U,” a company that lets customers create their own badges, trophies, or awards.
David Jolly Blasts Other Gubernatorial Candidates for Not Calling Out Trump on Obama Post
Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Jolly wants to know why no other candidate for governor of Florida has condemned President Donald Trump for the video he posted on his Truth Social account depicting former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama as apes.
Poll Shows Overwhelming Support for $100 Million Funding of Florida Forever
A new public opinion poll shows substantial support among Florida voters for a proposal to provide $100 million for a land preservation program. The results of the Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy survey published this week shows 74% of Floridians want lawmakers to vote for the money in the state budget to fund Florida Forever. The program which falls under the Department of Environmental Protection was founded a quarter century ago with the objective of acquiring property and preserving it.
Does a Shocking Election Win by a Texas Democrat Mean Anything in Florida Politics?
In the suburbs of Fort Worth, Texas, on Jan. 31, a Democratic candidate named Taylor Rehmet won a special election for a state Senate district by 14 points. It was the same district Donald Trump won by 17 points in 2024 — a 31 point swing, the largest over-performance in a competitive special election since Trump took office a year ago. That result has energized Democrats around the country about the possibility of a major blue wave in the midterm congressional election this November — but could that wave trickle down to the Sunshine State, where in recent years the GOP has emerged as a juggernaut?
Calling Out His Crudeness, Jennifer Jenkins Will Challenge Randy Fine for 6th Congressional District Seat
Former Brevard County School Board member Jennifer Jenkins, who dropped out of the race for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate a week ago, announced Thursday that she is running for Congress in Florida’s 6th District against GOP incumbent Randy Fine.
Voters Challenge Governor’s Authority Over Special Redistricting Session
Two South Florida voters want the state Supreme Court to determine if Gov. Ron DeSantis had the authority to call for mid-decade congressional redistricting and delay candidate qualifying. The petition asks the court to determine if the governor’s Jan. 7 proclamation for a special legislative session the week of April 20 to redraw congressional districts encroached on the power of the Legislature as it proclaimed that 2026 is “a year in which the Legislature will apportion the state.”
Bill Requiring New Florida Voters to Prove U.S. Citizenship Advances
A bill to impose heightened requirements for first-time voters, including mandating presentation of documents such as a U.S. passport or birth certificate — received its first hearing in this year’s legislative session, and was approved by a party-line vote in the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee on Wednesday. Critics warned the bill would backfire and block voter registrations of eligible U.S. citizens.
Florida Lawmakers Move to Arm College Staffers Under ‘Guardian’ Program
A Florida House committee unanimously approved a bill to expand the “school guardian” program to state colleges and universities. Inspired by a 2025 shooting at Florida State University, the proposal allows campus presidents to designate trained employees to carry firearms. While supporters emphasize enhanced response times, critics warn that arming civilians could confuse law enforcement during active shooter scenarios.
Defying DeSantis’s ‘Terrorist’ Designation, CAIR Florida Officials Drop In for Muslim Day at State Capitol
Officials from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Florida came to Tallahassee Monday to speak with lawmakers about pending legislation during the annual “Muslim Day” at the Capitol, but found conditions far different than in the past. In an absurd posting, Florida Attorney James Uthmeier asked law enforcement to be “on heightened alert for any possible security threats.” At least seven members of the Florida Capitol Police stood sentry in the rotunda of the Capitol as the press conference took place — as noted by one lawmaker who spoke.
First a State Guard. Now Florida Wants a State Anti-Terrorism Police.
A proposal by Riverview Republican Rep. Danny Alvarez to create a statewide counterintelligence and counterterrorism unit cleared its first House committee stop. HB 945 would require the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) to establish and administer a Statewide Counterintelligence and Counterterrorism Unit tasked with identifying and disrupting foreign and domestic threats operating in, or targeting, Florida.
On DeSantis’s Supreme Court, Ethnic Diversity Masks Ideological Monoculture
Florida’s judiciary is undergoing a radical transformation as Governor DeSantis replaces retiring moderates with rigid originalists like Justice Adam Tanenbaum. While the court maintains ethnic diversity, it has become ideologically monolithic, systematically dismantling voter-approved mandates and legal precedents. This shift toward a Federalist Society-aligned bench threatens the future of voting rights, reproductive freedom, and the principle of an independent judiciary.
