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Studio 67FAC News Clips – December 11, 2025
COUNTY
TC Palm
Florida history: Origins of county names, from Alachua to Washington
Did you know Palm Beach County was carved out of Dade County in 1909?
First Coast News
Baker County honors late Commissioner James Bennett, remembering his lasting community impact
The Baker County community held a procession for County Commissioner James Bennett, who was killed in a car crash.
WBPF
Martin County sinks derelict ship and welcomes new artificial reef
MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. — Martin County has expanded its artificial reef program with the addition of the Boo McCulley Reef, located about 9 miles offshore, using a sunken cargo ship to create a habitat for marine life.
My News 13
Duke Energy Florida wraps Sumter, Hernando solar energy
FLORIDA — Duke Energy Florida has completed two new solar energy sites, Half Moon Renewable Energy Center in Sumter County and Rattler Renewable Energy Center in Hernando County, the company announced Wednesday.
LEGISLATION
Planet Radio
GOP Florida Governor Candidate Wants Special Session On Property Tax Relief
There’s a call for a special session on property tax relief from a former Florida House Speaker.
Space Coast Daily
Gov. Ron DeSantis Announces the ‘Floridians First 2026-2027 Budget’
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Governor Ron DeSantis announced the 2026–2027 state budget — dubbed the ‘Floridians First 2026‑2027 Budget’ — presenting a plan that seeks to reinforce fiscal discipline while advancing investments across education, infrastructure, public safety, and environmental protection.
PROPERTY TAXES
Florida Politics
House committee backs property tax relief amendment as local governments fear the consequences
Wednesday’s vote sparked a fierce debate on property tax relief.
Orlando Sentinel
Property tax proposal advances, teed up in the Florida House
TALLAHASSEE — A proposed constitutional amendment that would increase the homestead property-tax exemption for residents who have property insurance is ready to go to the full Florida House after the 2026 legislative session starts in January.
Tampa Bay Times
DeSantis’ final Florida budget proposal pushes for property tax cut
His proposal also puts money toward state parks and expanding the guardian program.
WPTV
Backfill or backfire? DeSantis’ plan to replace local tax dollars draws debate
ORLANDO, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is pitching a $117 billion state budget for the next fiscal year, about two billion more than the current, $114.8 billion.
FAC News Clips – December 10, 2025
COUNTY
Tallahassee Democrat
Leon hires consultant to explore setting up county fire department
County government is moving ahead at looking into the creation of their own fire station after voting unanimously to hire a consultant for nearly $110,000 to craft a report on what this new venture would entail.
WDBO
Walt Disney World files several lawsuits against Orange County
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Walt Disney World has filed 15 lawsuits against Orange County over property tax assessments for its theme parks and resorts, claiming excessive taxation.
WTSP
Citrus County bans any new medical marijuana dispensaries from opening
County commissioners reversed a November decision as local treatment centers warn a ban could raise prices and limit care.
WCTV
Voters to decide if they support combining Tallahassee governments
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – In a late-night vote, Leon County commissioners voted to add a non-binding referendum to the 2026 ballot that would allow voters to indicate if they want the City of Tallahassee and Leon County government to combine.
Click Orlando
News 6 examines SCOUT ride efficiency
WUWF
Okaloosa County joins the fight against an Alabama carbon dioxide storage hub
Okaloosa County Commissioners unanimously agreed to reach out to state and federal legislators to oppose a 74,000-acre carbon storage hub potentially located in Florala, Alabama.
WUWF
Santa Rosa County considers new public fund for land conservation
The Santa Rosa County Commission is looking at options for establishing a dedicated funding source for land conservation in the county.
STATE
WUWF
Florida’s state parks need creative ways to raise more revenue
Florida’s state parks are in need of repair. A new state study says a backlog of projects includes everything from staff housing to replacing septic tanks.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Midflorida Newspaper
Trump eyes AI regulation amid Florida attention
TALLAHASSEE — President Donald Trump on Monday pushed again for the federal government to control regulation of artificial intelligence as Florida lawmakers begin to delve into the effects of AI on the state.
DOGE
WPTV
$344M overspending claim ‘not transparent,’ county administrator says
County Administrator Joseph Abruzzo says Florida CFO’s speech was ‘based on personal opinion’
LEGISLATION
Greene Publishing
Proposed legislation seeks to correct problems created by Senate Bill 180
Two bills introduced in the Florida Legislature for the coming 2026 legislative session aim to correct some of the problems created by last year’s controversial law that prevents local governments from updating their comprehensive plans and land-use regulations if they were affected by any of three major hurricanes in 2024.
FAC 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.