Conflicts over water in Florida have become more frequent, intense, and costly in recent years. In a new backgrounder titled "Tapping Water Markets in Florida," Sal Nuzzo, Executive Director of Consumers Defense and Senior Fellow at The James Madison Institute, along with Reed Watson, Director of the Hayek Center for the Business of Prosperity and Professor of Practice at Clemson University, advocate for the implementation of water markets.
The James Madison Institute (JMI) has released a new policy brief titled “Bringing Government into the 21st Century: Artificial Intelligence and State Government Operations.” The document outlines potential uses of artificial intelligence (AI) in state government operations and offers policy recommendations aimed at modernizing these operations to deliver improved services.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, argues that H.B. 1069 discriminates against parents who oppose book bans and censorship. It gives parents who favor censorship a formal process to challenge a local school board’s decision to keep a book on school shelves, while parents opposed to censorship are excluded from the process altogether. The plaintiffs, parents of students in Florida public schools, are seeking review of their local school boards’ decisions to remove or restrict books in their children’s school districts and do not...
Florida TaxWatch released its Florida Economic Forecast (2023-2028) today, providing an assessment of various economic indicators including population growth, net migration, employment, GDP and income growth, and tourism. The data for these forecasts is provided through a partnership with the Regional Economic Consulting Group (REC Group).
Florida’s future and economic success depend on engaging all Floridians, including an often overlooked population: disconnected youth. Ensuring these young Floridians have every opportunity to secure a path to prosperity is essential. However, barriers to obtaining a high school diploma or equivalent (e.g., a GED) often limit prosperity for many of these individuals.
The federal government has issued a warning that La Niña and warmer-than-average ocean temperatures could result in an above-average Atlantic hurricane season. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts 17 to 25 named storms during the 2024 hurricane season, which began on June 1 and runs through November 30. Of these, 8 to 13 storms are predicted to become hurricanes with winds of 74 mph or higher, including 4 to 7 major hurricanes with winds of at least 111 mph.
The Florida Chamber of Commerce has unveiled its 2024 "How They Voted" report, naming House Speaker Paul Renner as the Most Valuable Legislator. This recognition highlights Renner's leadership and efforts in passing pro-jobs, Chamber-backed legislative priorities.
Orlando, FL – Beginning July 1st, as part of the month-long Freedom Summer Sales Tax holiday, personal electric scooters will be sales tax-free. The provision exempting scooters was added by Senator Linda Stewart (D-Orlando) and would eliminate sales tax collected on scooters retailing for $500 or less.
A bill signed into law last month by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis will permit advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants to order medically necessary home healthcare services. The new law is expected to lower costs and improve outcomes for the state’s most disadvantaged residents.
The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) has expressed strong support for recent legislation aimed at reducing the sales tax on commercial leases in Florida.
On May 31, 2024, a coalition expressed strong support for the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act in a letter addressed to Speaker Johnson and Republican Leader McConnell. The letter criticizes President Biden's immigration policies, stating that "as many as 10 million illegal aliens have entered the country" since he took office. The coalition argues that while it is unlawful for non-citizens to vote, there is currently no mechanism to enforce this law.
Florida voting rights groups have issued a formal letter to Secretary of State Cord Byrd, urging the state not to use data from EagleAI or similar platforms for voter list maintenance. They argue that such action would likely violate both state and federal law and could improperly jeopardize the voting status of thousands of Floridians.
In a continuing effort to preserve the historical integrity of the Royal community in Florida, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and the Community of Royal are challenging the state's revised nomination for listing the area on the National...
The Florida Senate announced that Governor Ron DeSantis has signed SB 764 into law. The legislation, sponsored by Senator Linda Stewart (D–Orlando), mandates that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) retain sexual offense evidence kits of non-reporting persons for 50 years.
The Florida Chamber Health Council unveiled the first business-led mental health research report in the nation this morning. The initiative aims to unite the business community, mental health experts, and policymakers on 25 strategies for creating systemic change to improve mental health outcomes both in and out of the workplace.
The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) has voiced its opposition to a new bill in Florida that targets diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives within teacher preparation programs.