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Studio 67FAC 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.
FAC News Clips – February 11, 2026
COUNTY
Bradenton Times
Orange County to set deadline to increase reimbursement for housing ICE detainees
Orange County leaders signaled Tuesday they’ll take a more aggressive posture in their demand to be reimbursed in full for housing ICE detainees in their jail.
Alachua Chronicle
Alachua County Fire Rescue earns national accreditation
ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. – Alachua County Fire Rescue (ACFR) is proud to announce it has been awarded national accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS), recognizing the department’s commitment to excellence in emergency medical services, patient care, and operational performance.
Bradenton Times
Local governments provide proof that polarization is not inevitable
(ROCHESTER, NY) When it comes to national politics, Americans are fiercely divided across a range of issues, including gun control , election security and vaccines . It’s not new for Republicans and Democrats to be at odds over issues, but things have reached a point where even the idea of compromising appears to be anathema , making it more difficult to solve thorny problems.
PROPERTY TAXES
Florida Politics
Paul Renner prods Legislature on property tax relief
The Palm Coast Republican wants his former colleagues to take action.
News Break
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – At the February 10 Alachua County Commission meeting, County staff responded to a recent Florida DOGE report that highlighted Alachua County budget increases, and Commissioners expressed the hope that initiatives to limit property taxes on homesteaded properties would fail.
Florida Politics
Jolien Caraballo: For fast-growing cities, property tax changes will impact quality of life
‘If we want quality of life in Florida to remain a success story, we must ensure that revenue discussions are grounded in the realities local governments face every day.’
Wink News
How property tax cuts could impact road funding | Lee County
LEHIGH ACRES, Fla. (WINK) — A massive pothole on Beth Avenue North and 70th Street West is hard to miss — and even harder to drive over.
LEGISLATION
Florida Politics
We have liftoff: First House panel OKs measure calling for tax breaks to aerospace companies
‘We need to move forward in a way that keeps up with the industry and we need to be aggressive.’
Florida Politics
House Committee supports bill to make Florida public records more accessible
‘Public records, they’re literally property of the public. So we should make sure that they’re accessible to the public.’
Florida Politics
Michael Owen proposal creating south Hillsborough stewardship district advancing to House floor
While the district would be created upon the bill taking effect, its authority to levy ad valorem taxes would require voter approval.
Florida Politics
Senate bill on local government budget transparency moves through Committee
Some lawmakers warned the stronger oversight rules would hurt small cities and rural counties.
FAC News Clips – February 10, 2026
COUNTY
Click Orlando
Orange County made nearly $400M in tourist taxes in 2025. Here’s what the money is used for and why
By law, tourist development taxes have to be used for tourism-related projects
Daily Commercial
Lake County leaders seek millions in Tallahassee for infrastructure
Lake County leaders have traveled to Tallahassee to advocate for funding and support for major community projects and improvements.
WMNF
Pinellas leaders celebrate completion of $126 million beach nourishment project
Pinellas County has completed its nearly $126 million beach nourishment project, restoring beaches after erosion from an active 2024 hurricane storm season.
Levy Citizen
Levy County advances major oyster restoration project through RESTORE Act
The Levy County Board of County Commissioners has approved an updated State Expenditure Plan under the RESTORE Act Spill Impact Component, clearing the way for a major new investment in oyster reef restoration and working waterfront recovery along Levy County’s Gulf Coast.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE & DATA CENTERS
Fox 13
Florida AI legislation update: House feud threatens DeSantis’ AI guardrails and data center limits
TALLAHASSEE – Florida’s 2026 legislative session is seeing a significant divide between the House and Senate over the regulation of artificial intelligence.
CL Tampa
Why Florida is hiding its data center boom
Hoping to position Florida as the next big destination for large and hyperscale data centers that power artificial intelligence, state lawmakers are weighing how much corporate secrecy is enough but not too much and how to manage the centers’ intensive demands for energy and water where they operate.
PROPERTY TAXES
Sun-Sentinel
What we miss when we talk about property taxes | Opinion
When we talk about property taxes, the conversation often starts and ends with the number at the bottom of the bill.
Click Orlando
‘Worst states:’ DeSantis weighs in on latest Florida tax ranking
Index looks at tax competition between different states
Miami Herald
How Florida property tax cuts could hollow out Miami-Dade cities
When Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and others talk about eliminating property taxes, their pitch seems straight-forward: We’ll fix Florida’s affordability crisis and cities and counties will be forced to live within their means.
DOGE
Florida Politics
CFO pushes for government transparency — except in his own Office
It took Florida Politics more than 5 months and required a lawyer’s letter for the CFO to release 20 pages of public records.
LEGISLATION
My News 13
Senate passes bill on renting ‘affordable dwelling units’
OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — A pending bill in the Florida legislature may provide more affordable housing options for both homeowners and renters across the state if it is signed into law.
AROUND THE COUNT(R)Y
Merced Sun-Star
California seniors could choose to opt out of property tax
If you’re a Californian who is at least 60 years old, Rishi Kumar thinks you should be able to choose whether to pay property taxes.
FAC News Clips – February 9, 2026
COUNTY
News 13
Orange County invests $644K on mental health for OCFR
ORLANDO, Fla. — Orange County leaders are allocating $644,000 for behavioral health evaluations for Orange County Fire Rescue, a move aimed at strengthening mental health support for firefighters and other employees who routinely respond to traumatic emergencies.
WPTV
STILL ON TRACK? Why this Brightline project is delayed
County officials submit second federal grant request for $69.2 million Brightline station project
MidFlorida Newspaper
Polk County celebrates its 165th anniversary
The Polk County Board of County Commissioners and county leaders celebrated Polk County’s 165th anniversary on Tuesday, Feb. 3 following the commission board meeting.
ENVIRONMENT
The Invading Sea
Questions surround Florida’s attempt to expand its role in Everglades restoration
A few weeks after the U.S. government began incarcerating undocumented migrants in the fragile Florida Everglades, Gov. Ron DeSantis held a news event some 57 miles from the facility, in beachy Marco Island, that went somewhat unnoticed at the time among the national media.
Florida Politics
Wilton Simpson: Large tract of Hardee County land preserved for farmers
The 1,300 acres of land will be blocked from having any urban development on the property.
DOGE
The Independent Alligator
County officials, grant recipients express frustration over DOGE criticisms
The report claimed the county and local organizations misused funds
PROPERTY TAXES
Florida Courier
What ideas do Florida lawmakers have to cut property taxes?
MIAMI — The window for Florida lawmakers to meaningfully debate cutting property taxes gets smaller with each passing day.