In this episode: A bill has begun moving in Florida’s Republican-controlled Legislature that would forbid school districts from considering the artistic or literary value of books that fringe activists want banned from libraries. Plus: The state House advances a plan to make public school students watch anti-abortion cartoons while the state Senate tries to put more bureaucracy between laid-off workers and the unemployment benefits they earned. Those bills and more from Day 9 of Florida’s 2026 legislative session.

Show notes

Following up on the two points that came up during the show:

* Republican state Rep. Dana Trabulsy is from Fort Pierce (not Tampa)

* Byron Donalds, the Republican Congressman running for Florida governor, has taken more than $1 million from Richard “Dick” Uihlein, a major funder of the Foundation for Government Accountability

The bills discussed in today’s show:

House Bill 1119 — Materials Harmful to Minors

Passed the House Education Administration Subcommittee by a 13-5 vote (vote sheet)

House Bill 4027 — Hillsborough County Public Schools, Hillsborough County

Passed the House Education Administration Subcommittee by a 17-1 vote (vote sheet)

House Bill 1071 — Education

Passed the House Student Academic Success Subcommittee by a 12-5 vote (vote sheet)

Senate Bill 216 — Verification of Reemployment Assistance Benefit Eligibility

Passed the Senate Transportation, Tourism and Economic Development Appropriations Committee by a 9-5 vote (vote sheet)

House Bill 433 — Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Passed the House Commerce Committee by an 18-0 vote (vote sheet)

House Bill 105 — Local Government Enforcement Actions

Passed the House Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee by a 16-0 vote (vote sheet)

Stories and other resources discussed in today’s show:

Hillsborough school board grills superintendent on book removals (Tampa Bay Times)

Under state threats, Hillsborough pulls transgender YouTuber’s memoir (Tampa Bay Times)

Is ‘Baby Olivia’ headed to a school near you? Bills in several states would allow screenings of fetal development video. (19th News)

Florida lawmakers are about to hand a revenge tool to a much-criticized industry | Opinion (Miami Herald editorial board)

Stop Florida’s Corporate “Food Gag” Bills (Stand for Health Freedom)

A billionaire-backed think tank keeps sabotaging Florida workers. More attacks are coming. (Seeking Rents)

Prodded by business lobbyists, lawmakers may cut more Floridians off from unemployment insurance (Seeking Rents)

Questions or comments? Send ‘em to [email protected]

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In this episode: A wild new bill in the Florida Legislature would let parents sue public school teachers for violating a parent’s right to oversee the “moral training” of their child. Plus: Lawmakers may give more power to the politician at the center of the “Hope Florida” scandal; take more money from cities and counties; and launch an Everglades-like environmental recovery project in northeast Florida. An update from Day 8 of Florida’s 2026 legislative session.

Show notes

The bills discussed in today’s show:

Senate Bill 1010 — Enforcement of Protections for Minors

Passed the Senate Children, Families and Elder Affairs Committee by a 5-1 vote (vote sheet)

House Bill 743 — Prohibited Sex-reassignment Prescriptions and Procedures

Passed the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee by 12-5 vote (vote sheet)

House Bill 103 — Local Business Taxes

Passed the House Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee by a 10-6 vote (vote sheet)

Senate Bill 408 — Advertisement of a Harmful Vaccine

Passed the Senate Regulated Industries Committee by a 5-3 vote (vote sheet)

House Bill 981 — Tributaries of St. Johns River

Passed the House Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee by a 16-0 vote (vote sheet)

Senate Bill 1066 — Tributaries of the St. Johns River

Passed the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee by an 8-0 vote (vote sheet)

And the Ivermectin bills:

House Bill 917 — Health Care

Senate Bill 1756 — Medical Freedom

Stories discussed in today’s show:

A lawyer for Ron DeSantis revealed the real motive behind one of Florida’s most controversial laws

Florida’s new budget sets the stage for a big environmental battle

Questions or comments? Send ‘em to [email protected]

Listen to the show: Apple | Spotify

Watch the show: YouTube

In this episode: In its first full floor session of 2026, the Florida House of Representatives passed bills to 1) Give fertilized eggs some of the same legal rights as living children; 2) Repeal a bipartisan gun-safety law passed after the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School; and 3) Protect a giant mining corporation from lawsuits over radioactive material left behind on former mine sites. Those bills and more from Day 3 of the 2026 legislative session in a state that seems to be growing more extreme by the day.

