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Studio 67FAC News Clips – February 26, 2026
COUNTY
WDBO
Orange County Considers Buffer Zone to Keep Vape Shops Away from Public Schools
Commissioner Nicole Wilson proposes zoning changes after complaints about a vape shop near Olympia High School, with officials set to discuss the measure April 7.
Daytona Beach News Journal
Volusia Chair Jeff Brower calls for local control in county address
Amid a Florida legislative session that has included talk of who controls water quality and whether property taxes will be cut, Volusia County Council Chairman Jeff Brower advocated for home rule at the “State of the County” address on Wednesday, Feb. 25.
TECHNOLOGY
Lkld Now
Proposals for Massive Data Centers Are Popping Up Across Florida. Are Local Governments Prepared?
Florida doesn’t have a hyperscale data center operating yet, but proposals to build them are emerging all across the state.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT
CFPM
‘Time running out’ for fix to law that limits home rule, advocates say
As the end of this year’s legislative session quickly approaches, local leaders and growth planning advocates are urging state lawmakers to make good on their promise to fix a new law causing major challenges for counties and cities across Florida.
PROPERTY TAX
Miami Times Online
Gov. DeSantis still sees Special Session as necessary for property tax relief
Gov. Ron DeSantis is praising the House for passing a path to homestead property tax abatement, but still believes that the ultimate product will have to emerge during a Special Session after Sine Die.
Bradenton Herald
Editorial: Proposed tax break would be great for millionaires, bad for communities
State lawmakers voted last week to serve Floridians a dose of pretty poison, bottled in the shape of a massive tax cut and dangled before voters in the November election.
WUWF
Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia told members of Tallahassee’s Network of Entrepreneurs and Business Advocates (NEBA) on Feb. 24 that both he and Governor Ron DeSantis really want to get rid of property taxes on homesteaded properties. He just doesn’t think it’ll happen in the next few weeks.
LEGISLATION
Florida Politics
Senate vote brings Florida one step closer to e-bike and e-scooter regulations
The bill comes in response to mounting concerns over e-bike and e-scooter crashes.
Florida Politics
University Town Center Improvement District proposal heading to House floor
‘What’s difficult is that there’s a drainage basin that exists in 2 counties, so it’s very hard to coordinate the overall drainage.’
Florida Politics
Florida DEI bill threatens local governments
Gov. Ron DeSantis may be on his way out the door, but his culture wars live on. There’s another round brewing in Tallahassee.
FAC News Clips – February 25, 2026
COUNTY
TC Palm
St. Lucie County sales tax renewal for Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce
St. Lucie County voters likely will decide in November whether to renew a half-percent sales tax for infrastructure.
Fox 13
Manatee County’s District 1 commissioner suddenly passes away: ‘Greatly missed’
BRADENTON, Fla. – Manatee County announced the death of one of their commissioners, Carol Ann Felts, on Tuesday.
Your Observer
Local legislators and businesses come together on Manatee County Day
Manatee County commissioners travel to Tallahassee to meet with legislators annually to discuss the county’s needs and priorities.
Orlando Weekly
Demings gives feds more time to renegotiate reimbursement for ICE detention costs
Federal officials requested the county extend their deadline for negotiations after Demings threatened to potentially cancel their agreement allowing the local jail to serve as a temporary detention center.
TECHNOLOGY
WUWF
Florida House starts to advance rules on massive data centers
Legislation putting new restrictions on large-scale data centers, major plank of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ push to put guardrails on artificial intelligence, cleared its first House committee on Tuesday.
WPBF
Developers hit pause on St. Lucie County data center plans
The developers’ withdrawal of their application does not mean the plans are off the table, according to a county commissioner.
STATE
Miami Herald
Florida Cabinet approves $40M for rural immigration enforcement
Gov. Ron DeSantis and members of the Florida Cabinet on Tuesday approved roughly $40 million to reimburse local law enforcement agencies — primarily in rural counties — for a rapid buildup of equipment and detention capacity as part of the state’s escalating immigration crackdown.
LEGISLATION
Sun Sentinel
Fort Lauderdale not a fan of ‘catastrophic’ Live Local bills
Florida lawmakers, in their zeal to boost affordable housing to accommodate the state’s surging population, have come up with a one-size-fits-all approach that will have dire consequences for crowded urban areas like Fort Lauderdale, critics say.
