Florida Legislature

The request from Florida Conservation Voters comes in a letter to top lawmakers, both from Tampa Bay.

In separate news conferences, Senate President Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, and House Speaker Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, indicated support for legislation that would protect businesses from lawsuits related to COVID-19.

Nine lawmakers were excused from attending the legislative organization session in Tallahassee on Tuesday because they tested positive for COVID-19 or were exposed to the coronavirus in recent days.

This post will be updated today, Monday, Nov. 16, and through the week with the latest information on COVID-19 in South Florida.

This week, incoming House speaker Chris Sprowls published a list of proposed rule changes for the chamber during his two-year term.

A federal appeals court Tuesday again cleared the way for a lawsuit that alleges the Legislature has violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by not providing closed captioning on online videos of meetings.

Orlando Attorney John Morgan said he will sue if Florida lawmakers try to thwart implementation of a minimum wage amendment.

In a month or so, all 160 members of the Legislature are scheduled to return to Tallahassee, despite predictions that the COVID-19 pandemic could be worse than it is now. Some lawmakers say they're confident everything will be fine while others—especially those who've had the coronavirus—want to make sure safety is the top priority.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has support from Florida’s Republicans, but Democrats and others blast his proposal as racist and unconstitutional.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has support from Florida’s Republicans, but Democrats and others blast his proposal as racist and unconstitutional.

Other states have taken similar action to help those who are transitioning out of state custody during the health crisis.

Amendment 3, which seeks to overhaul Florida’s primary-election system by allowing voters to cast ballots in primaries regardless of party affiliation, would give a disproportionate amount of power to primary voters and special interests while diminishing the ability of political parties to put forward candidates, leaders of the Black caucus and the group People Over Profits contend.