Florida News That Impacts You – March 30th, 2023
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida. Gas prices continued lower through the weekend.
- As expected, Governor DeSantis signed the Live Local Act into law. The legislation allocates $711 million for the redevelopment of derelict commercial properties in urban areas into affordable housing.
- Recent movers in the state legislative session included the Child Restraint Requirements bill. The policy would specify that children 2 years and younger must be in rear-facing child safety seats with five-point harnesses. It received unanimous support in its first House committee stop after having cleared its first senate stop as well. On a party-line vote, the Senate passed the Employee Organizations Representing Public Employees bill. The legislation reigns in union influence in the state, including the automatic deduction of union dues from paychecks. The House has yet to take up the legislation. The House Enviromental Protection bill, which would further regulate septic tanks and waterways, in addition to providing additional protections to the Indian River Lagoon, unanimously passed its first committee stop after having gained support in the senate as well. The Operation of a Golf Cart bill, which would ban children who lack a license or learning permit from driving golf carts on roads advanced in a key House committee – though the Senate companion has yet to be taken up.
- Citizens Insurance, the state’s property insurer of last resort but also the largest, voted yesterday to seek up to a 13% increase for new policies and renewals over the next year as losses continue to mount from existing litigation issues and extensive payouts from property damage due to Hurricanes Ian and Nicole last year. While the state passed extensive reforms in two special sessions last year addressing the state’s property insurance crisis, the reforms only apply for new policies and policy renewals effective January 1st.
- Gas prices rose another seven cents per gallon on Wednesday. Statewide the average price for regular unleaded is now $3.46 per gallon – 5 cents higher than a week ago. In Palm Beach County the average price is now $3.63 per gallon, which is once again the highest price in the state.