By Jim Turner andAnaGoñi-Lessan News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE— Florida lawmakers put forward just under 2,000 bills and resolutions as they entered the 2026 legislative session. They returned home Friday having agreed to about 235 measures that await action from Gov. Ron DeSantis. Here is what became of 10 key issues: Artificial intelligence. DeSantis’ priorities included creating an “Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights” and imposing regulations on massive energy

By Jeffrey Schweers Orlando Sentinel TALLAHASSEE — With only 60 days to pass a full plate of bills and a balanced budget, the Florida Legislature’s grand plans to add property tax cuts to their crowded calendar never had a chance. Lawmakers did not even get a budget out before the close of business Friday, the end of the regular session, much less a complicated ballot measure that would ask voters in November to cut property taxes. So now they will have to return to Tallahass

By Ana Goñi-Lessan News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — An emergency fund used by Gov. Ron DeSantis on immigration enforcement efforts that expired in February will be renewed after lawmakers agreed to extend it Friday, the last day of the legislative session. After the House and Senate battled back and forth for most of the 60-day session, the two chambers struck a deal to extend the fund, but with new rules on how money can be spent. While the bill (SB 7040) includes repor

Legislation bars cities, counties from supporting activities that promote diversity, equality, inclusion By Jeffrey Schweers Orlando Sentinel TALLAHASSEE—One of the most contentious pieces of legislation this session—one that would ban local governments from supporting parades, festivals and other activities promoting diversity, equality and inclusion—is headed to the desk of Gov. Ron DeSantis. “Florida is where DEI goes to DIE,” declared Rep. Dean Black, the Jacksonville R

By Jim Turner News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE—A proposal to move more condominium policies out of Citizens Property Insurance, the state-run carrier, is headed to Gov.Ron DeSantis. The House voted 88-19 on Monday on a measure (SB 1028)that directs Citizens to establish two clearinghouses for commercial residential and non-residential policies by January 1, 2027. One of the new clearinghouses is for authorized insurers to make takeout offers on commercial residential and n

Local News By Susannah Bryan | sbryan@sunsentinel.com | South Florida Sun Sentinel PUBLISHED: March 9, 2026 at 7:00 AM EDT Tax reform jitters are spreading through cities across the state as legislators move forward with a plan set in motion by Gov. Ron DeSantis to give homesteaded property owners a much-needed tax break. Fort Lauderdale officials say they are well aware of the fiscal fallout that might be coming and are already making plans for what could be a worst-case s

As tax cuts loom, digital billboards, cell towers on table By Abigail Hasebroock South Florida Sun Sentinel With potential property tax cuts on the horizon, Palm Beach County officials are considering creative new sources of revenue that won’t burden taxpayers. The ideas include digital billboards, school-zone cameras, cellphone towers and naming rights. If certain proposed property tax amendments are approved by voters in November, Palm Beach County could lose hundreds of mi

The state House wants to give Floridians a dose of pretty-looking poison, bottled as a massive tax cut and dangled before voters on the November ballot. House Republicans passed a proposed constitutional amendment (HJR 203) that would — if 60% of voters approve — eliminate non-school property taxes on about half of Florida homes in 2027. For most cities in Broward and Palm Beach counties, it is a slow-motion fiscal catastrophe. Such a massive tax cut superficially sounds go

As the baby boomer bubble pushes into its eighties, we are driving into a demographic wall. Lloyd Alter Feb 25, 2026 In March 2024, Mary Fong Lau, 78 years old at the time, drove her Mercedes SUV at 72MPH into a bus shelter, killing a family of four. According to the San Francisco Chronicle , she told someone at the scene that she had tried to brake but “accidentally moved (her) foot onto the gas pedal.” She apparently will not go to jail because she is old, and it would be “

By Ron Hurtibise | rhurtibise@sunsentinel.com | South Florida Sun Sentinel PUBLISHED: February 26, 2026 at 12:15 PM EST | UPDATED: February 26, 2026 at 12:25 PM EST Florida property insurers are keeping secrets. Empowered by industry-friendly state statutes and court rulings, they’re blocking access to information about how their firms set premiums, handle claims, and shift profits out of the reach of regulators. They insist it wouldn’t be fair for their competitors to lear

