Florida News That Impacts You – March 15th, 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.
- Turnout in Tuesday’s Uniform Municipal Elections in Palm Beach County was 12.64% among registered voters in the 17 municipalities which held elections Tuesday. One race, the Boynton Beach District two Commissioner race will head to a runoff between Woodrow Hay and Mack McCray. In Delray Beach voters approved two bond referendums with a combined price tag of $120 million. Meanwhile, Tequesta residents voted down a proposed bond referendum.
- Recent movers in the state legislative session included a bill which would allow purchasers of live event tickets to transfer them to others, including through donation – advanced through a senate committee on a partyline vote. Likewise, a bill capping the price municipal governments could charge properties listed for vacation rentals at $50 cleared a senate panel on a partyline vote. A bill advanced in the senate which would require dredging projects for deepwater access to have a habitat equivalency analysis performed passed its first senate committee on a unanimous vote. Palm Beach County State Rep. Rick Roth’s bill to raise the threshold for constitutional amendments from a 60% vote to 66.67% advanced past the House Judiciary Committee. A bill advanced in the House which would ban the assignment of benefits for auto glass repair claims which have led to a proliferation of lawsuits by third parties. And Governor DeSantis’ proposal banning the use of ESG investment strategies for state-backed retirement accounts passed a House committee.
- Florida Senator Marco Rubio, a 2016 Presidential Candidate, announced Tuesday, on Hugh Hewitt’s show, that he has no plans to run for president and that he’s focused on his work in the Senate. Some pollsters had included Rubio in 2024 Republican primary polling recently.
- Gas prices are higher today. Statewide the average price for regular unleaded is $3.40 per gallon – nine cents higher yesterday and eight cents higher than a week ago. In Palm Beach County the price rose to $3.57 per gallon, which is the highest price in the state.