Florida News – Highlights from around the state – February 13th
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the some of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida.
- The CDC issued a warning to state officials that the coronavirus test kits provided to the Florida Department of Health might be defective. The CDC said use of kits has shown “inconclusive results” that could result in an incorrect diagnosis. On Tuesday, Florida health officials stated the coronavirus hasn’t been diagnosed within our state.
- Florida Department of Education statistics revealed a doubling of nicotine related disciplinary actions taken in schools statewide year over year. The most common method of nicotine use–vaping.
- According to St. Pete polling, by a 63% to 31% margin Floridians support the parental consent mandate for abortions. This comes on the heels of the final votes on the legislation in the House and Senate. The same poll also revealed 60% to 28% statewide for E-Verify and by a 62% to 30% margin favor the proposed $15 per hour minimum wage increase that will be on our ballots in November as a proposed constitutional amendment.
- A bill that’d ban the breeding and selling of iguanas in Florida is ready for a full Senate vote after passing through committees. This after the FWC stated last summer that Iguanas, an invasive species, should be removed whenever possible.
- The college athlete compensation bill is closer to becoming reality after the House Judiciary Committee passed the bill through to the full House for a final vote. The final version of the bill allows for student athletes to take out insurance policies on themselves as well, adding potential protection against injury risk in college.
- The Keep Our Graduates Working Act passed the full state legislature and is now headed to Governor DeSantis. The legislation, if signed into law, will mandate that the state issue and maintain occupational licenses regardless of student loan debt status. Current Florida law allows the state to deny licenses if a person is in default of student loans.