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Studio 67FAC News Clips – December 9, 2025
COUNTIES
Action News Jax
James Bennett, JAXPORT COO, Baker County commissioner dies in I-10 crash
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — James Bennett, a Baker County commissioner and Chief Operating Officer of JAXPORT, was killed Monday morning in a crash on Interstate 10.
Tallahassee Democrat
Leon County staff to present report on government consolidation
Leon County is taking a deep dive into their options in regards to government consolidation, a conversation sparked amid the growing schism between the county and the city of Tallahassee over fire fees.
LEGISLATION
Tallahassee Reports
Albritton Plans Quick Vote on ‘Rural Renaissance’
After the proposal died in the House during the 2025 session, Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, said Monday the Senate will take up his “rural renaissance” plan during the first week of the 2026 legislative session.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Florida Phoenix
‘AI Week’ crashed by Trump-DeSantis battle over regulation: What’s next?
Florida House plans comprehensive, multi-committee study of technology’s implications.
PROPERTY TAXES
Sun Sentinel
A tax on land is the most conservative tax | Opinion
Florida has no income or inheritance taxes, and next November, Gov. DeSantis will ask voters to eliminate property taxes, too.
Florida Politics
Ben Albritton on the future of property tax proposals in the Senate: ‘We’re still measuring’
‘It’s not that simple.’
Florida Politics
Paul Renner wants a Special Session to immediately roll back property taxes to 2024 levels
‘Floridians are losing faith in conservative leadership due to inaction.’
FAC News Clips – December 8, 2025
COUNTY
Tallahassee Democrat
Florida farmers struggle as severe drought grips the state
In a year with no hurricanes, most Floridians have been thankful to not have to board up windows, evacuate to higher ground or stock up on flashlights and bottled water.
My News 13
Orange County funds home repairs for low-income residents
ORLANDO, Fla. — Orange County is committing more money to help low-income homeowners stay safe in their homes, and for one lifelong resident, the impact is already life changing.
Stet News
Massive data storage facility on fast track
Palm Beach County Zoning Commission approves plans to allow nearly 1.8 million square feet of data storage on Southern Boulevard despite Arden’s objections.
LEGISLATION
Midflorida Newspaper
Higher lawsuit limits advance in House
TALLAHASSEE — Amid opposition from groups representing cities, counties, hospitals and schools, a Florida House panel Wednesday continued moving forward with a proposal that could lead to government agencies paying more money in negligence lawsuits.
PROPERTY TAXES
Florida Politics
‘I’ve got a big surplus.’
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Florida Politics
As Gov. DeSantis’ Florida explores AI checks, Donald Trump promises preemption
‘You can’t expect a company to get 50 Approvals every time they want to do something. THAT WILL NEVER WORK.’
FAC News Clips – December 4, 2025
COUNTY
Florida Newswire
OKEECHOBEE, Fla., Dec. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — A powerful new Internet network is now online in parts of Okeechobee County, Florida.
WFTV
Seminole County expands access to life-saving narcan with distribution sites
SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — Seminole County is distributing Narcan for free at over 20 locations to help combat opioid overdoses.
LEGISLATION
Florida Politics
House again nears full vote on raising payout caps for lawsuits over government negligence
‘It’s time that we give our residents a little bit more recourse when a government has committed negligence.’
Political Cortadito
How long should Florida’s guv be able to spend on a ‘State of Emergency’?
Florida lawmakers may finally be waking up and smelling the cortadito.
Florida Politics
Gov. DeSantis proposes AI bill of rights to counter ‘age of darkness and deceit’
Expect a lot of bills to check Big Tech next year.
STATE
The Miami Times
Gov. DeSantis says $112M in state grants will help clean up waterways
Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced $112 million in grant money to help Florida’s Gulf Coast and other waters around the state.
Citrus County Chronicle
DeSantis delivers major sewer funding for Citrus County
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis told a statewide audience during a Tampa press conference Wednesday that he recalled visiting Citrus County as a child, stopping at the Ted Williams Hall of Fame and meeting several baseball legends.
Florida Politics
Ben Albritton says there’s ‘no ongoing work’ in Senate regarding mid-decade redistricting
But could things change ahead of a Spring Special Session?
PROPERTY TAXES
NWF Daily
Florida property tax amendments move forward. Here’s what they do
Florida has taken another step forward toward partially eliminating property taxes after the House State Affairs Committee voted along party lines on Tuesday, Dec. 2, to potentially move forward with four constitutional amendments that seek to cut property taxes.
FAC News Clips – December 3, 2025
COUNTY
News 4 Jax
City leaders voted unanimously on the measure Tuesday
WGCU
Lee County approves new animal control ordinance and sets up portal to find lost pets
Lee County has a new animal control ordinance and a new way to re-connect lost and found pets with their owners.
Palm Beach Post
How Alligator Alley was carved across the Florida Everglades
Officially, it’s just a stretch of Interstate 75, which runs some 1,800 miles from the Miami area to the Canadian border.
