Florida Times

Florida Expands Authority to Designate Certain Groups as Terrorist Organizations

New statutes allow the Chief of Domestic Security to designate organizations as terrorist organizations under state criteria and restrict public funding or operations involving those groups.

University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee Campus Transfer Moves Forward Under New Legislation

Florida lawmakers have formalized the transfer of the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee campus to New College of Florida, reshaping part of the state’s higher education system.

Florida Increases Research Funding Focused on Alzheimer’s Disease and Diabetes

New budget priorities direct additional state resources toward research into Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes, expanding support for specialized medical studies.

Florida Changes Environmental Liability Rules for Former Phosphate Mines

New legislation provides specific liability protections for owners of former phosphate mining sites, altering parts of the state’s framework for pollution remediation responsibilities.

Florida Restricts Certain Surrogacy and Adoption Agreements Linked to Foreign Countries of Concern

New rules prohibit preplanned adoption agreements and surrogate contracts involving citizens or residents of designated foreign countries of concern as part of broader restrictions on foreign influence.

Florida Prevents Utility Customers From Covering Data Center Infrastructure Costs

New legislation blocks utility companies from passing specific infrastructure costs linked to data center development onto residential customers and small businesses.

Florida Modernizes Trademark Registration System for Businesses

The Florida Department of State is adopting the United States Patent and Trademark Office classification system for goods and services while introducing a new secure online portal for trademark applications and renewals.

Florida Expands Domestic Violence Protections and Victim Relocation Support

Updated laws increase financial assistance available for victim relocation and allow courts to consider threats against family pets when issuing protective injunctions.

Florida Increases Access to Simplified Probate Process for More Families

The state has doubled the asset threshold for summary administration from seventy-five thousand dollars to one hundred fifty thousand dollars, allowing more estates to move through a simpler legal process.

Florida Expands Traffic Enforcement Rules for Habitual Offenders

New legislation adds driving without a valid license to offenses counted toward habitual traffic offender status, creating tougher penalties for repeat violations accumulated over a five-year period.

Florida Launches Rental Incentive Program to Support Veteran Housing Access

A new pilot initiative provides financial incentives to landlords who reserve vacant rental units for veterans, including compensation for up to forty-five days of vacancy and additional protections against property loss.

Florida Reduces Permit Burdens for Smaller Residential Construction Projects

New building regulations exempt residential projects valued at seven thousand five hundred dollars or less from certain permitting requirements and establish clearer permit expiration rules for homeowners and builders.

Florida Strengthens Laws Against AI-Generated Child Sexual Abuse Material

New legislation replaces outdated terminology with “child sexual abuse material” and creates a felony offense for transmitting AI-generated content depicting child sexual abuse, expanding protections against digital exploitation.

Florida Introduces New Consumer Protection and Estate Administration Rules

New laws increase the threshold for simplified probate procedures to one hundred fifty thousand dollars and add stronger disclosure requirements for pet sales, providing updated protections for families and consumers.

Trump Administration Narrows Endangered Species Act Rules Affecting Development Projects

The federal government has finalized changes limiting the definition of harm under the Endangered Species Act, potentially allowing more development, mining, and energy projects in protected habitats if they do not directly injure or kil...

Florida Insurance Customers May Benefit From Staggered Rate Decreases Across Carriers

As insurance companies file rate reductions on different schedules, Florida policyholders are being encouraged to compare available quotes before renewal periods to identify potential savings.

Florida Insurance Market Gains More Private Competition Through New Carriers and Flood Providers

A growing number of private insurers and specialized flood insurance companies are entering Florida’s market, giving homeowners more options beyond state-backed coverage and increasing opportunities to compare prices.

Florida Remains a Leading U.S. Tourism Destination Amid Intensifying Global Competition

Florida continues to attract major visitor activity in 2026 by combining international events, expanded infrastructure, and its established tourism appeal to maintain its position among the world’s most visited travel markets.

Florida Tourism Expands as Brightline Connects Miami and Orlando Into One Travel Market

The expansion of Brightline’s high-speed rail service between Miami and Orlando has created easier connections between South and Central Florida, allowing international visitors to combine both destinations and supporting higher tourism ...

Florida Property Insurance Market Shows Signs of Stabilization as Risk Transfer Costs Decline

Citizens Property Insurance Corporation has completed its 2026 risk transfer program at rates about thirty percent lower than the previous year, signaling improved market conditions and greater availability of private capital in Florida’...

Former Miami Heat Teammates Reportedly Clash at NBA Summer League

Former Miami Heat players Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro were reportedly involved in a brief altercation during the Las Vegas Summer League following social media criticism related to contract extensions.

Florida Sheriff's Deputy Investigated After Vehicle Crashes Into Pond

An internal investigation found that an off-duty sheriff's deputy caused more than seventy thousand dollars in vehicle and property damage after a high-speed crash ended in a pond.