Show notes

The bills discussed in today’s show:

House Bill 167 — Former Phosphate Mine Lands

Passed the House of Representatives by an 87-24 vote (vote sheet)

House Bill 289 — Civil Liability for the Wrongful Death of an Unborn Child

Passed the House of Representatives by a 76-34 vote (vote sheet)

House Bill 133 — Minimum Age for Firearm Purchase or Transfer

Passed the House of Representatives by a 74-37 vote (vote sheet)

House Bill 6003 — Recovery of Damages for Medical Negligence Resulting in Death

Passed the House of Representatives by an 88-17 vote (vote sheet)

Stories referenced in today’s show:

Lobbyists for a mining company wrote a bill to block lawsuits over radiation on former mines

A dream for developers, a nightmare for women: Florida lawmakers start a new session

Questions or comments? Send ‘em to [email protected]

Listen to the show: Apple | Spotify

Watch the show: YouTube

In this episode: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis just replaced a justice on the Florida Supreme Court who couldn’t participate in redistricting cases with a new judge who has defended partisan gerrymandering. The switch comes just as DeSantis and the Florida Legislature prepare to redraw to the state’s Congressional districts to give Republicans an even greater advantage in the 2026 elections — an issue with national consequences that will almost inevitably end up before the Florida Supreme Court. Meanwhile, special interests and government agencies are teaming up to cut the public out of public hearings. And in the Florida Senate, we don’t talk about Big Sugar. An update from Day 2 of Florida’s 2026 legislative session.

Show notes:

The bills discussed in today’s show:

House Bill 655 — Pub. Meetings/Attorney Meetings to Discuss Private Property Rights Claims

Passed the House Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee by a 17-0 vote (vote sheet)

House Bill 7009 — OGSR/Public Service Commission

Passed the House Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee by a 15-1 vote (vote sheet)

Senate Bill 290 — Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Passed the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee by a 17-3 vote (vote sheet)

Stories referenced in today’s show:

Florida court upholds DeSantis’ congressional redistricting map

Florida Supreme Court upholds congressional district maps

Trump judicial nominee “indefinitely” stalled by criminal probe

City rejects $6.6 million RYAM property demand

Duke Energy case and legislative bills could bring more secrecy

Questions or comments? Send ‘em to [email protected]

Listen to the show: Apple | Spotify

Watch the show: YouTube

In this episode: There comes a point during every session of the Florida Legislature where it looks like it’s all fallen apart, everybody is mad at each other, and nothing will ever get done. It doesn’t usually come on Day 1, though. Plus: A bill to let giant landowners dodge local rezoning votes starts moving the Senate, and General Motors lobbies to legalize credit card fees on car loans.

Show notes

The bills discussed in today’s show:

Senate Bill 354 — Blue Ribbon Projects

Passed the Senate Community Affairs Committee by 7-1 vote (vote sheet)

House Bill 479 — Land and Water Management

Passed the House Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee by an 11-5 vote (vote sheet)

Senate Bill 838 — Electronic Payments of Retail Installment Contracts

Passed the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee by a 10-0 vote (vote sheet)

House Bill 289 — Civil Liability for the Wrongful Death of an Unborn Child

Senate Bill 1734 — Civil Remedies Pertaining to Abortions

House Bill 167 — Former Phosphate Mine Land

Stories referenced in today’s show:

House speaker calls DeSantis’ hand-shake snub ‘petulant’

A dream for developers, a nightmare for women: Florida lawmakers start a new session

A New York investment firm with vast land holdings across north Florida wants state lawmakers to greenlight giant developments

Florida may send bounty hunters after women and doctors

In this episode: Since 2017, companies linked to a multibillion-dollar investment manager in New York have spent at least $230 million buying up more than 80,000 acres across north Florida — amassing giant tracts of largely rural land near Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Panama City. The same investment firm now wants Florida lawmakers to make it much easier to develop that land.

Editor’s note: A written version of this story first appeared in the Seeking Rents newsletter:

A New York investment firm with vast land holdings across north Florida wants state lawmakers to greenlight giant developments

Show notes

House Bill 299 — Blue Ribbon Projects (first vote)

Senate Bill 354 — Blue Ribbon Projects

Senate Community Affairs Committee

Committee meeting notice

To contact for Florida legislators:

Find Your Elected Officials in Florida

Florida House of Representatives full list of members

Florida Senate full list of senators

Questions or comments? Send ‘em to [email protected]

Listen to the show: Apple | Spotify

Watch the show: YouTube

In this episode: One of the world’s largest mining firms wrote a bill in the Florida Legislature that would help the company dodge lawsuits related to radiation on former mines — and make it easier to develop some of its vast land holdings across the southern interior of the state.

