Florida News That Impacts You – June 27th, 2023
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida.
- Governor DeSantis signed six additional bills into law on Monday including...the Medical Use of Marijuana bill which allows for telehealth renewals for medical marijuana in addition to provisions encouraging greater Black farmer participation in the growing of marijuana for medicinal purposes. The Utility System Base Rates bill is now law which establishes base rate utility costs for customers of utilities that are acquired by other providers within the state. It also orders the Florida Public Service Commission to factor in the value of the acquired utilities when setting base rates. The Public Safety Emergency Communications bill is also now law which sets new standards for radio communications by fire departments making use of enhanced technologies to communicate between buildings during emergencies along with altering building code requirements for certificates of occupancy.
- Governor DeSantis issued his second veto of the year – striking down the Consumer Finance Loans bill which would have allowed for the top loan rate to be charged in Florida to rise from 30% to 36%.
- The National Weather Service has confirmed a rare Florida tsunami occurred last week. A 4-foot wave brought about by straight gusting winds, as opposed to an earthquake, came ashore on Clearwater Beach last Wednesday. The so-called meteotsunami didn’t produce any advisories and didn’t cause any meaningful damage. The weather effect was caused by heat moving offshore from Texas along with a cool front moving south from the northeast.
- Gas prices dropped another penny on Monday. Statewide the average price for regular unleaded is $3.34 per gallon – 6 cents lower than a week ago. In Palm Beach County the average price is $3.51 per gallon, which is the second highest in the state.