Two Young Drivers Killed in Separate Interstate 75 Crashes

Florida Highway Patrol is investigating two fatal crashes that occurred within hours of each other on Interstate 75 in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

Daytona Beach Police Continue Search for Missing Mother and Two Children

Authorities have issued an endangered missing persons alert as investigators continue searching for a woman and her two young children who have not been seen since earlier this spring.

Romero Britto Opens New Pop-Up Gallery at Tampa's International Plaza

Brazilian artist Romero Britto is opening a new pop-up gallery at Tampa's International Plaza with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and interactive appearances scheduled throughout the weekend.

Woodson African American Museum Reopens After Major Renovation

The Woodson African American Museum of Florida in St. Petersburg is reopening following extensive renovations as it celebrates its twentieth anniversary and debuts a new exhibition developed with the Smithsonian.

Florida Gulf Coast Recreational Scallop Season Begins

Wildlife officials are reminding boaters and divers to follow updated harvest limits and safety guidance as recreational scallop season gets underway along Florida's Gulf Coast.

Florida Python Challenge Opens With Hundreds of Participants

The annual state-sponsored Florida Python Challenge has begun with hundreds of registered hunters competing to remove invasive Burmese pythons from the Everglades while vying for cash prizes.

Universal Orlando Launches Unlimited Summer Ticket Offer for Florida Residents

Universal Orlando has introduced a discounted unlimited summer admission promotion aimed at attracting more local visitors as households remain cautious about entertainment spending.

Miami-Dade Issues Water Quality Advisories for Popular Beaches

Health officials are advising people to avoid swimming at Golden Beach and North Shore Ocean Terrace after water testing detected elevated bacteria levels.

Osceola County Begins Construction of Pulse Nightclub Memorial

Community leaders, survivors, and local officials gathered to break ground on a permanent memorial honoring the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting, nearly a decade after the tragedy.

Tampa Bay Rays Reveal New Ballpark Designs Featuring Translucent Roof

The Tampa Bay Rays have released updated renderings of their proposed stadium, highlighting a transparent roof and a large aquarium plaza ahead of key local financing decisions.

SpaceX Launches Another Starlink Mission From Florida's Space Coast

A SpaceX rocket successfully deployed another group of Starlink satellites from Florida, producing a widely visible nighttime "jellyfish" effect while reinforcing the region's role as a global commercial launch hub.

South Florida Faces Dangerous Heat as Heat Index Nears 110 Degrees

Forecasters are urging residents to limit outdoor activity as extreme heat, high humidity, and Saharan dust combine to push apparent temperatures close to one hundred and ten degrees.

South Florida Hotels Benefit From Strong FIFA World Cup Tourism Demand

Hotels across Miami and Fort Lauderdale are reporting record occupancy and sharply higher room rates as last-minute World Cup travelers drive a surge in international tourism.

Governor Ron DeSantis Launches America250FL Commemoration Campaign

Governor Ron DeSantis has unveiled the America250FL initiative, including new Capitol statues and a commemorative license plate, as Florida begins preparations for the nation's two hundred and fiftieth anniversary celebrations.

Candidate Qualifying Closes for Florida's 2026 Elections

The candidate field is now officially set for Florida's competitive 2026 legislative and congressional races as Democrats and Republicans prepare for November's statewide contests.

Florida Takes Control of Commercial Airport Naming Decisions

A new state law removes the authority of local governments to independently rename commercial service airports, placing final approval for naming decisions under state control.

Florida Increases Criminal Penalties for Repeat Domestic Violence Offenders

New criminal justice measures taking effect this month automatically increase domestic violence charges for offenders with prior convictions, strengthening penalties for repeat offenses.

Florida Introduces Stronger Disclosure Requirements for Real Estate Transactions

New statewide reporting rules require greater transparency in residential real estate transactions, giving buyers and sellers additional information in one of the nation's most active housing markets.

Florida Tightens Financial Reporting Rules for Out-of-State Bail Bond Companies

State regulators have introduced stricter disclosure requirements for national and international bail bond companies in an effort to improve transparency and curb predatory lending practices.

Florida Auto Insurance Changes Shorten Deadline for Medical Injury Claims

Drivers injured in Florida traffic accidents now have only ten days to submit initial medical injury reports or risk losing access to mandatory emergency medical benefits under updated state rules.

New Florida Law Requires Insurers to Assess Roof Condition Before Denying Coverage

Property insurers in Florida are now required to evaluate a roof's actual condition rather than its age alone when deciding whether to deny coverage or refuse to renew a homeowners insurance policy.

Florida Creates New Administrative Process for Property Insurance Disputes

Florida homeowners can now challenge delayed or denied property insurance claims through a new administrative review process that allows disputes to be heard by state administrative judges instead of standard civil courts.