Midflorida Newspaper
House passes budget, but Speaker warns against ‘artificial deadline’
The House passed its $113.6 billion budget proposal Thursday, but House Speaker Daniel Perez warned negotiations with the Senate could be rocky, possibly leading to an extension of the legislative session.
Florida Bar
Bill boosting payments to court clerks advances
The House Judiciary Committee voted unanimously Tuesday to significantly raise the reimbursement rate the state pays to Florida court clerks for waiving filing fees and service charges for domestic violence victims and the poor.
Orlando Weekly
Could Pulse memorial be affected by Florida’s proposed crackdown on city-funded DEI?
A proposal making its way through the state Legislature would prevent cities from funding any diversity, equity or inclusion initiative, with limited exceptions.
Florida Politics
Release the records! Final House Committee OKs government transparency bill
Government agencies’ default setting is ‘ignore, delay, and deny’ when it comes to public records.
FAC News Clips – February 24, 2026
COUNTY
WGCU
Stealth tax proposal surfaces as Sarasota County spending outpaces revenue
Sarasota County staff is preparing to float new tax options at next week’s budget workshop before the County Commission — including one tax that would not appear on property tax bills — after internal budget documents show spending growth is forcing the county to consider dipping into reserves, shifting money between funds, and reducing services.
Florida Politics
Randy Fine spotlights federal funds for Flagler beaches
The money came quickly after the lawmaker engaged the executive branch.
Levy Citizen
Levy County launches live streaming for commission meetings
Levy County residents now have a new way to follow local government in real time.
Florida Daily
Florida Sees Another Record-Breaking Year for Tourism
The number is 143 million. That’s how many visitors came to the state in 2025 according to the estimates from Visit Florida.
DATA CENTERS
Florida Politics
Mark McNees: Sam Altman just made the case for SB 484
SB 484 would set guardrails for data center water, energy use
Route-Fifty
Data center tax breaks are on the chopping block in some states
Rising energy costs and environmental concerns drive states to reconsider incentives.
PROPERTY TAXES
Miami Times Online
Daniel Perez leads House on ‘historic’ vote to eliminate most homestead property taxes
The House has approved a resolution proposing a constitutional amendment that would eliminate most property taxes on homesteaded properties.
Miami Herald
Florida property tax cuts could hurt renters, local services
Florida lawmakers are pushing proposals to slash or eliminate property taxes on homesteaded properties, with voters potentially deciding the issue in November. But a series of Miami Herald editorials warns the cuts could backfire on renters, local hospitals, small municipalities and lower-income residents.
LEGISLATION
CL Tampa
Hillsborough Republican sponsors bill critics call a ‘death knell’ for rural lands
‘This needs to be brought to the public, to the surrounding community, down in the little Manatee area, Wimauma, the Sundance area.’
FAC News Clips – February 19, 2026
COUNTY
WLRN
Florida to give $50M to local law agencies for immigration enforcement
The State Board of Immigration Enforcement (SBIE) is set to approve another $53 million in awards for local law enforcement agencies.
WJHG
Okaloosa County begins planning for America’s 250th birthday celebrations
OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) -The Okaloosa County America 250 Commission held its first meeting in Shalimar to begin planning celebrations for the nation’s 250th birthday in 2026.
News 4 Jax
E-bike safety in focus after child’s death; St. Johns County weighs education over new local rules
- JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – Electric bikes are becoming a common sight on neighborhood streets and school routes across St. Johns County, but their growing popularity among children is raising new safety concerns.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT
Florida Politics
House ‘Blue Ribbon’ projects land preservation bill takes next step toward passage
The measure earned support from Republicans and Democrats.
WLRN
Rather than overturn rare veto, Miami-Dade commissioners extend time for major wetlands project
Miami-Dade County commissioners voted Wednesday to reconsider a controversial heavy equipment headquarters on wetlands outside the county’s urban development boundary rather than reject a rare veto by the mayor.
Florida Politics
Live Local Act fix exempting farmland, protected areas from preemption moves to House floor
The bill was amended to exempt other environmentally sensitive, agricultural and protected areas too.