Florida House Battles Senate to Dismantle Post Parkland Gun Laws
Florida House Republicans are pushing HB 6029 to repeal the state’s 2018 risk-protection order law, which allows for temporary firearm confiscation from dangerous individuals. Despite the House’s repeated attempts to roll back Parkland-era restrictions, Senate President Ben Albritton remains a staunch opponent of the repeal, citing the law’s effectiveness in preventing mass violence. With over 19,000 orders issued since its inception, the law faces intense Second Amendment scrutiny but currently lacks a Senate sponsor.
DeSantis Signs Third Death Warrant of 2026 Following Record-Breaking Year
Governor Ron DeSantis signed a death warrant for Billy Leon Kearse, convicted of the 1991 murder of a Fort Pierce police officer. Kearse’s execution, scheduled for March 3, follows warrants for Ronald Heath and Melvin Trotter as Florida continues a rapid pace of executions after setting a state record last year.
Florida Board of Governors Moves to Freeze H-1B Visas at Public Universities, Stifling Expertise
The Florida Board of Governors has preliminarily approved a one-year freeze on new H-1B visa hiring for public universities, effective through January 2027. Prompted by Governor Ron DeSantis and President Donald Trump, the move responds to a new $100,000 federal application fee and concerns over “cheap labor.” While university officials intend to study program costs, critics and faculty representatives argue the pause undermines meritocracy and threatens the state’s ability to recruit top-tier global expertise.
Florida Lawmakers Advance Measure to Circumvent Minimum Wage for ‘Trainees’
A Florida House subcommittee approved a bill allowing trainees, interns, and work-study participants to waive their rights to the state’s $15 minimum wage in favor of the lower federal floor. Republican supporters argue the current wage limits entry-level opportunities, while Democrats contend the measure exploits workers to enrich corporations. The proposal includes time limits on these lower-pay training periods.
Florida House Moves to Ban Certain School Library Books Regardless of Literary or Artistic Value
A Florida House committee has approved HB 1119, a bill establishing a specific legal definition for school library materials deemed “harmful to minors.” The legislation builds on a 2023 law by potentially allowing the removal of books even if they possess literary, artistic, or scientific value. While supporters argue the measure protects students from pornography, critics contend it facilitates censorship and unfairly targets LGBTQ narratives. The bill now heads to the House floor for a final vote.
Florida Senate Committee Advances Bills to Clarify Felon Voting Eligibility
A bill that would require the state of Florida to develop and maintain a centralized database to provide individuals with felony convictions the information to determine whether they are eligible to have their voting rights restored moved through its first committee stop on Monday.
Black History Museum Bill Advances
A proposal that would move forward with creating a Florida Museum of Black History in St. Johns County drew support from a second Senate committee Monday but awaits action in the House.
Florida U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost Assaulted by Racist Maga Supporter
Florida Representative Maxwell Frost was assaulted Friday at a Sundance Film Festival party by a man shouting racist deportation threats. Police arrested Christian Joel Young for the attack, which also targeted a woman at the venue. The incident parallels a surge in aggressive federal immigration enforcement and fatal shootings by agents in Minneapolis.
Florida Wants to Make Cursive Mandatory Again
A Florida House committee unanimously approved HB 127, a bill requiring elementary students to demonstrate cursive proficiency by the end of fifth grade. Proponents argue cursive is vital for reading historical documents and preventing fraud, while critics question the necessity of additional testing. The bill must now pass the full House, while a companion bill awaits Senate committee scheduling.
Florida Democrats Denounce Attorney General’s Memo Calling Anti-Discrimination Laws Racist
Florida House and Senate Democrats have condemned a legal memo from Attorney General James Uthmeier, which labels several state anti-discrimination laws as unconstitutional and racially discriminatory. Issued on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the memo declares Uthmeier will not defend laws providing minority preferences. Democratic lawmakers argue this move threatens decades of bipartisan progress in government contracting and representation, accusing the appointed Attorney General of using his office to dismantle diversity efforts for political gain.
Florida House Advances Plan to Phase Out Non-School Property Taxes Despite Anguish Over Local Services
Florida House committees advanced two major property-tax proposals on Thursday, including a constitutional amendment to phase out non-school homestead taxes over ten years. While Republicans argue the move prevents local governments from treating residents like an “ATM,” Democrats and local officials warn of decimated public services. Meanwhile, the Senate has yet to release a companion plan, leaving the final form of a potential November ballot initiative in a holding pattern as leaders negotiate.
