Jim Turner | News Service of Florida

Florida will soon be able to legally designate groups as “domestic terrorist organizations” under a bill headed to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk. The Republican-controlled House voted 80-25 on Thursday on the measure (HB 1471) which backs up DeSantis’ executive order in December that named two Islamic groups as terrorist organizations.

State legislators won't complete the budget by Friday, requiring talks on the spending plan to move beyond the scheduled end of the regular session, House Speaker Daniel Perez said Monday.

The House voted 105-2 on the plan (HB 7031), which drew some criticism for lifting sales taxes for the next fiscal year on firearm accessories, including holsters, magazines, muzzle devices, sights and suppressors.

An effort to further limit the number of out-of-state and international students at top Florida universities drew House support Tuesday.

A proposal to tighten voter eligibility rules was approved by the Republican-controlled House on Wednesday over the objections of Democrats who contend seniors and students will be among those blocked from casting a ballot.

Legislation putting new restrictions on large-scale data centers, major plank of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ push to put guardrails on artificial intelligence, cleared its first House committee, The State Affairs Committee voted 24-1 on the measure (HB 1007) that in part addresses key issues such as electricity and water use needed to maintain the data centers.

Florida lawmakers on Tuesday moved closer to placing President Donald Trump’s name on the Palm Beach International Airport despite turbulence over state funding, trademarking rights and his personal conduct.

A proposal to further limit the amount of out-of-state and international students at some Florida universities continued to advance in the House on Tuesday.

Gov. Ron DeSantis ratcheted up his concerns last week about potential “serious harms” on humans from the growth of artificial intelligence and the need for state regulations. Yet as the Legislature approaches the scheduled midpoint of the regular session, only the Senate has moved DeSantis’ desired “Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights” and his call to lessen the impact of massive data centers on utility ratepayers.

The proposal (SB 482), filed by Sen. Tom Leek, R-Ormond Beach, includes such things as steps to keep “harmful” content from minors. It comes after DeSantis called for an AI bill of rights — and after President Donald Trump issued an executive order seeking to limit state-by-state regulation of the fast-growing technology.

Last week, House Speaker Daniel Perez touted the idea of offering multiple proposals to voters in November 2026.

Jim Boyd, a veteran lawmaker who heads an insurance and investment firm in Bradenton, was formally selected Tuesday by Senate Republicans to become the next Senate president.