Editor’s note: A written version of this story first appeared in the Seeking Rents newsletter: Lobbyists for a mining company wrote a bill to block lawsuits over radiation on former mines

Show notes

The bill discussed in today’s show:

House Bill 167 — Former Phosphate Mining Lands (first committee vote, second committee vote)

To contact for Florida legislators:

Find Your Elected Officials in Florida

Florida House of Representatives full list of members

Florida Senate full list of senators

Questions or comments? Send ‘em to [email protected]

Listen to the show: Apple | Spotify

Watch the show: YouTube

In this episode: Florida Power & Light recently won permission to raise electricity rates by at least $7 billion over the next four years. It appears to be the largest electric rate hike in American history. In this episode, we explain why this increase is so big, how FPL pulled it off, and who should be held accountable.

Editor’s note: A written version of this story first appeared in the Seeking Rents newsletter: Florida just approved the largest electric rate increase in history. Here’s how it happened.

Show notes

Check out some of Seeking Rents’ previous coverage of Florida Power & Light and utility regulation in Florida:

Inside the $5 billion deal that Gov. Ron DeSantis’ political appointees gave to Florida Power & Light (August 2022)

Florida Power & Light pocketed $1 billion in tax cuts for itself. But now it can pass tax increases on to its customers (August 2022)

How Ron DeSantis helped Florida Power & Light raise electricity rates by $5 billion (September 2022)

A power company wants to take $1 billion from Florida customers. It just gave $3 million to Florida politicians. (November 2022)

Customers took Florida’s biggest power company to court. Ron DeSantis and lawmakers stepped up to help...the power company. (July 2023)

As his campaign runs low on cash, DeSantis turns to big Florida businesses for help (October 2023)

Ron DeSantis just re-stacked the deck on the board that sets electricity rates in Florida (October 2025)

Questions or comments? Send ‘em to [email protected]

Listen to the show: Apple | Spotify

Watch the show: YouTube

In this episode: Florida lawmakers have begun working on a new bill that would let giant landowners lock in real-estate development rights regardless of the underlying zoning — and without having to go through a vote before the local county commission or city council. It’s already looking like one of the big lobbying blitzes of Florida’s 2026 legislative session, which begins next month. Plus: Ron DeSantis doubles down on the state’s “Schools of Hope” privatization program and wants more money to continue New College of Florida’s transformation from quirky liberal arts college to right-wing academic and employment hub.

Show notes:

The bill’s discussed in today’s show:

House Bill 299 — Blue Ribbon Projects (see votes)

Senate Bill 354 — Blue Ribbon Projects

Senate Bill 208 — Land Use and Development Regulations (see votes)

Ron DeSantis’ proposed FY2025-26 budget and his budget-related bills

Questions or comments? Send ‘em to [email protected]

Listen to the show: Apple | Spotify

Watch the show: YouTube

In this episode: Pushed by a potential future candidate for governor, Florida lawmakers are working on a bill that would make it easier for the agriculture industry to sue people who criticize its production practices. It could help Florida’s politically influential Big Sugar companies attack environmental groups who say the sugar industry has polluted the Everglades. Plus: More bills on the move as Florida’s Republican-controlled Legislature gears up for a new legislative session that begins in January.

Show notes

The bill’s discussed in today’s show:

Senate Bill 290 — Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (first committee vote)

House Bill 167 — Former Phosphate Mining Lands (first committee vote, second committee vote)

House Bill 191 — Verification of Reemployment Assistance Benefit Eligibility (first committee vote)

House Bill 289 — Civil Liability for the Wrongful Death of an Unborn Child (first committee vote, second committee vote)

House Bill 37 — Removal, Storage, and Cleanup of Electric Vehicles (first committee vote, second committee vote)

Senate Bill 88 (2021) — Farming Operations (Senate final vote, House final vote)

For further reading:

Lobbyists for a mining company wrote a bill to block lawsuits over radiation on former mines (Seeking Rents)

In Support of Free Speech on Food (article from Penn State Law Review)

Publix sought to block electric vehicle rules, records show (Seeking Rents)

Prodded by business lobbyists, lawmakers may cut more Floridians off from unemployment insurance (Seeking Rents)

Questions or comments? Send ‘em to [email protected]

Listen to the show: Apple | Spotify

Watch the show: YouTube