Florida News That Impacts You – April 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.
- Recent movers in the state legislative session included the Insurer Accountability bill. The legislation passed its first House and Senate committees and would provide specific timelines for claims payouts. Regular audits which are to be reported to the state and would prevent insurance companies from dropping customers after legitimate claims. Another mover is the Preemption Over Utility Service Restrictions bill. The legislation which would protect the use of gas stoves in Florida, unanimously passed its first Senate committee stop after having advanced through multiple House committees. The bill is in response to a Biden administration proposed regulation which would ban the use of gas stoves. While some have suggested the legislation is political posturing, the bill’s sponsor Jay Collins, who runs a nonprofit catering service which supplied hot meals to displaced Hurricane Ian victims pointed out the more serious implications of not being able to provide hot meals to victims.
- Gas prices rose another six cents per gallon yesterday. Statewide the average price for regular unleaded is $3.54 per gallon – 6 cents higher than a week ago. In Palm Beach County the average price rose to $3.71 per gallon, which is the highest price in the state.
- Florida’s current drought conditions are now the worst in a decade. According to state officials 88% of the state is experiencing abnormally dry conditions and the overall conditions are the driest since 2012’s dry season – with 55% of the state in a severe drought. Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson is warning of a high risk of wildfires over the next month.
- The Loxahatchee River has been named one of the top seven kayaking locations in Florida’s according to travel service Florida Trippers. Taking the Northwest Fork through to the Jupiter Inlet is considered the most scenic in South Florida.