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Studio 67FAC 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
FAC News Clips – April 9, 2025
COUNTY
Tallahassee Democrat
Leon County bans standing in medians to boost safety, curb soliciting
Leon County is focusing on safety – but also indirectly cracking down on panhandling – with a newly approved local law aimed at keeping people out of roadway medians.
Click Orlando
Seminole County makes changes to protect firefighters after car break-ins, adds dispatchers
SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Seminole County is implementing changes to enhance safety for its firefighters after several car break-ins.
WLRN
Miami-Dade mayor pledges $3 million for eviction diversion program following interfaith group’s plea
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava pledged to spend more money to tackle affordable housing-related issues that were raised by a coalition of more than 40 interfaith congregations, according to coalition leaders.
TERM LIMITS
Florida Phoenix
Proposed amendment to term-limit county commissioners, school board members goes to House
A Florida House committee on Tuesday passed a resolution (HJR 679) that would place a constitutional amendment on the 2026 ballot asking voters to impose eight-year term limits on county commissioners and school board members.
LEGISLATION
NBC 6
Bill that would ban fluoride in water moves to full Florida Senate
The bills come amid debates in communities throughout Florida about whether to continue the longstanding practice of adding fluoride to drinking water to help with dental health.
Florida Politics
After amendment to reduce new payout caps, House panel sends sovereign immunity bill to floor
The bill’s sponsor called the reduced cap increases a ‘good faith’ effort to find a middle ground on the issue.
Florida Politics
Bill to expand Live Local Act, increase affordable housing access teed up for Senate floor
Reduced parking requirements and limits on attorneys fees could still be cause for debate.
FAC News Clips – April 8, 2025
COUNTY
Tallahassee Democrat
FWC proposes limited black bear hunt across 31 Florida counties
The plan is to issue 187 permits to harvest black bears in mid-December. A permit allows the harvest of one bear.
South Florida News
Florida Tourism shatters another record, outpacing national trend
MIAMI – Florida has reached a milestone in tourism, eclipsing the all-time record of 15.5 percent share of the domestic vacation market in 2024.
LEGISLATION
Fox 13
Governor DeSantis, Florida House speaker at odds over tax cut proposals
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – With just a few weeks left in Florida’s annual legislative session, top Republicans in Tallahassee still don’t see eye-to-eye on the biggest priority: nailing down the state budget, with tax cuts being a major sticking point.
Florida Politics
Florida Keys disaster and development bill moves forward
The legislation would extend the Florida Keys hurricane evacuation time frame from 24 hours to 24.5 hours to allow new residential permits.
FAC News Clips – April 7, 2025
COUNTY
Fox 13
Could Pinellas County soon have a county mayor? Proposal would create new top office
- PETERSBURG, Fla. – Pinellas County commissioners are weighing a proposal to establish a county mayor’s office – and while it’s not a done deal, a countywide mayor could take office in less than three years.
Your Observer
Commissioner warns that wetlands reversal will spring legal action
The science of wetland buffers was up for debate among Manatee County commissioners for a second time, but the only real debate centered around the law.
My News 13
Manatee County prioritizes hurricane affected residents
But this year, those who were affected by last year’s hurricanes will receive priority when determining who gets part of the $1.2 million in funds.
Miami Herald
Fluoride debate spreads across Central Florida – next up Seminole County
As fluoridation bans sweep smaller cities across Central Florida, Seminole County, north of Orlando, is poised Tuesday to consider removing the cavity-fighting chemical from its drinking water – the largest public water provider in the region to confront the issue.
Tampa Bay Times
Scalping appointment times at the DMV office? Florida county outlaws it.
The tax collector blamed driving schools that used the state’s online booking system to lock up dozens of appointments for customers paying the schools to get their licenses.
Tampa Bay Times
Pinellas County to begin enforcing new vacation rental rules
The ordinance requires owners to register their properties and imposes stiff fines for infractions.
DOGE
Florida Politics
Terrance Freeman wants Jax to opt into state DOGE effort
Duval County could sign on to a priority of Gov. DeSantis.
IMMIGRATION
WLRN
Jacksonville council members debate illegal immigration ordinance that mandates jail time
Jacksonville is in the spotlight for its recent efforts on immigration enforcement.
LEGISLATION
Mid Florida Newspaper
As a Lake County Commissioner and native Floridian, I have witnessed firsthand the transformative impacts of both poorly planned and thoughtfully planned growth management on our communities.
FAC News Clips – April 3, 2025
COUNTY
WJHG
Bay County to deploy tugboat as artificial reef next week
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP)- Calling all scuba divers and fishermen: a new underwater reef will soon be off the shore of Panama City, and it’s got quite a bit of history behind it.
WPTV
TRI-RAIL TROUBLES: Why commuter train faces uncertain future
SFRTA requests Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties increase annual contributions from $4.2 million to $14.2 million each
Tampa Bay Newspapers
Pinellas gives final OK to new vacation rental rules
CLEARWATER — The county will be ramping up its new strengthened vacation rental ordinance during April, designed to have owners of rental properties register and face stiff code enforcement action fines for infractions.
DOGE
WTSP
State-level DOGE team coming to Tampa Bay area
Hillsborough County voted to welcome a new state task force to audit spending in an effort spearheaded by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
NWF News
Okaloosa County to start financial audit, freezes non-essential hiring
CRESTVIEW — Okaloosa County government is temporarily freezing most non-essential hiring as it undergoes a self-audit.
IMMIGRATION
The Florida Times-Union
Jacksonville mayor announces decision on local immigration bill
Mayor Donna Deegan said Wednesday she will neither sign nor veto legislation that would make Jacksonville the first city in the nation to have a local law imposing jail time on immigrants who are in the U.S. without legal authorization, allowing it to become law without her signature.
LEGISLATION
Orlando Sentinel
House budget leaders demand answers from DeSantis agency heads
TALLAHASSEE — Citing “deep frustration” and a lack of cooperation by officials in Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration, House budget leaders are issuing demand letters to some state agencies amid a probe into possibly wasteful government spending.
Florida Politics
Proposed term limits referendum advances despite ample opposition
‘Public service is not a career.’
The Capitolist
House Panel Advances Permanent Sales Tax Cut with Bipartisan Support
A proposal to permanently reduce Florida’s sales tax rate advanced in the House on Wednesday, with the Ways & Means Committee voting unanimously to approve a measure bill to cut the state’s general sales tax rate from 6 percent to 5.25 percent..