A gun bill that’s had some problems in the Florida Senate this legislative session has passed its first House committee. Sascha Cordner reports. The Florida House and Senate are already clashing over education—higher ed in particular. Lynn Hatter reports the House is planning deep cuts for the state’s public colleges and universities while the Senate is looking to increase funding for both systems. New legislation expanding a needle-exchange program moved through both the Florida House and

This November Floridians will decide whether felons should get their voting rights back. After activists gathered over one million petitions, the constitutional amendment has qualified for the 2018 ballot. Kate Payne reports. The Florida Constitution Revision Commission convenes every twenty years to review proposals to the state constitution. This go-around, the commission began with nearly 900 filed proposals. A proposed bill of rights for nursing home residents has proven contentious, as Sara

The Florida House is ready to take up two familiar healthcare reform measures Wednesday. Supporters say both bills will make care more accessible and more affordable. But Kate Payne reports the plans face uphill battles in the Senate. A proposal moving through the Florida Constitution Revision Commission—a body that meets one every two decades to bring proposed constitutional changes directly to voters—would give more duties to the state’s Lt. Governor. Regan McCarthy has more... The month of

The plight of immigrants brought to the United States as children reverberated throughout national politics this week. But DACA sparked lively debates in Florida as well. Kate Payne catches us up on the program, which is slated to expire in March. Florida lawmakers appear to be fast tracking a controversial bill that seeks to regulate the state’s pregnancy crisis centers. As Sascha Cordner reports, the measure that wades into the abortion debate has already passed the Florida House and is now

State House Speaker Richard Corcoran wants the Department of Homeland Security to investigate two Florida mayors for supporting sanctuary city policies. It’s the latest in Corcoran’s push for attention on the issue. Lynn Hatter reports. Florida lawmakers are working on a bill they hope will help pave a faster path forward for children of incarcerated parents. That story from Regan McCarthy. A Florida lawmaker is trying to revive a gun bill that has already failed to pass twice during the 2018

Florida lawmakers want to tighten the rules for low-income families getting cash assistance. Kate Payne reports a bill moving in the House would withhold benefits longer for those who don’t meet work requirements. Florida’s public community and state colleges could become their own system, and move from under the authority of the state board of education. But with that newfound independence would come strict caps on the number of students that can enroll in bachelor’s degree programs at those

In advance of this Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. observance, Tom Flanigan reports Florida’s Capital City was marking the occasion with various events intended to promote historic appreciation and racial dialogue. One doesn’t need to look far to find examples of threats being made through social media. Messages left online can have real impacts on their victims, but Regan McCarthy reports, Florida officials say there’s little they can do about it since technology has outpaced the stat law. Over the

The Florida House is rolling out dozens of recommendations on the state’s hurricane response efforts. Kate Payne reports equipping emergency shelters and preparing healthcare facilities top the list. In 2017 the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals helped reunite thousands of pets with their owners. Many of those animals had been lost during disasters such as the wildfires in California as well as Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Now Regan McCarthy reports Florida leaders are

President Donald Trump’s derogatory statements on Thursday about a number of countries are echoing through the Florida political landscape. Nick Evans has the story—a warning: the language here could be inappropriate for some listeners. Lynn Hatter and Kate Payne hit some of the highlights in both legislative chambers as the first week of the 2018 Session comes to a close. The devastation caused by Florida’s opioid crisis isn’t confined to those actually addicted to those substances. Tom

Lawmakers are beginning to tackle the opioid crisis. But while seemingly everyone agrees the Legislature needs to intervene, Nick Evans reports the road ahead might be a little bumpy—as even supporters seem to have quibbles, tweaks or additions they’d like to offer. One of the first major pieces of legislation is moving forward—an effort to expand both merit and need-based financial aid programs and revamp the way students pay tuition at universities. Lynn Hatter reports the measure has