Florida News That Impacts You – February 28th, 2024

Florida News That Impacts You – February 29th, 2024  

Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida.     

• In Wednesday’s state legislation session movers included...The Local Regulation of Nonconforming and Unsafe Structures bill which eases regulations enabling old coastal buildings, determined to be safety risks, to be demolished and rebuilt. The legislation is in response to reforms passed in the wake of the collapse of Champlain Towers South in Surfside. The bill passed the senate with only two dissenters. The Behavioral Health Teaching Hospitals bill passed the senate unanimously. The legislation expands Florida’s designated teaching hospitals to include Jackson Memorial, Tampa General, UF Health Jacksonville and UF Health Shands. The Artificial Intelligence Use in Political Advertising bill passed the full House with broad bipartisan support. The bill regulates use of AI in political advertising and mandates disclosures when used. The state senate unanimously passed a bill defining antisemitism. The bill, which now goes to the House for a full vote would define antisemitism as: A certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals, their property, community institutions and religious facilities. 
• The state legislature has allocated funding for PreK-12 education as budget negotiations continue. Overall funding for the 2024-2025 school year has been set at $28.4 billion, an increase of $1.8 billion (6.3%) or an increase of $240 per student over the next year. Included in the authorization is $202 million for increases in teacher compensation. 
• The Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches is underway at PGA National Today. The tournament got underway at 6:45 this morning with the first golfers teeing off. 
• A warm day again today with a high around 80 – or about four degrees warmer than usual for this date. Similar weather is expected over the next week. 
• Gas prices rose three cents Wednesday. The average price statewide for regular unleaded is $3.36 per gallon. In Palm Beach County the average price is $3.53 per gallon, in Martin the average is $3.42 and in Indian River County the average is $3.38 per gallon.