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Studio 67FAC News Clips – April 24, 2025
COUNTY
Alachua Chronicle
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – At the April 22 Alachua County Commission meeting, the board decided against paving some road segments that were not included in their 10-year plan, moved forward with a major update to their tree code, and asked staff to look at drawing new County Commission districts that mirror the overall county demographics.
Click Orlando
Central Florida counties now under ‘extreme drought’ — what it means for you
Areas of Marion, Lake, Volusia under 2nd-highest drought category
First Coast News
Are the Jaguars heading to Orlando’s Camping World Stadium
The CEO of Florida Citrus Sports estimated each Jaguars home game in Orlando could net $20 million.
TDT
Orlando Sentinel
Florida House eyes ‘sweeping’ change to hotel taxes
TALLAHASSEE — A significant source of tax revenue for Orlando’s tourism industry is in flux as the Florida House eyes using money collected from visitors to give homeowners a property tax break.
WPTV
Why tourism councils could be on the chopping block in Florida
Florida hit another tourism record in 2024, with 142.9 million visitors.
Fox 13
Bay Area leaders weigh in as Florida House debates reworking tourism tax laws
- PETERSBURG, Fla. – A bill that’s just starting to make its way through the Florida House is ruffling some feathers, specifically within the tourism industry.
WPBF
‘Not the right one’: Tourism officials in Palm Beach County concerned about bill that would
PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — Some tourism industry experts in South Florida are raising red flags about HB 1221, saying it could make it harder to attract visitors to the Sunshine State.
LEGISLATION
Daytona Times
State lawmakers consider bill to keep secret their home addresses, phone numbers
GAINESVILLE – A bill in Florida’s Legislature would shield personal information like home addresses and phone numbers for elected officials.
Sun Sentinel
DeSantis questions Broward’s ‘massive’ budget increases
Gov. Ron DeSantis took another swing at Broward on Wednesday, asserting the county has had a “massive” increase in its spending in recent years.
Click Orlando
Florida Senate rejects bill with measure to bypass voter-approved rural boundary rules
Bill opposed by environmentalists, local governments
St. Augustine Record
Florida House tax plan ensnares tourism industry amid DeSantis spat
House and Senate budget and tax cut negotiators are running out of time to reach a deal and end the legislative session on time.
FAC News Clips – April 22, 2025
COUNTY
The Daytona Beach News-Journal
Florida drought worse, 92 wildfires. See forecast
Florida’s drought continues to worsen and the number of wildfires burning in the state is going up.
Positively Osceola
Osceola County’s New Digital Permit Alert System to Provide Easier Access to Residents
The Osceola County Board of County Commissioners has announced announce the launch of the County’s Web-Based Permit Notification System, an innovative platform designed to enhance communication with citizens regarding local developments.
Click Orlando
Orange County aims to attract Jacksonville Jaguars, WWE, UFC events
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – The push to transform Central Florida into a sports destination continues.
Click Orlando
Local commissioner looks to crack down on illegal immigration in Lake County
LAKE COUNTY, Fla. – A Lake County commissioner aims to discuss the possibility of a local immigration law similar to Senate Bill 4-C.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
WUWF
FEMA cuts make landfall weeks before Florida’s hurricane season begins
The city of St. Petersburg asked the federal government for almost $34 million to help fund local projects that would protect the city from natural disasters.
LEGISLATION
Florida Politics
Gov. DeSantis bashes House Everglades budget plan
‘Their agenda is not your agenda.’
Florida Politics
House tax amendment calls for big changes to TDT funding
The House Budget Committee is scheduled to debate the issue at its upcoming 3:30 p.m. Tuesday meeting.
WCTV
Franklin County Commission supports house bill to ban oil drilling near Apalachicola Bay
FRANKLIN COUNTY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) – A proposal to ban oil exploration and drilling near the Apalachicola River passed unanimously last week in the Florida House of Representatives.
Florida Politics
House plan would force property tax relief by expanding exemptions for affordable housing
‘We are telling them to give relief … It is not an option.’
Florida Phoenix
Local governments could continue to create CRAs under bill amended in Senate committee
Local government officials who believe in the power of Community Redevelopment Agencies (CRAs) to revitalize blighted areas will be able to continue to create those special districts under an amended bill that passed in the Senate Rules Committee on Monday.
Florida Politics
RV parks would enjoy added exemptions under latest House tax package
This could be good news for campers and campgrounds.
FAC News Clips – April 21, 2025
COUNTY
Your Observer
New Government Relations department promotes Manatee County
Out of 67 counties in Florida, only 16 have dedicated Government Relations departments, and Manatee County now is part of that group.
TECH
Florida Phoenix
Trump is shifting cybersecurity to the states, but many aren’t prepared
Only 22 of 48 states in a Nationwide Cybersecurity Review met recommended security levels.
Route-Fifty
How local governments are keeping AI under control
In the absence of national legislation, such governments are increasingly adopting AI governance policies and practices on their own, one expert says.
LEGISLATION
North Escambia
Florida House Approves Salzman Plan For Term Limits On County Commissioners
The Florida House on Wednesday passed a joint resolution to amend the Florida Constitution to include term limits on county commissioners and school board members.
FAC News Clips – April 17, 2025
COUNTY
Health News Florida
Manatee the latest to end fluoridating public drinking water
The county commission’s 5-1 vote comes after it learned its fluoridation system has been broken since 2021, and no fluoride has been actively added since then.
