Florida News That Impacts You – March 5th, 2024
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida.
- In Monday’s state legislative session movers included the revamped Social Media bill. Following a veto by Governor DeSantis of the original bill which would have banned minors under 16 from social media use, an amended version which lowers the ban to the age of 13 – which is in line with federal law – passed the state senate. The bill allows for parental choice for 14- and 15- year-olds. The Voter Registration Applications bill has advanced. The bill places extra safeguards into place to ensure voters are registered to their party of choice when renewing driver’s licenses at DMV’s. The Identification Documents bill, which would prevent local governments from issuing IDs to undocumented persons passed the House on a party-line vote. Another mover- the Release of Balloons bill. An amended version of the legislation banning the intentional release of helium balloons – which excludes children under 6 and their parents from punishment, passed with senate with only two dissenters and now goes to the house for a full vote.
- Brightline officially announced a new downtown Stuart station. After months of consideration local officials recently announced a new Brightline station, the first on the Treasure Coast, would be coming to Stuart. Brightline confirmed the announcement in a ceremony on Monday. The station will be constructed on a 2.5-acre site on SE Flagler Ave. near the Martin County Courthouse. Construction of the new station is expected to get underway next year with an ETA of 2027.
- The latest phase of FPL’s undergrounding powerline project takes them to Jupiter Farms where they expect to move 45 power lines operating in the community underground by the end of the year. FPL said they prioritize undergrounding projects based upon potential vulnerabilities to severe weather and outages.
- Today’s forecast is much like yesterdays with overcast skies and highs near 80, or about four degrees warmer than usual for this date.
- Gas prices dropped a couple cents per gallon on Monday, though prices a still higher than a week ago. The average price statewide for regular unleaded is currently $3.31 per gallon. In Palm Beach County the average price is $3.51 per gallon, in Martin the average is $3.38 and in Indian River County the average is $3.33 per gallon.