Ocala, Fla. — The Florida Department of Health in Marion County has reissued a Health Alert for the presence of harmful blue-green algal toxins in Orange Lake, near McIntosh.

This is a continuation of a previous Health Alert the department issued for the lake on March 4. This alert is being reissued after a water sample taken on April 21 by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection indicated that toxins were still present.

The public should exercise caution in and around Orange Lake.

Residents and visitors are advised to take the following precautions: Continue reading →

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody is calling on U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to terminate the creation of a disinformation board that attacks Americans’ First Amendment rights. Along with 18 other attorneys general, Attorney General Moody argues that the proposed Disinformation Governance Board will hurt the constitutional freedom to speak freely, debate and disagree with the government—freedoms that state attorneys general are responsible for defending.

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “President Biden is attempting to confuse and distort legitimate criticism and the perspective of American citizens. This authoritarian maneuver could be straight out of the novel 1984 and should frighten Americans of all political persuasions.” Continue reading →

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody is calling on United States Attorney General Merrick Garland to enforce federal law against attempts to intimidate U.S. Supreme Court Justices by protesting outside the Justices’ homes. Along with 24 other Attorneys General, Attorney General Moody is demanding the U.S. Attorney General take action to safeguard and ensure the integrity of the rule of law.

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “The integrity of our courts is paramount to a free and democratic society. Any attempt to threaten or intimidate United States Supreme Court Justices so they change their votes should be thoroughly investigated by the Department of Justice—not just for the safety of judges and their families, but for the independence of our nation’s entire judicial system.” Continue reading →

This week, I filed an emergency rule to outlaw eight synthetic opioids known as nitazenes, adding these dangerous drugs to the state’s Schedule I controlled substances list. This means possessing or selling them in Florida is now a felony, punishable by time in prison.

I hope this sends a strong message to drug dealers, that we will not allow them to poison Floridians.

While we do not know yet exactly how prevalent nitazenes have become in the illicit drug market, we do know that Florida law enforcement has identified more than 260 cases involving these substances since 2020—including more than 80 so far this year.

Nitazenes have also been linked to at least 15 deaths in our state. The scariest thing about these drugs is that users often have no idea they are taking them. Continue reading →

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis was joined by pro-life advocates and community leaders to sign HB 5, the Reducing Fetal and Infant Mortality Act, to protect the lives of Florida’s most vulnerable by prohibiting all abortions after 15 weeks of gestation. HB 5 represent the most significant protections for life in Florida’s modern history. Read more on what they are saying below.

“Life is precious and children are a God-given gift,” said Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez. “That is why House Bill 5 is so important, as it provides added protections for the unborn child. Governor DeSantis and I remain steadfast in our commitment to defending the sanctity of innocent human life and protecting the unborn.”

“Every abortion kills a special and unique human being who deserves protection under the laws of this state and the chance to grow up in a loving family,” said Senate President Wilton Simpson. “As an adopted child in a family that took in foster children, it has always been important to me that our state do everything we can to promote adoption as an alternative to abortion. Floridians can be proud that we live in a state that not only protects innocent, unborn life, but also supports children and parents. I commend Governor DeSantis for making strong pro-life, pro-child, and pro-family legislation the centerpiece of his administration.” Continue reading →

MIAMI — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis announced the approval of $100 million for cancer research and care in the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Budget, a $37 million increase over the current budget. Last year, the First Lady held a roundtable to announce the Governor’s proposal of this historic funding for Florida’s top cancer centers to continue providing world-class care to cancer patients.

“Cancer remains a leading cause of death in Florida, and we will continue to support those fighting this deadly disease,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “With this funding, cancer centers will continue their cutting-edge research and provide high quality care to patients. Our family is grateful for the care that the First Lady received during her cancer treatment this past year, and we want to make quality care available for all Floridians.”

“I am incredibly proud to see this record funding secured for cancer patients, their families, and the facilities that serve them,” said First Lady Casey DeSantis. “Early detection is a game changer in the cancer fight. I encourage anyone reading this to be proactive about your health — it might just save your life.” Continue reading →

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis signed HB 1571, which prohibits picketing and protesting outside of a person’s place of residence.

“Sending unruly mobs to private residences, like we have seen with the angry crowds in front of the homes of Supreme Court justices, is inappropriate,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “This bill will provide protection to those living in residential communities and I am glad to sign it into law.”

Once this law takes effect, law enforcement officers will provide a warning to any person picketing or protesting outside of a dwelling and will make arrests for residential picketing only if the person does not peaceably disperse after the warning. Residential picketing will be punishable as a second-degree misdemeanor.

Florida Senate – 2022    SB 4-C

By Senator Bradley

5-00006-22C

A bill to be entitled

An act relating to independent special amending s. 189.0311, F.S.; dissolving independent special districts; authorizing the reestablishment of certain independent special districts; providing an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida Section 1. Section 189.0311, Florida Statutes, is amended  to read: 189.0311 Independent special districts; charter requirements.—

(1) Notwithstanding any general law, special act, or ordinance of a local government to the contrary, any independent spe-cial district charter enacted after September 30, 1989, shall contain the information required by s. 189.031(3). Recognizing that the exclusive charter for a community development district is the statutory charter contained in ss. 190.006-190.041, community development districts established after July 1, 1980, pursuant to the provisions of chapter 190 shall be deemed in compliance with this requirement. Continue reading →

Dear Friends,

This column will be the second in a series that we plan to write, providing an overview of the 2022 Legislative Session. Last month, we brought some information to you regarding Florida’s budget and what the Legislature did with your money. This month, we will highlight two education policy bills that we passed this year

HB 1557, Parental Rights in Education by Senator Baxley and Representative Harding. By now, many of you are familiar with this bill as it received national attention and is part of broader conversation regarding parental rights going all the way back to last year. Given the slanderous moniker “Don’t Say Gay Bill” by left wing media outlets, this bill expands on the Parental Rights bill passed in 2021. Let us be clear, this bill says nothing about not being able to say “gay” in schools. We are not prohibiting casual conversations. What we are saying is that children in K-3 schools do not need to be indoctrinated with gender theory instructional material and their parents left in the dark about it. HB 1557 will empower parents and families by prohibiting school districts from adopting policies that require employees to withhold information from a parent regarding their child, unless necessary to protect the child when the school suspects abuse or neglect. Continue reading →

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Biden Administration’s dangerous immigration policies, as well as the soft on crime policies of the 9^th Circuit State Attorney’s Office (Orange and Osceola counties), have once again resulted in the needless deaths of innocent Floridians. On March 10, 2022, a man named Jean R. Macean, a citizen of Haiti and an illegal immigrant, was taken into custody for the murder of Terry and Brenda Aultman and charged  with two counts of first-degree murder. Macean had previously been arrested in Orange County prior to the murders, but the charges were inexplicably dropped by the State Attorney’s Office under former State Attorney Aramis Ayala. Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young described these killings as “one of the most vicious attacks I’ve ever seen in my 20 years.”