Florida News That Impacts You – June 29th, 2023
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida.
- Governor DeSantis signed eight bills into law on Wednesday including... the Collateral Protection Insurance bill which prevents insurance companies from engaging in so called double-dipping practices whereby companies mandate additional coverage for property ownership that’s purchased from entities they own or are affiliated with. The Natural Emergencies bill is also law which regulates post-disaster regulations that local governments must abide by including the allowance for temporary shelters to be constructed on one’s property following a disaster, timely debris removal, etc. Also, the City of Gainesville, Alachua County bill is now law. The legislation, while not impacting South Florida directly, will put municipal run utilities, a la Lake Worth Utilities on notice. After a decade of reports illustrating Gainesville’s public utilities engaged in non-competitive practices driving utility rates significantly higher than other providers across the state, the legislation removed Gainesville from direct oversight of the utility. The new board will be appointed by Governor DeSantis and there is an expectation it will be sold off to an existing utility operator in the state.
- Governor DeSantis issued another veto as well – killing the Energy bill. The bill would have mandated existing government vehicles be replaced with EVs and alternative fuel models when possible.
- Brightline will be testing its soon-to-be Orlando service today in the Palm Beaches. Between 6am to 6pm today the train will be traveling up to 90mph between West Palm Beach and Rivera Beach.
- Gas prices dropped another two cents on Wednesday. Statewide the average price for regular unleaded is $3.31 per gallon – 6 cents lower than a week ago. In Palm Beach County the average price is $3.48 per gallon, which is the third highest in the state.