Florida
(The Center Square) — Foreign-owned social media platforms such as TikTok could face a big change in the Sunshine State if a bill currently being advanced by the Florida Senate gets signed into law.
Senate Bill 1448 is sponsored by state Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, and would add transparency for social media platforms operating in Florida that are owned by foreign adversaries.
(The Center Square) – Another retail theft group has been charged by Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution, this time for allegedly stealing more than $100,000 from Home Depot stores.
Criminal charges and investigations continue as the OSP has been prioritizing retail theft in Florida. Last fall, criminal investigations uncovered millions of dollars in stolen goods and murdered suspects OSP helped prosecute.
Florida bill that would revise the state's pre-kindergarten program advances
(The Center Square) — Florida lawmakers have advanced a bill this week that would allow young students and those who teach them the tools to be successful.
State Rep. John Snyder, R-Palm City, sponsors House Bill 1353. It would revise Florida's laws on the state's pre-kindergarten programs known as early learning coalitions and other specified early learning programs.
Moody sounds alarm over illicit fentanyl coming in from Mexico
(The Center Square) – Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody again sounded the alarm Thursday over illicit fentanyl flooding into the state from Mexico.
She was joined by Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass and Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods to discuss Florida’s efforts to combat it.
Moody said law enforcement in Florida are identifying drugs that have ended up in Florida directly linked to Mexican cartels. The border crisis “is an untenable situation,” she said, “one in which America has never had to face until the last few years.”
FWC: Prized pink-tagged bass are swimming in these Florida waters
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) TrophyCatch program has deployed bright pink research tags in bass across five waters throughout the state: the Northwest Winter Haven Chain of Lakes, Lake Lochloosa, Lake Beauclair, Lake Okeechobee and Porter Lake. Each of the tags is on a trophy bass weighing 8 pounds or more. Designed to provide valuable data about bass movements and growth rates, these conspicuous pink tags offer one other unique advantage: special prizing for the angler who catches, cuts and properly reports the tag.
Recreational regulation changes for Atlantic snowy grouper begin Feb. 25
Starting Feb. 25, the snowy grouper recreational season will close in Atlantic state waters, including all state waters of Monroe County. The modified recreational season is May 1 through June 30, with a new reduced possession limit of one fish per vessel per day.
(The Center Square) — Florida lawmakers have advanced legislation this week that would add transparency to lobbying in the Sunshine State.
Senate Bill 734 is sponsored by state Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill. It would make various changes to ethics regulations for local governments and prohibit state and local officials from accepting or soliciting anything from a foreign country of concern.
DeSantis lauds state's efforts to protect manatees
Since 2019, Florida has invested more than $50 million dedicated to manatee protection and care
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Florida bills could expand school choice, help students with reading, math
(The Center Square) — Florida school students will have more assistance with subjects such as reading and math after the Florida House passed two new bills this week.
House Bill 1403 is sponsored by state Rep. Josie Tomkow, R-Polk City. It would increase the growth rate of the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities scholarship program from 3% to 5%, then automatically by 1% based on demand.