Fox 13
Pinellas County commissioners discuss moving to a county mayor instead of county administrator
- PETERSBURG, Fla. – Pinellas County voters could get the chance to decide on what form of government they want.
WESH
Orange Co. committee seeks public input for redistricting
ORLANDO, Fla. — The public got an opportunity to weigh in on redistricting within Orange County.
ABC Action News
Duke Energy helps train Pinellas County first responders on electrical safety
PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — When you call for help, you know first responders will jump into action.
My Suncoast
Manatee County creating local DOGE committee
SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) – Finding efficiencies in government spending is an issue taking up a lot of oxygen in Washington, D.C.
TAXES
WTXL
Leon County community weighs in on property tax cut discussions
The elimination of property taxes has been discussed during this legislative session
Fox 13
Florida Senate tees up tax plan for talks
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Despite vastly divergent approaches with the House on tax cuts amid global economic uncertainty, a Senate leader Tuesday said he remains optimistic an agreement can be reached before the end of the legislative session.
Click Orlando
Major Florida bill pushes for big tax changes statewide. Here’s what to know
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A Florida bill aimed at expanding tax breaks for Florida residents got its first legs on Tuesday after being approved by a Senate committee.
LEGISLATION
Daily Commercial
Tensions rise as Perez accuses Gov. DeSantis of misleading Floridians
Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez accused Gov. Ron DeSantis of lying about the House’s proposed budget, saying the governor was “emotional” and throwing “temper tantrums” by lashing out at the chamber over its oversight of his administration.
Fox 4 Now
Florida Legislature pushing bill to control over regulating plastics
SANIBEL, Fla. — Almost every day people use single-use containers, but unfortunately a lot of those containers end up on the ground and ultimately into the environment.
Florida Politics
House passes bill to allow big counties to set overnight anchoring limitations
‘This important piece of legislation is essential to preserving Florida’s waterways for generations to come.’
Florida Politics
House advances path to tighten term limits for School Boards, County Commissions
Will the Senate agree?
Florida Politics
House passes higher payout caps for lawsuits against governments, but Senate support in doubt
House lawmakers appear far keener on increasing the caps than their Senate colleagues.
FAC News Clips – April 14, 2025
COUNTY
CNW
Miami-Dade Mayor vetoes decision to remove fluoride from drinking water
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava announced Friday that she would veto a contentious measure passed by county commissioners recently, which aimed to remove fluoride from the county’s drinking water.
Hernando Sun
Commissioners at the regular Board meeting took another look at what the Hernando County Department of Government Efficiency (HC-DOGE) should look like.
Tampa Bay Times
Will new construction dust rules in Manatee County help clear the air?
Some residents say developers and home builders have not done enough to reduce the dust blowing from their construction sites.
LEGISLATION
WUWF
Floridians debate lowering sales taxes vs. property taxes amid economic concerns
While lawmakers across the Sunshine State seemingly agree that they need to focus on the budget and cutting costs for Floridians, how to get there remains to be determined.
Click Orlando
Florida lawmakers want to get rid of sales tax for these 2 ‘essential items’
SPB 7034 takes aim at both sales and property taxes
WLRN
Florida bill wants to make getting citizen initiatives on the ballot more challenging
A bill that would make it more difficult for citizens to get constitutional amendments on the ballot is advancing in the Florida Senate.
Tampa Free Press
Florida Gov. DeSantis Slams House Condo Bill, Calls For Property Tax Cuts Over Sales Tax Relief
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has intensified his criticism of the Florida House of Representatives’ condominium reform efforts, labeling their proposed legislation as favoring “special interests and developers” and predicting it will worsen the existing condo crisis.
FAC News Clips – April 10, 2025
COUNTY
Lake O News
April 6-12 declared National Library Week
OKEECHOBEE – “The library is the one place you can still go for free,” Okeechobee County Library Director told Okeechobee County Commissioners at their April 10 meeting.
Herald-Tribune
Florida red flag warnings. Active wildfires, dry weather forecast
Recent rain ahead of another cold front is helping reduce the number of wildfires around Florida, but the driest areas of the state are still experiencing a severe drought.
DOGE
Tampa Bay Times
Pinellas joins Hillsborough in inviting DOGE oversight
Commissioners approved a resolution Tuesday to “memorialize” their cooperation with the state department.
IMMIGRATION
Fox 35
ICE expands Florida detention capacity with 500 additional beds at Glades County Jail
MIAMI, Fla. – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has expanded its detention capacity in Florida with the addition of 500 beds at the Glades County Jail.
LEGISLATION
CL Tampa
Tampa Rep. Karen Gonzalez-Pittman opposes amendment term-limiting county officials
If passed, voters would be asked to impose eight-year term limits on commissioners and school board members.
Tampa Bay Times
Here’s where Florida House, Senate stand on budget — and tax cuts
The two chambers’ budgets are billions of dollars apart at this stage in the session.
Tampa Bay Times
Florida could make elected officials’ addresses and phone numbers secret
TALLAHASSEE — State lawmakers are preparing to make the addresses and phone numbers of elected officials secret in what would be a sweeping change to the state’s broad public records laws.
Florida Politics
His home battered by hurricanes, Nick DiCeglie scores a win on massive storm recovery bill
‘After a storm, Floridians need a clear path to recovery, not roadblocks.’
Orlando Weekly
Florida House panel advances bill that limits local councils’ power to give themselves raises
The proposal is sponsored by Republicans James Buchanan from Sarasota and Mike Giallombardo from Lee Count