Committees in the House and Senate this week voted - mostly along party lines – to get rid of a requirement that juries must be unanimous when sentencing someone to death. Gina Jordan reports the legislation is a response to the Parkland shooter getting life in prison.
It wouldn't be a Florida legislative session without a political fight over voting. But the state's decision to end its relationship with a national voter-verification clearinghouse after three years has brought anger and surprise, as Steve Bousquet reports.
As the state’s water quality issues continue to threaten marine life and its residents. Kevin Del-Or-Bay reports on a few of the measures lawmakers are eying in an effort to improve one of the states most valuable natural resources.
Florida lawmakers are moving forward with a plan to regulate the use of kratom, an herbal supplement that causes opioid- and stimulant-like effects. As Valerie Crowder reports, the measure would set the age limit to purchase kratom at 21 years old.
Florida’s Republican lawmakers are making good on efforts to revamp the state’s lawsuit environment. It’s a priority of House Speaker Paul Renner and has the backing of the governor. But Adrian Andrews reports Democrats have doubts over whether the bill will improve the state’s insurance markets.
Florida Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Mark Wilson explains why the state’s business community believes tort reform is not only important for them, but also consumers.
Rules barring doctors from providing gender affirming treatments like puberty blockers and hormones to minors will soon go into effect in Florida. And Republican state lawmakers want to further restrict access to care. They filed bills last week that would make it illegal to provide such treatments to transgender kids. The legislation would also make it harder for adults to get care and would prevent insurers and public institutions from helping pay for it. For now, clinical psychologist Jennifer Evans with the University of Florida's Youth Gender Clinic says she and her colleagues are working to provide trans kids the best possible care while they still can. She talked with Health News Florida's Stephanie Colombini.