DOGE
WQCS
Florida CFO says Fort Pierce overspending by $10 million
FORT PIERCE — Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia said Feb. 18 that the City of Fort Pierce is overspending by more than $10 million and urged local officials to reduce spending and lower property taxes.
PROPERTY TAXES
Florida Politics
Ron DeSantis defends failure to produce property tax proposal he’s promised for months
Good things come to those who wait?
LEGISLATION
FL Voice News
Florida House passes business tax cuts, unemployment reforms, and education measures
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida House on Tuesday passed a slate of bills shaping airports, unemployment rules, business taxes, and court procedures, with lawmakers sparring over partisan and policy priorities.
FAC News Clips – February 18, 2026
COUNTY
Observer
Volusia County Council turns down local ‘toilet to tap’ ban, charter amendment in 4-3 vote
Citing no county plans to reuse blackwater into drinking water, and with control over only 7% of utilities, the majority of the council voted against an ordinance or 2026 charter amendment.
Orlando Weekly
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings threatens to cancel agreement with ICE over costs
Demings sent a letter to the feds expressing concern about how much it’s costing local taxpayers to house people detained by ICE in the Orange County Jail
GROWTH MANAGEMENT
Florida Politics
Senators on the dais largely offered praise, noting that numerous community members have voiced concern about SB 180 since it was enacted last year.
PROPERTY TAXES
WUSF
Pasco tax collector questions effect of property tax reform
Pasco would lose as much as $480 million if the proposals pass.
DATA CENTERS & ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Florida Politics
Data centers as tax relief? Florida voters say yes
Most Florida voters are open data centers positively impacting their tax bill.
Route-Fifty
Red and blue states alike want to limit AI in insurance. Trump wants to limit the states.
A revolt is afoot across states against the use of artificial intelligence in health insurance determinations — and against efforts led by President Donald Trump to tie states’ hands.
LEGISLATION
The Bradenton Times
Florida House and Senate are deeply divided over budget
The Tallahassee money games have begun.
Florida Politics
House approves Adam Botana proposal to eliminate most local business taxes across Florida
Botana characterized the repeal as ‘about $200 million off the backs of small businesses in the state of Florida.’
Florida Politics
House panel advances bill protecting historic monuments despite concern over Confederate statues
Some legislators worry the measure will intimidate minorities and take away home rule by local governments.
FAC News Clips – February 12, 2026
COUNTY
WPBF
Palm Beach County launches tiny homes initiative for substance abuse recovery
‘We’ve got to move fast because our population is growing’: Palm Beach County commissioners have approved a pilot program to build tiny homes for individuals with substance abuse issues, funded by opioid settlement money
Florida Politics
House backs Michael Owen’s Hillsborough Commission overhaul, elected Superintendent proposals
The House’s approval sets the stage for what could become two of the most consequential local ballot questions in Hillsborough County in 2026.
CNW
Broward County modernizes policing with $4M records system upgrade
Broward County is moving forward with a major technology overhaul for local law enforcement, aiming to streamline operations and improve information sharing across agencies.
Alachua County
County Releases ‘Cents & Sensibility’ Budget Guide
In response to confusing property tax information put out in recent months by the State of Florida, Alachua County has released all eight chapters of its Cents & Sensibility budget series as a digital, interactive booklet designed to help residents better understand how county government is funded and how spending decisions are made.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
WLRN
Florida Senate votes to extend DeSantis emergency fund
The legislation extends the fund until the end of 2027, but Democrats take issue with how it’s been used for immigration enforcement actions and say it needs stronger oversight.
DATA CENTERS
Citrus County Chronicle
Citrus County moves to set data center guidelines
Citrus County commissioners voted 5-0 Tuesday to instruct staff to draft land development code guidelines addressing concerns related to data centers, including environmental protections.
PROPERTY TAXES
Florida Politics
‘A bumper sticker,’ not a policy: Jeff Brandes again criticizes property tax savings proposals
Even with a Special Session possible on the issue, lawmakers appear far from consensus.
LEGISLATION
WFSU
Florida bill could force local governments to end DEI programs and funding
Local governments could soon be forced to shut down offices and programs focused on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.