Florida News That Impacts You – April 14th, 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.
- Governor DeSantis wasted no time in signing the Heartbeat Protection Act into law. Just hours after the Legislature passed the bill limiting abortions to six weeks in Florida, Governor DeSantis signed the bill into law. The law allows for exceptions for rape, incest, human trafficking and life-threatening conditions for the mother.
- The Governor declared a state of emergency for Broward County after record rainfall has led to devastating flooding. The emergency declaration deploys Florida Emergency Management resources to the county. Broward schools will remain closed until Monday. Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport remains closed with a tentative reopening scheduled for 9am today.
- Recent movers in the state legislative session included the Violent Offenses Committed Against Criminal Defense Attorneys bill. The legislation which raises attacks on defense attorneys in a court room to a felony from a misdemeanor passed the legislature unanimously. The DeSantis backed bill, Government and Corporate Activism, which limits the use of ESG standards and bans ESG issued debt investments in the state, passed its final senate committee and now heads to a vote before the full chamber. It’s already passed the House. The Child Protection in Public Schools bill which would mandate public school employees refer to children by pronouns that are consistent with their biological sex advanced past it’s 2nd senate committee and now has one more committee stop before a vote before the full chamber. The companion in the House has already passed.
- Gas prices were flat Thursday. Statewide the average price for regular unleaded is $3.57 per gallon – 3 cents higher than a week ago. In Palm Beach County the average price remained $3.75 per gallon, which is the highest price in the state.