Florida lawmakers began moving quickly Monday to pass major property-insurance changes, with supporters saying the plan would stabilize the troubled system and critics saying it would hurt consumers. Sen. Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrhills, said lawmakers need to take action as homeowners across the state face large…
Read More Sides Battle Over Florida Insurance Litigation Changes
The legal battle over a Florida law that restricts classroom instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation is pitting red states against blue states. Republican attorneys general of 14 states last week sought approval to file a brief supporting Florida in a fight about the…
Read More Red States, Blue States Choose Sides On Florida Education Law
A statewide grand jury this week called for the Legislature to expand a law targeting people who smuggle undocumented immigrants into the state. The grand jury, impaneled at the request of Gov. Ron DeSantis, issued a presentment that described smuggling of undocumented immigrants as an…
Read More Florida Grand Jury Calls For Immigration Law Changes
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – With Florida lawmakers poised to start a special legislative session, a financial-ratings agency issued a report Thursday that warned about the possibility of additional insolvencies of property insurers and said long-term changes are needed in the state’s troubled insurance market. The AM…
Read More Report: ‘Long-Term Solutions’ Needed For Insurance
State regulators Tuesday approved utility costs that will translate to higher electric bills in January for homeowners and businesses — and the pain won’t end there. Bills will go up in January for many customers of Florida Power & Light, along with customers of Duke…
Read More Higher Electric Bills In Florida Set For January
With Florida’s property-insurance system in turmoil, state lawmakers could be poised to take major steps to try to stabilize the market during a special legislative session next week. Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, and House Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, released a formal session proclamation…
Read More Major Insurance Issues Teed Up For Florida Special Session
U.S. Sugar Corp. has completed a $315 million purchase of another large player in the sugar industry as the federal government continues to fight the merger on antitrust grounds. Attorneys for Clewiston-based U.S. Sugar said in a court filing Tuesday that it had completed the…
Read More U.S. Sugar Completes Deal Amid Legal Fight
In what could be a first-of-its-kind case in Florida, a former state correctional officer is asking an appeals court to overturn his dismissal for using medical marijuana. Samuel Velez Ortiz, who was a sergeant for the Florida Department of Corrections, was approved by a doctor…
Read More Former Florida Correctional Officer Asks Appeals Court To Overturn Medical Marijuana Dismissal
A federal appeals court has rejected an attempt by a chapter of the conservative group Moms for Liberty to block restrictions that the Brevard County School Board placed on public participation at board meetings. A panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last…
Read More Court Refuses To Block Florida School Board Speech Policy
As Florida lawmakers try to stabilize the troubled property-insurance system next month, they could face worsening problems with reinsurance, a critical part of the system. Fitch Ratings released an analysis Wednesday that said overall reinsurance prices are expected to increase by more than 10 percent…
Read More Florida Faces More Reinsurance Problems