Gov. Ron DeSantis

The Florida Senate is topping Gov. Ron DeSantis’ request for environmental funding, despite early concerns about a tight budget and the need to react to Hurricane Michael.

The Senate Agriculture, Environment and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee on Wednesday released an initial $5.9 billion budget proposal that includes $656 million for Everglades restoration and water-quality efforts such as trying to reduce future outbreaks of toxic algae and red tide.

The Republican–controlled Legislature will be tasked with an unexpected job: deciding whether to allocate funds for environmental causes championed by the governor.

Broward County's Ron Bergeron signed a $25 million no-bid construction contract with the South Florida Water Management District more than a week after Gov. Ron DeSantis tapped him for the district's board.

Bergeron signed the contract calling for Bergeron Land Development Inc. to complete the district's work on a stormwater treatment area in western Martin County on Feb. 6.

Speaking to a packed Florida House chamber filled with lawmakers on the opening day of the Legislative session, Gov. Ron DeSantis made his final pitch to legislators Tuesday for the bills he hopes will cross his desk.

Following is Gov. Ron DeSantis’ State of the State address, as prepared, on the first day of the 2019 legislative session:

Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, members of the House and Senate, Cabinet members and Supreme Court Justices:

Mindful of the economic opportunities that lie before us, understanding the environmental challenges that require our attention, and conscious of our obligations to education and public safety, I consider myself blessed to stand before you, at this particular moment in our history, as Florida’s 46th governor.

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday will start his first legislative session, where he will test his influence to push an extensive agenda heavily focused on the environment and expanding school choice.

After the November election, many expected DeSantis would govern as the staunch conservative who campaigned on his close ties to President Donald Trump. But two months into his term, some of the governor’s proposals have drawn praise from Democrats and Republicans.

Granting a request by Gov. Ron DeSantis, the Florida Supreme Court on Monday impaneled a statewide grand jury to investigate whether school districts are complying with mandatory safety requirements following last February’s mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday named four appointees to the nine-member South Florida Water Management District Governing Board, after he called last month for the prior board’s resignation.

DeSantis announced the selections during appearances in Naples and Stuart.

President Trump signed plans Tuesday to create a scaled-back version of a Space Force. Governor DeSantis is asking the President to place the headquarters in Florida.

In a tweet, DeSantis asked the President to make Kennedy Space Center the headquarters of the Space Force Combatant Command. The Governor says space is part of Florida’s storied history, and is a logical fit for the state.