Florida News That Impacts You – March 29th, 2023
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida. Gas prices continued lower through the weekend.
- Recent movers in the state legislative session included the bill which would limit abortions to six weeks, with exceptions. The bill cleared its final senate committee and is ready for a full vote before the senate. A bill which unanimously passed the House Appropriations Committee which would add a 3% cost of living adjustment for members of the Florida Retirement System Pension Plan and that would lower the retirement age for first responders covered by the plan to 25 years of service or the age of 55. Another unanimous House committee vote advanced legislation ending Florida’s limit on wine bottle sizes available for sale in the state. The bill which would empower the state to set limits on what local governments could charge and how extensively they could regulate vacation rentals passed a key House committee on a party-line vote. The Facility Requirements Based on Sex bill which would define bathroom use at public facilities as determined by one’s biological sex advanced in a House Committee on a party-line vote. Legislation which would mandate education in grades 6-12 on the dangers of social media use for minors passed its final Senate committee on a unanimous vote.
- A proposed constitutional amendment which would protect hunting and fishing as a “right” in Florida may be on our ballots next year. The Florida House and Senate have advanced the proposal, which if passed in this year’s session, would be on our ballots next year and would require 60% support to pass.
- Governor DeSantis received, and will soon sign into law, the Housing bill from the state legislature. Under the legislation, state resources will be used to convert and renovate derelict commercial spaces in communities into affordable housing.
- Gas prices rose three cents per gallon on Tuesday. Statewide the average price for regular unleaded is now $3.39 per gallon – 3 cents lower than a week ago. In Palm Beach County the average price is now $3.59 per gallon, which is once again the highest price in the state.