Jim Turner - News Service of Florida

Heading into the 2026 session, which will begin in January, one of the key topics will be Gov. Ron DeSantis’ push to cut or eliminate homestead property taxes.

Bear hunting has long been controversial in the state, and this year will be the first time since 2015 that a hunt has been held.

Production is down as the citrus industry has been hampered deadly citrus greening disease, hurricanes and development pressure.

The tax holiday starting Monday also will allow people to avoid paying sales taxes on camping and fishing equipment through the end of the year. It was part of a broad tax package (HB 7031) that lawmakers passed in June.

The 2023-2024 fiscal year included a substantial amount of the time DeSantis ran for the Republican presidential nomination. He dropped out of the race in January 2024.

Donald Landry, whose term is set to begin Sept. 1, must be confirmed by the state university system’s Board of Governors next month.

Florida has struggled since the COVID-19 pandemic to rebuild its numbers of overseas and Canadian travelers.

The hunt will take place in four regions of the state and use a lottery process for hunters to obtain permits.

Redistricting typically happens once a decade after the U.S. census. The last round of redistricting happened in 2022.

A "lottery" has been suggested to limit permits. Restrictions could also include a harvesting season from October through February and more.