Florida Politics

12 hours ago | floridapolitics.com | Jesse Scheckner

Gov. Ron DeSantis just signed a sweeping new measure aimed at accelerating hurricane recovery, fortifying communities and enhancing government coordination ahead of future storms. Proponents say it will improve how the state and localities plan before and after natural disasters while helping homeowners to rebuild with clear, streamlined permitting resources. Critics contend that while well-intentioned, the legislation lacks key details and overly preempts local land and growth management.

17 hours ago | floridapolitics.com | Jesse Scheckner

Miles of administrative red tape in Florida are on the chopping block under a new law effective July 1. Gov. Ron DeSantis just signed a sweeping bill (SB 108) to modernize the Sunshine State’s rulemaking process and increase transparency around state-issued licenses. The measure, which lawmakers unanimously approved in April, mandates a comprehensive, five-year review cycle for all agency rules and imposes stricter timelines and publication requirements on agencies crafting new regulations.

1 day ago | floridapolitics.com | Jesse Scheckner

Just over four months before voters were to choose a new Mayor and two other officials at City Hall, the Miami Commission has narrowly approved postponing its election to November 2026, sparking outcry and a likely challenge from the state. Commissioners voted 3-2 for the change, with Christine King and Ralph Rosado joining the measure’s sponsor, Damian Pardo, in supporting the election delay.

1 day ago | floridapolitics.com | Jesse Scheckner

If it’s unconstitutional for Miami to reschedule its elections without voter approval — as Attorney General James Uthmeier is arguing — it was illegal for Coral Gables to do the same last month, according to Commissioner Melissa Castro, who just filed legislation to reverse the change. The Coral Gables Commission voted 3-2 on May 20 for an ordinance Mayor Vince Lago sponsored to move the city’s elections from April in odd-numbered years to November in even-numbered years.

1 day ago | floridapolitics.com | Jesse Scheckner

Florida is launching a multistate college and university accrediting agency — the Commission for Public Higher Education (CPHE) — to directly challenge existing regional accreditors that today hold a “monopoly” in higher education, Gov. Ron DeSantis said. The agency will be backed by public university systems from Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas, all Republican-led states that voted for President Donald Trump last year.