Florida News That Impacts You – April 27th, 2023
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida.
- Recent movers in the state legislative session included a proposed constitutional amendment which would provide an extended homestead exemption for low-income seniors. Under the proposal, low-income seniors in their home for at least 25 years would gain a homestead exemption on the first $300,000 of their property value. The proposal unanimously passed the house, the senate has yet to take up the proposal. If passed and signed by Governor DeSantis it would go on next year’s ballot. Another unanimous house vote on Wednesday included a bill adding federal agents to the legal definition of “first responders” under Florida law. The change would allow federal agents access to certain benefits provided to first responders under Florida law. The Senate companion has yet to advance. The senate has passed the Insurer Accountability bill, which seeks to hold insurance companies more accountable in accessing and paying out legitimate insurance claims in a timely manner. The bill is set to be taken up in the house.
- The amended Elections bill, which would amend Florida’s resign-to-run law to allow for a current office holder to run for president or vice-president without resigning from their current post, passed on a party-line vote in the senate. The companion bill has been scheduled to be taken up in the house tomorrow.
- The 4th District Court of Appeal found in favor of FAU over a class-action lawsuit brought by students over a campus shutdown during the early months of the pandemic in 2020. The court upheld a judge's decision which found FAU didn’t breach their obligations by moving to a remote learning model.
- Gas prices dropped a penny Wednesday. Statewide the average price for regular unleaded is currently $3.68 per gallon – four cents lower than a week ago. In Palm Beach County the average price is $3.86 per gallon, which is the highest price in the state.