A pair of bills advancing through the Florida legislature threatens to end the ability for cities and counties to sponsor multicultural festivals, such as the Puerto Rican Day Parade, Come Out With Pride, and the Lunar New Year festival. (Orlando Sentinel file) A pair of bills advancing through the Florida legislature threatens to end the ability for cities and counties to sponsor multicultural festivals, such as the Puerto Rican Day Parade, Come Out With Pride, and the Lunar

L ocal News By Susannah Bryan | sbryan@sunsentinel.com | South Florida Sun Sentinel PUBLISHED: February 25, 2026 at 8:45 AM EST Florida lawmakers, in their zeal to boost affordable housing to accommodate the state’s surging population, have come up with a one-size-fits-all approach that will have dire consequences for crowded urban areas like Fort Lauderdale, critics say. The fallout from the Live Local Act could get even worse if two new bills currently under consideration

By Megan Vaz | South Florida Sun Sentinel PUBLISHED: February 24, 2026 at 7:00 AM EST Tucked behind U.S. 27, gears are turning at South Florida’s newest recycling facility — which is now one of the largest in the United States. WM’s $90 million Pembroke Pines recycling plant recently opened its doors to the public, taking visitors on a tour of its high-tech processing machinery and education room. At the 127,000-square-foot facility, upward of 275,000 tons of material are ex

In South Florida, homeowners are hearing the same message: “Your roof is too old. You must replace it.” That warning often triggers panic, rushed bids and decisions made under pressure rather than evidence. Florida law does not support blanket roof replacement mandates based solely on age — yet many homeowners are never told that an inspection-based alternative exists. Florida Statute 627.7011 applies to policies issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2022. It limits how insur

By Susannah Bryan | sbryan@sunsentinel.com | South Florida Sun Sentinel PUBLISHED: February 9, 2026 at 7:00 AM EST | UPDATED: February 9, 2026 at 8:35 AM EST Critics doubt a tunnel for commuter rail will ever get built in Fort Lauderdale’s downtown. Fort Lauderdale Vice Mayor John Herbst is one of them — and he thinks it’s high time for Fort Lauderdale to finally give up its fight to get a tunnel built at the New River. “This is a zombie project,” Herbst said during a recen

(an unscientific study of the census of the central area of Wilton Manors indicates approximately 30% of he population are either retired or work from home) A practical guide for expanding your circle, with advice from sociable people. By Laura Regensdorf Laura Regensdorf lives in Brooklyn with her hound mix, Pina, who has turned out to be a great conversation starter in the neighborhood. Jan. 29, 2026 Somewhere along the way, whether because of a lack of time or rusty soc

Request for rezoning approval from Wilton Drive Arts and Entertainment District (WDAE) to Planned Unit Development Mixed (PUD-M) for the parcel located at 2200-2292 Wilton Drive for the project known as “Shoppes at Wilton Manors”.Why Developers Choose PUDs Over Form‑Based Codes 1. Flexibility to Deviate From Standards Form‑based codes lock in: building form frontage types height massing street design block structure Developers must fit their project into the code. A PUD let

TALLAHASSEE—As the Florida Senate continues to ponder an approach to lowering property taxes, House committees on Thursday advanced two tax-cut proposals that could go before voters. The Republican-dominated House Ways & Means Committee voted mostly along party lines to approve a proposed constitutional amendment(HJR203)that, if approved by 60 percent of voters in November, would phase out non-school homestead property taxes over the next decade. The proposal drew objections

First, do no harm.” That medical maxim, taught to physicians for ages, would serve Florida well if the Legislature were to adopt it. The need is now. In the mercifully final year of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ eight-year reign, he wants lawmakers to commit two enormously harmful misdeeds. First, he would end much of the property taxation that runs cities and counties. He has not specified how, but he denounced a House scheme to put up to seven conflicting constitutional amendments to

Cities and counties raise concerns about budgeting funds TALLAHASSEE—Republicans in the Florida House are quickly moving forward on a smorgasbord of ballot initiatives that would ask voters to dramatically overhaul the state’s property taxes—deepening the anxiety for local officials who rely on those funds for their budgets. When the Legislature convenes January 13 for its regular 60-day session, House lawmakers will have seven tax proposals they want to pass and then prese