Florida News That Impacts You – March 8th, 2024
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida.
- Today’s the final day of the state legislative session. On Thursday movers included the My Safe Florida Home Program bill. The final version of the legislation would fund the state grant home hardening program at record levels going forward. Governor DeSantis had called for $107 million for the program annually, the legislature set funding at $200 million, or about $85 million more than last year. The Health Care Expenses bill passed the legislature unanimously. The bill mandates that health care providers provide a “good faith” cost estimate to health care consumers prior to services being performed. The Citizens Property Insurance Corporation bill also passed. The bill allows for additional property insurance carriers to more easily obtain insurance policies currently held by Citizens. The Sampling of Beach Waters and Public Bathing Spaces bill has passed. The bill aka, the Safe Waterways Act, mandates public warnings of water contamination and/or, unsafe conditions within 24 hours of a known safety issue. The bill sponsored by Boynton Beach Senator Lori Berman, was inspired by last July’s contamination issue in the intracoastal in Boynton Beach following a major pipe failure within the city. The Nicotine Products and Dispensing Devices bill passed. The legislation, if signed into law, would ban many flavored vape products sold within the state. The final amended version of the bill is less restrictive than the original version which would have banned any non-FDA regulated vape products. The Complaints Against Law Enforcement and Correctional Officers bill passed the legislature. The bill prevents local governments from creating citizen review boards for law enforcement agencies. Which have been used by the “defund” movement to hamper local enforcement efforts.
- Warmer temps today with highs in the low to mid 80’s., or about nine degrees warmer than usual for this date. Similar weather is expected to continue through Sunday.
- Gas prices were flat on Thursday after rising throughout earlier in the week. The average price statewide for regular unleaded is currently $3.46 per gallon - nine cents higher than a week ago. In Palm Beach County the average price is $3.61 per gallon, in Martin the average is $3.54 and in Indian River County the average is $3.47 per gallon.