Observer
Flagler County to explore intergovernmental agency for joint infrastructure, economic projects
The framework would be based on Tallahassee and Leon County’s Blueprint Intergovernmental Agency. County Administrator Petito said fragmented planning across the county can slow economic development.
CF Public
Orange County begins planning to tackle e-scooter and e-bike safety
Orange County commissioners voiced unanimous support Tuesday for developing a strategy to address e-bike and e-scooter safety.
Alachua Chronicle
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – At the December 2 policy meeting, the Alachua County Commission heard an update on their emergency food assistance program and considered setting standards for affordable housing built by religious organizations.
PROPERTY TAXES
Florida Politics
4 property tax bills advance to last House committee despite sustained worry over local shortfalls
Critics fear catastrophic impacts on water budgets, city borrowing power and vital local services.
South Florida Reporter
Fears Of Cuts To Fire Departments And Emergency Services Plague Florida Property Tax Proposals
Fears of decimated fire departments dominated Tuesday’s Florida House committee hearing on proposals to slash property taxes.
Sebastian Daily
Florida Home Values Could Surge Under DeSantis’ Plan to Scrap Property Taxes, Economists Say
TALLAHASSEE — Florida homeowners could see their property values surge if Gov. Ron DeSantis’ bold proposal to eliminate property taxes on owner-occupied homes becomes reality, according to economists who say the move would make houses more attractive to buyers by slashing long-term costs.
WUWF
Would eliminating property taxes in Florida fix housing affordability? Policy experts weigh in
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Republican leaders in the state are calling for the elimination of property taxes in the name of housing affordability.
GRANTS
West Orlando News
Governor DeSantis Awarded $23.5 Million for Infrastructure in Three Communities
Governor Ron DeSantis recently awarded $23.5 million to support infrastructure improvements in Citrus County, Levy County and the City of Newberry.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
WCJB
LIVE OAK, Fla. (WCJB) – Suwannee County commissioners will discuss taking back control of emergency management from the sheriff’s office.
DOGE
First Coast News
Jacksonville council auditor addresses 2% budget lapse for organizations during Duval DOGE meeting
Council Auditor Kim Taylor addressed letters sent out by the Jacksonville mayor’s office warning organizations of a budget lapse.
My Suncoast
County commission discusses AI pilot program aimed at improving government efficiency
MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. (WWSB) – Manatee County commissioners on Dec. 2 discussed joining the state’s Department of Government Efficiency initiative (DOGE) as the first county to take part in an AI pilot program aimed at improving government efficiency.
FAC News Clips – December 2, 2025
COUNTY
TC Palm
Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties all have at-large races
Imagine it is Election Day on the Treasure Coast. Thousands are going to the polls across Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties to vote for their representation at the local, state and federal level.
Click Orlando
Orange County commissioner calls for e-bike safety study as concerns rise
Proposal outlines several recommendations
DOGE
Flagler Live
DOGE-Wild Ingoglia Wants $600,000 for His Own Bureaucracy
A top state official spearheading the Florida governor’s much-touted mission of cutting local government spending on programs, along with employee numbers and salaries, is quietly seeking to bolster his own state agency’s spending and employee ranks.
STATE
Bradenton Herald
Attorney general questions legality of rural boundaries in Orange, Seminole
TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Attorney General’s Office argued in a recent letter that rural boundaries in Seminole and Orange counties are “likely” unconstitutional and violate property owners’ rights, seeming to side with developers who want the protections nullified.
FEDERAL
Bradenton Herald
In the wild, Florida’s manatees already face threats from cold stress, habitat loss, boat strikes and other human activities.
Route-Fifty
Threat of AI law preemption has states on edge again
The moratorium on state-level AI regulations, which failed to be included in the federal reconciliation bill this summer, has been floated to make a return as an executive order or in must-pass defense legislation.
FAC News Clips – December 1, 2025
COUNTY
Tampa Beacon
Pasco County passes streamlined rules for backyard chickens
After years of debates, many residents have more freedoms when it comes to owning urban chickens
Miami Community News
County announces establishment of Miami-Dade 250 advisory committee
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava recently announced the creation of the Miami-Dade 250: We Are America Celebration Advisory Committee, a new initiative that will guide and elevate the county’s participation in the nationwide commemoration of the United States’ 250th anniversary in 2026.
PROPERTY TAXES
Flagler Live
Eliminating Property Taxes Is ‘Dismemberment of Vital Services’
Local government officials statewide are wary of plans by Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state Legislature to slash or abolish homestead property taxes, but one group of counties is particularly worried.
FEDERAL
Daily Post
NACo: Counties Celebrate Key Permitting Inclusion In SPEED Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Association of Counties (NACo) issued the following statement in response to the passage of the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act (H.R. 4776), which advanced out of the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources Nov. 20.