Jim Turner | News Service of Florida

House Speaker Daniel Perez defended a bill that would repeal a law shielding information about school presidential candidates from public disclosure.

With House Speaker Daniel Perez pointing to an “age of disruption,” Florida Republican legislative leaders opened the 2025 session on Tuesday by voicing support for digging into government spending.

While oyster harvesting there was halted in 2020, officials say reviving the industry would help the area's economy. It would resume in 2026.

“For too long, nobody has cared about the taxpayers, much less the next generation, who is ultimately going to have to pay for all of the mismanagement that we have seen over these many, many years,” DeSantis said during an appearance in Tampa.

Jeanette Nunez, a former House member from Miami who was Gov. Ron DeSantis’ running mate in 2018 and 2022, will make an annual base salary of $850,000 at FIU, her alma mater, and Adam Hasner will make a base salary of $875,000.

Larry Keefe, who as public safety “czar” in Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration helped orchestrate controversial flights of migrants from Texas to Massachusetts in 2022, was named Monday to oversee immigration enforcement in Florida.

The Florida university system’s Board of Governors acknowledged the need to provide help so universities can compete against other schools, but money directed toward academics should not be used.

The federal farm bill was last updated in 2018. Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson wants state lawmakers to allocate around $50 million to help farmers impacted by the hurricanes.

Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida President-elect Donald Trump to give Florida authority over federal money for Everglades restoration projects. The proposed budget includes $805 million for Everglades restoration and $330 million for targeted water quality projects.

Ten laws passed during the 2024 legislative session will take effect Wednesday. They were among 299 bills approved by the Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis, the majority of which took effect July 1.

State Rep. Hillary Casel on Friday became the second House Democrat to switch her party affiliation since the November elections, further adding to Republicans’ supermajority.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on Wednesday directed officials to bring forward proposals for a possible bear hunt. The proposals are expected to be completed by a May commission meeting, giving staff members time to compile data from ongoing studies about bear populations and gather more public input.