Florida News That Impacts You – March 7th, 2023
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida. Gas prices continued lower through the weekend.
- Florida’s state legislative session kicks off today in Tallahassee. Governor DeSantis will deliver his 5th State of the State address this morning which will officially kick off the annual 60-day session which will conclude May 5th. Republicans have a super majority, or two-thirds majority, in the state legislature for the first time since 2011, leaving them with broad authority to advance their agenda. 1683 bills have been filed for consideration entering today. Historically an average of about 200 bills become law.
- Gas prices jumped by the most in day that they have this year. Statewide the average price for regular unleaded is $3.27 per gallon – five cents higher than yesterday. In Palm Beach County the price is up three cents to $3.50 per gallon, which is the highest price in the state.
- Connecticut based Subway is the latest company to make the move to Florida. Subway has announced a dual-corporate headquarters for corporate staff in Miami. Initially 50 employees will be based in South Florida, which will be greater than the presence left in Connecticut. The relocation comes on the back of multiple executives having permanently relocated to South Florida.
- Florida was among three states to announce an exit from ERIC, the Electronic Registration Information Center, aimed to curb voter fraud across states. In making the announcement, Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd said the state had “lost confidence in ERIC”. The database, which is a voluntary project of the non-profit Pew Charitable Trust, which commenced in 2012, had 31 participating states as recently as the 2020 election cycle. Last year however, Alabama and Louisiana left the database now West Virginia and Missouri have in addition to Florida. The point of contention comes from Pew’s decision to track EBUs, or people eligible to vote but that haven’t been active.