TALLAHASSEE — On election day, November 5, 2024, more than 10 million Floridians will cast their votes. In addition to electing a U.S. President, 29 members of Congress, 120 members of the State House and 20 of the 40-member Florida Senate, the ballot tasks Floridians with voting on six proposed constitutional amendments. Constitutional initiatives play a pivotal role in the governance of the state and thus warrant careful consideration.
Governor Ron DeSantis held a press conference at the State Emergency Operations Center to provide updates on Hurricane Debby as it moved out of North Florida.
Florida Realtors has been recognized once again in the "100 Best Companies To Work For In Florida" list. CEO Margy Grant remarked, “Creating a culture of trust and empowerment is an everyday process. Here at Florida Realtors, we invite our employees into the discussion for our mission to be the ‘Voice for Real Estate in Florida’ – they’re as important to our brand as any of our products, tools or services.”
The Florida Health Care Association (FHCA) has honored its Chief Executive Officer, Emmett Reed, with the 2024 Walter M. Johnson, Jr. Circle of Excellence Award at the Association’s Annual Conference & Trade Show in Orlando, Florida.
The Florida Department of Education, in collaboration with the Department of Revenue, has announced the commencement of the Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday. The event starts today, Monday, July 29, and will run through Sunday, August 11. This initiative allows Florida families to save on essential items needed for the upcoming school year.
The Florida Chamber Safety Council has introduced a new platform aimed at enhancing workplace heat safety for employers. This comprehensive toolkit includes resources such as heat stress prevention strategies, real-time weather monitoring applications, and continuing education and training opportunities.
Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-MT) has introduced the Ensuring Health in SNAP Act, aiming to facilitate states' ability to ban junk food within their food stamps programs. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps, was established as a joint state-federal welfare initiative to provide temporary or supplemental food assistance to needy individuals and families. Over time, the program's eligibility and spending have expanded, incorporating a broader range of food options, including junk food that can adversely affect recipients' health.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) reminds boaters and divers to practice safe boating and diving habits by maintaining 360-degree awareness and adhering to all divers-down flag regulations.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Free State of Florida has emerged as the leading state for first-time homebuyers, according to a new study from WalletHub reported by Fox Business. The study ranked five Florida cities in the top five and six in the top ten. Palm Bay secured the number one spot, followed by Cape Coral, Port St. Lucie, Tampa, and Orlando in second through fifth places respectively. Lakeland also featured prominently in the top ten, ranking seventh.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Floridians will soon gain access to the Atlantic Coast Conference's (ACC) media rights contracts central to Florida State University's (FSU) legal battle to leave the conference. Attorney General Ashley Moody secured an agreement from the ACC’s attorneys to release these documents following her legal action demanding compliance with Florida’s Public Records Act.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has extended the application deadline for several water quality protection grants. The online grant portal will remain open until July 31, 2024, allowing eligible entities to submit proposals for Fiscal Year 2024-25.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody has led an amicus brief with Iowa in support of Missouri’s legal challenge to New York’s prosecution of former President Donald J. Trump. The brief argues that New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg's actions constitute a misuse of state authority during the presidential election.
The Riviera Beach Police Foundation has appointed Port of Palm Beach Executive Director Michael Meekins to its Board of Directors. "I am honored to join the Board of Directors, allowing me to contribute to the nonprofit’s mission and objectives," said Meekins.
Tallahassee, Fla., July 8, 2024 – Florida Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. announced the selected books for the Commissioner’s Book of the Month for July. This monthly reading challenge aims to promote literacy and reading engagement in preK-12 schools. Each month, Commissioner Diaz highlights five recommended books—one per selected grade range.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has announced the introduction of two new license hard card designs featuring student artwork from this year’s Florida State Fish Art Contest. Grace Wang’s depiction of a Florida bass and Emma Nemes’ representation of a snook were selected as the new freshwater and saltwater designs, respectively.
A new state law aimed at protecting Floridians from moving scams is now in effect. The legislation mandates that movers register with the state, provide clear contracts, and avoid misleading advertising. Additionally, penalties have been increased for movers who refuse a lawful order to return private possessions to clients. To highlight these changes and inform residents about moving scams, Attorney General Ashley Moody is updating the "Scams at a Glance: On the Move" resource.
The Florida Chamber Foundation's latest report reveals that Florida continues to experience significant net income migration, with over $36.05 billion moving into the state annually. Despite this being $3 billion less than last year, driven by an increase in outbound migration rather than a decrease in inbound migration, Florida remains the leading destination for income migration in the United States. This figure is approximately 3.5 times that of Texas, which ranks second.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody, along with a coalition of 20 state attorneys general, is urging the United States Senate to pass the Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act (ICC Act). The legislation, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives on a bipartisan basis, aims to deter the International Criminal Court from asserting unlawful authority.