Florida News That Impacts You – May 18th, 2023
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida.
- Wednesday was the second busiest day of the year for Governor DeSantis as he signed a total of 21 bills into law including five bills which comprise the governor’s Let Kids Be Kids initiative. Including the banning of gender reassignment producers for minors, the banning of the use of declared pronouns on school campuses which aren’t consistent with one’s biological sex, the banning of minors at performances which contain explicit adult content, mandating public restrooms are to be used in accordance with one’s biological sex and a new law allowing private, virtual school and homeschool students access to participate in extracurricular activities at public and private schools. Additionally, all sports regulated by the Florida High School Athletic Association will mandate students compete in sports programs that are consistent with their biological sex.
- Among the other new laws established Wednesday was the Individual Education Plans. The unanimously passed plan allows parents of special needs children the opportunity to direct their child’s education until the age of 22, which is the age special needs students are allowed to remain within K-12 programs in Florida.
- South Florida’s inflation rate was nearly double the national average most recently. The just released reporting of regional inflation rates for the Miami metro (Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach) by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics shows consumer inflation through April rose 9% year-over-year compared to the 4.9% national average.
- Gas prices are two cents lower today. Statewide the average price for regular unleaded is currently $3.44 per gallon – seven cents lower than a week ago. In Palm Beach County the average price remains $3.69 per gallon, which is the highest price in the state.