Florida News That Impacts You – May 15th, 2023
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida.
- Governor DeSantis has signed three additional bills into law: The Sales of Firearms and Ammunition Bill, which bans the tracking of firearm and ammunition purchases by merchants and financial services companies. The Central Bank Digital Currency bill which bans central bank digital currencies in Florida. The Middle School and High School Start Times bill which mandates middle school start times at 8:00 am or later with high school start times at 8:30 am or later. The changes to school start times will be effective for the 2026-2027 school year.
- Brightline has become the first consumer rail service in the world to offer high-speed internet access via SpaceX’s Starlink satellite service. Brightline’s announcement comes as they’re weeks away from completing the final segment of their Orlando expansion project which will connect Central Florida to South Florida with stops in Palm Beach County, Broward and Miami Dade.
- Approximately 350,000 Floridians are set to receive checks as part of the state’s settlement with TurboTax. From 2016 to 2018 TurboTax was found to have charged many tax filers for services that should have been free under federal law. Those with adjusted gross income of approximately $65,000 or less during those years will receive checks ranging from $29 to $85 from Rust Consulting this week.
- Gas prices continued inching lower through the weekend. Statewide the average price for regular unleaded is currently $3.48 per gallon – eight cents lower than a week ago. In Palm Beach County the average price is $3.72 per gallon, which is the highest price in the state.