Florida

(The Center Square) — Several bills related to property taxes and homestead exemptions were taken up this week by the Florida House’s Ways & Means Committee.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is gathering public feedback on proposed changes to the bay scallop season for the Pasco Zone. The Pasco Zone currently has a 10-day season in rule but a longer, trial season was set by executive order in 2023 to assess whether extending the season would balance resource sustainability with community interests. Based on public feedback and the outcome of this recent season, staff are recommending establishing a 40-day season, beginning July 10 through Aug. 18, in rule for future seasons in the Pasco Zone.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Today, Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) Commissioner Michael Yaworsky highlighted accomplishments made in 2023 to promote a stable and competitive insurance market for Florida’s policyholders.

Commissioner Yaworsky was nominated by Governor DeSantis in February to serve as Insurance Commissioner and was formally appointed by the Financial Services Commission, comprised of the Governor, Attorney General Ashley Moody, Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, and Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson in March.

(The Center Square) — A new bill has been filed by a Florida lawmaker that would divert some of the state’s tourism taxes to subsidize the state’s film industry.

State Sen. Linda Stewart, D-Orlando, sponsored Senate Bill 872. It would authorize using proceeds from counties that impose a tourist development tax to fund incentives for film and television productions. Stewart had filed a similar bill in 2020, but the bill died in the Appropriations Committee.

Under Governor Ron DeSantis’ steadfast leadership, Florida remained one of the country’s top destinations for world-class fishing, hunting and recreation.

The economic impact on our state through these opportunities is tremendous with nearly $15 billion contributing to our state’s economy. Governor DeSantis continues to make conservation a priority, ensuring that residents and visitors benefit from our environmental resources for generations to come.  

(The Center Square) – California is projected to lose four congressional seats after the 2030 Census, with Texas positioned to gain four and Florida to gain three, says the American Redistricting Project based on this week’s new Census data.

According to Thad Kousser, an expert in California and national politics and a professor of political science at UC San Diego, a reduction in California's congressional delegation could have mixed effects.

(The Center Square) – A recent experience with a homeless man has prompted an Orlando suburb to consider a new ordinance banning people from camping on public property, including parks and highway rights of way.

“We had a variety of complaints about a specific individual who had set up an encampment on our sidewalks,” Atlamonte Springs City Manager Frank Martz told The Center Square. “It included a grill, a heavy workout bag, a bunch of pets in cages.”

The man refused to move.

“We didn’t have a tool to address that,” the city manager said. “Now we do.”

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) TrophyCatch program wrapped up a successful 11th year with two major events, awarding anglers with neat prizes including a brand-new bass boat!

The TrophyCatch team awarded one lucky winner a Phoenix bass boat at the Bobby Lane High School Cup fishing tournament on Dec. 2. Five finalists randomly selected from TrophyCatch registrants participated in a reverse drawing that named youth angler Curtis Collins the winner of the boat package.

• 45% of Floridians admit to re-gifting or selling unwanted presents.
• Though 1-in-3 believe it is morally wrong to sell or re-gift.
• Interactive map showing the value of each state's re-gifting economy. 

The anticipation of Christmas and the excitement o

(The Center Square) – Florida’s Insurance Commissioner is pushing back on a U.S. Senate investigation into Citizens Property Insurance Company, which is backed by the state government.

“The committee is … increasingly concerned about Florida’s uniquely large and growing exposure to climate-related property losses, Citizens’ rapidly expanding market share, and state law allowing Citizens to levy special assessments on all policyholders in the event that losses exceed its ability to pay,” U.S. Sen Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., said in a recent statement.