Governor Ron DeSantis today announced that Florida has been awarded an additional $28 million in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Labor Disaster Recovery Dislocated Worker Grant in response to COVID-19. This federal Disaster Recovery Dislocated Worker Grant is administered by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity and willContinue Reading
On Wednesday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis provided an update on new therapeutics to treat COVID-19, as well as Florida’s vaccine distribution plan once vaccines are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Watch the Governor’s update by clicking the image below or clicking HERE. Wednesday’s update follows Governor DeSantis’ recentContinue Reading
On Friday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved Individual Assistance for Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton and Bay counties following the impact of Hurricane Sally. With this announcement, families impacted by Hurricane Sally now have access to critical FEMA programs, including housing assistance,Continue Reading
Last week, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced new legislation to stop violent assemblies and protect law enforcement. The proposed legislation, the “Combatting Violence, Disorder and Looting and Law Enforcement Protection Act,” creates new criminal offenses and increases penalties for those who target law enforcement and participate in violent or disorderly assemblies. “Our rightContinue Reading
Today, at The Birchwood hotel in St. Petersburg, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that the state will move to Phase 3 of his “Safe. Smart. Step-by-Step. Plan” for Re-Opening Florida, including allowing restaurants to operate at full capacity, effective immediately. There will no longer be operational limitations enforced by the State ofContinue Reading
The Florida Department of Health (DOH) reported 8502 positive COVID-19 cases out of nearly 100,000 tests performed Friday, bringing the state totals to 526,577 cases with 8,109 deaths related to COVID-19. Last week, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the formation of Florida’s Task Force on the Safe and Limited Re-Opening of Long-TermContinue Reading
Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced $900,000 in funding for infrastructure projects in two rural communities in Northeast Florida. Administered by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, the Rural Infrastructure Fund (RIF) provides funding to local governments for infrastructure projects in rural communities to encourage job creation and business investment andContinue Reading
Today, Florida state health officials reported an additional 10,360 new positive COVID-19 cases, out of 87,000 people tested. This put the state’s case tally to 254,511 cases, the third most of US states. Another 95 deaths were recorded in 32 counties. Florida has now seen 4,197 deaths related to COVID-19,Continue Reading
After breaking the record for daily coronavirus cases and surpassing the 200,000 total cases of COVID-19 over the weekend, the Florida Health Department reported more than 6,000 new cases on Monday ahead of a press update. Gov. Ron DeSantis said Monday in an update in The Villages that the fatalityContinue Reading
On Wednesday, Florida Ron DeSantis signed into law HB 1189 – Genetic Information for Insurance Purposes, making Florida the first state to guarantee DNA privacy for customers’ life, disability, and long-term care insurance. According to the bill: The bill provides that life insurers and long-term care insurers may not cancel,Continue Reading
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 1061, expanding Florida’s new aquatic preserve about 800 square miles along the Gulf Coast, its first new aquatic preserve in over 30 years. This bill creates the Nature Coast Aquatic Preserve, which will protect approximately 400,000 acres of aquatic habitat stretching from Pinellas CountyContinue Reading
Earlier this week, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed “The Occupational Freedom and Opportunity Act” (HB 1193) which eliminates barriers of entry to certain professions licensed by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DPBR) by adding endorsement and reciprocity provisions, removing supplemental business licenses and corresponding license fees, reducingContinue Reading
On Monday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed the state budget for Fiscal Year 2020-2021. The budget totals $92.2 billion, provides over $350 million in tax relief and includes more than $1 billion in vetoed spending. “Despite the present challenges Florida faces due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Budget ensures theContinue Reading
Gov. Ron DeSantis approved $800,000 in funding for the Bitner Plante ALS Initiative of Florida in the 2020-2021 budget released yesterday. The Initiative provides support for ALS patients seeking treatment at the multidisciplinary clinics located at Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville; University of South Florida, Tampa; University of Miami, Miami; and UFContinue Reading
Americans for Prosperity-Florida (AFP-FL) today commended Governor Ron DeSantis for signing HB 7067, a bill that gives educational freedom to almost 30,000 new students a year through enrollment in Florida’s Family Empowerment Scholarship Program. This represents a full 400% increase in parents and their children given the right to decideContinue Reading
Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed legislation Wednesday to give teachers a salary hike to a cost of $500 million., elevating Florida’s teacher pay to No. 5 in the nation. This is a really big day for teacher’s compensation and we look forward to getting it to the teachers,” DeSantis saidContinue Reading
The Florida Department of Health (DOH) has reported as of this morning 73,552 total COVID-19 cases and 2,925 deaths. This is up more than 2,500 cases and 48 deaths since Friday’s released data. Nearly 1.4 million tests have been performed to date, according to DOH data. When asked about theContinue Reading
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday signed a bill into law, which would allow college athletes in the state to earn money from endorsement deals. Effective in 2021, the restrictions on college athletes will be lifted to allow these student athletes to be paid for the use of their names, imagesContinue Reading
On Friday, Governor Ron DeSantis and Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran announced 60 schools, representing 28 districts in Florida, were chosen to participate in the first phase of the Florida Civics and Debate Initiative (FCDI). On January 27, 2020, Governor Ron DeSantis announced a multiyear, $5 million grant from TheContinue Reading
Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced plans for Florida’s K-12 public schools to reopen at full capacity in the fall. “Having a teacher there, there just isn’t going to be a substitute for that in-person instruction,” he said. Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran said that’s the recommendation being made to local schoolContinue Reading
UPDATE: Busch Gardens and Adventure will open June 11. Guests will notice increased cleaning and safety protocols in addition to limits on the number of people who can be in the theme parks at once. A new online reservation system will help manage capacity. “Over the past two months, weContinue Reading
