Legislature

For decades, cities and counties have been able to enact laws to manage their communities as they see fit. Recently, however, the Legislature has passed rules to usurp some local decisions.

The conversation starters for "Florida Matters Live & Local" include Florida's execution pace and some Super Bowl talk that has nothing to do with Seahawks and Patriots.

U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle said he would try to deliver an opinion “as quick as I can” on law and rules prohibiting the use of puberty blockers and hormone therapy to treat children for gender dysphoria.

Two Republican bills would limit lawsuits by survivors' families against nursing homes in cases of neglect or wrongful death.

Groups targeted proposals that could do such things as redefine sprawl, deter citizens from challenging comprehensive land-plan amendments and prevent cities and counties from regulating wetlands.

The state Senate Banking and Insurance Committee voted 7-3 along party lines to approve a bill that would halt plans to create a separate “merchant category code” for sales at firearm businesses.

Since 2017, Medicaid expansion has been adopted in seven states where a question was placed directly on the ballot. But campaign leaders say that strategy may not work in Florida.

The DeSantis administration said he doesn’t make “U-turns" after a report that a plan is in the works to reverse a law that eliminated Disney’s special tax district status.

At the forefront of the concerns is a shortage of nurses, which the executives told lawmakers has created an emergency for hospital administrators.

The Department of Health plan calls for a “three-pronged strategy” to attack the pandemic, including funding for testing, support staff and a media marketing campaign.

Neither chamber's measure contains lawsuit protections for health care providers, but Sen. Jeff Brandes, who sponsored the Senate version, says they will addressed in separate legislation.

Under Senate President Wilton Simpson’s plan, members of the public will have to watch and testify remotely. House Speaker Chris Sprowls has embraced a somewhat more relaxed stance.