Florida News That Impacts You – April 3rd, 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 Boynton Beach State Senator Lori Berman’s bill, Lactation Spaces, which requires court houses to have designated spaces for mothers to breast feed. The bill passed both chambers unanimously and now heads to Governor DeSantis’ desk. The Abandoned and Historic Cemeteries bill, which would preserve historic Black cemeteries, has now cleared all House committees and is ready for a vote before the full House. The House unanimously passed the Individual Education Plans bill, which allows parents with disabled children to be able to have rights to help steer their children’s education past the age of 18. The bill has cleared two committee stops in the senate. The House has unanimously passed the Technology in K-12 Public School bill. The bill bans the use of social media services on public school devices and networks and awaits a vote before the full senate. On a party-line, the House approved the measure for a proposed constitutional amendment to turn school board races into partisan races. If approved by the Senate and signed by Governor DeSantis, the question would be on next year’s ballot for voters to consider. The House passed the Education bill, which would inhibit gender identity related education until 9th grade. The Senate companion has one more committee to clear before a vote in the chamber.
- Gas prices remained higher through the weekend. Statewide the average price for regular unleaded is now $3.47 per gallon – 10 cents higher than a week ago. In Palm Beach County the average price is now $3.64 per gallon, which is the highest price in the state.
- On the back of the news Citizens Property Insurance is seeking maximum increases for property insurance policies this year, State Senator Jeff Brandes who helped lead the reforms passed in last year’s special sessions, said it’s going to take approximately 18 to 24 months for the reforms to make a meaningful impact in the property insurance market, given that the reforms only apply to new policies. He said the issues, including large policy price increases, are likely to continue until then.
- After having been closed through the weekend, the Glades Road diverging diamond interchange with I-95 reopened at 5am this morning. The recently opened interchange was closed in recent days as the state was working to finish construction.