florida law /tags/florida-law florida law en-US SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ä± Wed, 13 May 2026 15:49:00 GMT State outdoor sleeping ban hampers data collection, muddying homelessness survey /government-politics/2026-05-13/state-outdoor-sleeping-ban-hampers-data-collection-muddying-homelessness-survey Orlando ranks at the bottom among metros nationwide in affordable housing stock for its poorest residents. Volunteers say sleeping bans are making the unhoused harder to find and less willing to talk. Wed, 13 May 2026 15:49:00 GMT /government-politics/2026-05-13/state-outdoor-sleeping-ban-hampers-data-collection-muddying-homelessness-survey A secret ICE directive is testing one of Florida’s strongest traditions: open government /immigration/2026-05-07/a-secret-ice-directive-is-testing-one-of-floridas-strongest-traditions-open-government A new directive from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, issued in secrecy, bars local law enforcement agencies across Florida from answering questions about their role in immigration enforcement, raising concerns about transparency and whether public records are being lawfully observed. Thu, 07 May 2026 12:00:00 GMT /immigration/2026-05-07/a-secret-ice-directive-is-testing-one-of-floridas-strongest-traditions-open-government Monique O. Madan | Two Can Be True Union-restricting measure crosses finish line, gets DeSantis signature /government-politics/2026-05-04/union-restricting-measure-crosses-finish-line-gets-desantis-signature Gov. Ron DeSantis got to put the finishing touches on one of his 2026 legislative priorities Friday, signing a union-restricting bill that had been subject to intense debate in Florida’s Capitol. Mon, 04 May 2026 17:20:00 GMT /government-politics/2026-05-04/union-restricting-measure-crosses-finish-line-gets-desantis-signature Jay Waagmeester | Florida Phoenix Gov. DeSantis approves small private school expansion, teacher mentorship package /government-politics/2026-04-21/gov-desantis-approves-small-private-school-expansion-teacher-mentorship-package Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a education package Monday evening that puts into law the main education policy priorities of the legislative session, including small private school zoning laws, installing portraits of presidents in schools, and cursive writing testing requirements. Tue, 21 Apr 2026 19:00:00 GMT /government-politics/2026-04-21/gov-desantis-approves-small-private-school-expansion-teacher-mentorship-package Jay Waagmeester | Florida Phoenix South Florida Democratic Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick resigns amid ethics investigation /government-politics/2026-04-21/democratic-rep-sheila-cherfilus-mccormick-of-florida-resigns-amid-ethics-investigation She resigned before the House could sanction her in an ethics investigation. Members of the House Ethics Committee on Tuesday were set to weigh what punishment to recommend after they found she committed 25 violations of House rules and ethical standards. Tue, 21 Apr 2026 18:13:07 GMT /government-politics/2026-04-21/democratic-rep-sheila-cherfilus-mccormick-of-florida-resigns-amid-ethics-investigation Kevin Freking and Stephen Groves | Associated Press DeSantis considers 'little tweak' to redistricting schedule /government-politics/2026-04-15/desantis-considers-little-tweak-to-redistricting-schedule DeSantis originally called the session to produce new maps for the U.S. House in an unusual mid-decade redistricting in January and it's scheduled to start Monday. Wed, 15 Apr 2026 14:26:42 GMT /government-politics/2026-04-15/desantis-considers-little-tweak-to-redistricting-schedule Gray Rohrer | News Service of Florida Florida Bar passage rate lower than a year ago /law-justice/2026-04-14/florida-bar-passage-rate-lower-than-a-year-ago Aspiring attorneys taking the Florida Bar exam for the first time in February passed at a rate 3% lower than last year’s winter administration of the exam. Tue, 14 Apr 2026 13:15:46 GMT /law-justice/2026-04-14/florida-bar-passage-rate-lower-than-a-year-ago Jay Waagmeester | Florida Phoenix Florida lawmaker aims for ballot measure ending all property taxes in 2028 /government-politics/2026-04-09/florida-lawmaker-aims-for-ballot-measure-ending-all-property-taxes-in-2028 Florida Republicans have promised for nearly a year to provide meaningful property tax relief to Floridians in the form of a constitutional amendment they could vote on this November. Despite that hype, no such proposal has received the three-fifths support in both chambers in the Legislature that is required to get a legislatively backed constitutional amendment on the ballot. Thu, 09 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMT /government-politics/2026-04-09/florida-lawmaker-aims-for-ballot-measure-ending-all-property-taxes-in-2028 Mitch Perry | Florida Phoenix As Florida restricted abortion, state’s maternal mortality committee went dark /government-politics/2026-04-03/as-florida-restricted-abortion-states-maternal-mortality-committee-went-dark Florida’s Maternal Mortality Review Committee was created two decades ago to investigate why Florida moms are dying during and after pregnancy – and to stop preventable deaths from happening in the first place. But the secretive panel housed within the Florida Department of Health hadn’t publicly released any annual findings in years until a Florida Trib reporter asked agency officials last week about the committee’s apparent lack of action. Fri, 03 Apr 2026 18:15:53 GMT /government-politics/2026-04-03/as-florida-restricted-abortion-states-maternal-mortality-committee-went-dark Kate Payne | The Florida Tributary 2025 extended session cost Florida taxpayers more than $259K /government-politics/2026-03-24/2025-extended-session-cost-florida-taxpayers-more-than-259k Last year’s extended session that featured a lengthy standoff between the Florida House and Florida Senate over spending and taxes cost slightly more than $259,000, according to figures compiled by the Office of Legislative Services. Tue, 24 Mar 2026 14:30:00 GMT /government-politics/2026-03-24/2025-extended-session-cost-florida-taxpayers-more-than-259k Christine Sexton | Florida Phoenix