PENSACOLA, Fla.—Today, Governor Ron DeSantis highlighted parts of HB 1285, a bill that further enhances Florida’s top-ranked education system.

Today’s highlights from the bill included simplifying the process to convert failed “turnaround schools” to charter schools, streamlining the book objection process to limit those from individuals without children in the district, and the establishment of Purple Star School Districts.

“Florida is number one in the nation for education, but there’s always more to be done,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “We won’t stop working for Florida’s students and parents. HB 1285 codifies several great enhancements for education that will keep Florida #1.” Continue reading →

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody today addressed law enforcement officers and Special Olympics athletes at the Florida Capitol during the 2024 Law Enforcement Torch Run, benefiting Special Olympics Florida. State and local law enforcement officers participated in a two-mile run this morning in Tallahassee up to the Capitol. The Law Enforcement Torch Run is the largest annual public relations and fundraising event for Special Olympics Florida, with thousands of law enforcement officers and Special Olympics athletes running hundreds of miles throughout the state.

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “Law enforcement officers are always giving back to the community, and the 2024 Law Enforcement Torch Run is just another example of their commitment to serving others. Every year, thousands of officers come together and show their support for Special Olympics athletes by running the Flame of Hope across the state. Through this statewide event, we can promote and support the Special Olympics and provide these athletes the chance to shine through physical competition.”  Continue reading →

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody today led a 23-state coalition in filing a legal action demanding that Biden’s Environmental Protection Agency modify its Title VI regulations. These regulations—known as “disparate impact” regulations—are what the EPA is using to advance much of its race conscious “environmental justice” initiatives.

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “The EPA should be focusing on enforcing the environmental laws passed by Congress, not so called ‘environmental justice,’ which is a euphemism for Biden’s extreme agenda. His radical exploitation of Title VI, if followed, would force states to unconstitutionally discriminate against their own citizens. The EPA should grant our Petition and revise its Title VI regulations.” Continue reading →

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody is filing criminal charges against two violent organized retail thieves. Raheem Davis Jr. and co-defendant Vayshoun Harris are facing charges for multiple robberies at Home Depot stores across five different counties that involved physical violence against store employees.

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “These two criminals committed multiple robberies at Home Depot stores across five counties, violently assaulting employees in the process. In one incident, a defendant even pepper sprayed a cashier in the face. We do not stand for organized retail theft in this state, especially theft that involves violence—I proudly stood with Gov. DeSantis recently as he signed a new law strengthening our statutes against crimes just like these. We will continue to hold these thieves accountable.”  Continue reading →

You may be and don’t know it yet. Let’s see if I’m right. Do you think you should feed the government BEFORE you feed your family? That is precisely what you are doing now under the income tax because of federal withholding from your paycheck. By the use of withholding you are telling the government that they are your highest priority. Under the FAIRtax federal withholding is eliminated. You are only taxed when you spend your money, not when you earn it, putting your family first. Do you think the government should know more about your financial life than you are willing to tell your own children?

Through the income tax forms, the government knows how much you earn, where the money comes from, how much you have invested, how much you gave to charity, how much interest you’ve earned, how much you have in savings, what property you have sold or bought, what depreciation you may have taken, what your mortgage payments are, etc, etc, etc. Under the FAIRtax the only thing the government knows is how much your employer paid you for the year so the Social Security Administration can calculate your benefits upon retirement. Do you think the IRS is an efficient and secure repository for your financial information? First of all, the IRS budget for 2023 was over 12 billion dollars with a request for over 14 billion dollars for 2024. That’s a lot of tax dollars. Continue reading →

Dear Friends,

The Florida Legislature has officially adjourned the 2024 Legislative Session, marking the conclusion of this year’s 60-day regular session. Over those 60 days, Senate Republicans have delivered on key issues that impact Floridians across our state.

The Senate Republican Caucus stood firm in defense of the freedom that every Floridian holds dear. We enacted strong legislation to protect private property rights, passed critical measures to empower American energy production, and called for much needed accountability in Washington.

Senate Republicans introduced and passed vital legislation to expand access to critical health care services, empower neighborhood public schools, crackdown on rampant theft, and protect children from harmful online material. Additionally, the Florida Senate passed a balanced, fiscally conservative budget, while delivering critical tax relief to families and small businesses across the State of Florida. Continue reading →

Winning artwork will be launched into space on an upcoming mission

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Today, Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez announced the launch of the 2024 Florida Space Art Contest. Students in grades K–5 are encouraged to create an art piece inspired by the theme: Suit Up! Florida’s Space Suit of the Future.

“I am thrilled to announce the launch of the Third Annual Lieutenant Governor’s Space Art Contest. Over the last two years, with more than 4,000 original art submissions, Florida’s students have shown their overwhelming support and excitement for this art contest,” said Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez. “This year’s theme gives students creative control to engineer the space suit of tomorrow. I am excited to see the innovative and futuristic designs our young artists will bring to life.”

Space Florida, a sponsor of the Lieutenant Governor’s Space Art Contest, believes supporting Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM) education initiatives is an integral part of its mission.  Continue reading →

ORLANDO, Fla.—Today, Governor Ron DeSantis signed HB 621, which protects property rights, provides homeowners remedies against squatting, and increases penalties on squatters.

“We are putting an end to the squatters scam in Florida,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “While other states are siding with the squatters, we are protecting property owners and punishing criminals looking to game the system.”

“Florida is once again leading the nation, this time in securing our state against squatters,” said Attorney General Ashley Moody. “Biden has allowed millions of illegal immigrants to flood across the border. After video evidence of their plan to take over homes emerged, we’re ensuring Floridians are protected from this egregious and brazen scheme. I’m grateful to Governor DeSantis for signing this important legislation into law, and to Representative Kevin Steele for carrying this bill through Session.” Continue reading →

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Cammack applauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development’s (RD) announcement to invest $317,400,000 to strengthen rural Florida’s power grid and ensure that 32,000 people have access to reliable electricity.

This investment comes from USDA RD’s Electric Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee Program, which makes insured loans and loan guarantees to help rural cooperatives and utilities build and improve rural electric infrastructure and increase electric grid reliability and security.

In central Florida, Sumter Electric Cooperative Inc. will use $317 million to build and improve more than 1,000 miles of power lines and connect 32,000 customers to reliable electricity. Nearly $5 million from this investment will be used to help the cooperative advance its smart grid technologies and install 38.4 miles of fiber line.

Sumter Electric Coop is headquartered in Sumterville, Florida, and provides electricity to an average of 226,501 consumers over 13,330 miles of distribution line in the counties of Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Levy, Marion, Pasco, and Sumter.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Kat Cammack’s Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act (H.R. 2706) passed the House Energy & Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee markup by voice vote this afternoon.

The bill is named for Charlotte Woodward, an adult with Down syndrome who received a lifesaving transplant over a decade ago. It prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in the organ transplant system and upholds, clarifies, and builds upon rights established in the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act.

Additionally, the bill prohibits covered entities from determining than an individual is ineligible to receive a transplant, deny an organ transplant or related service, refuse to refer the individual to an organ transplant center, refuse to place an individual on a waiting list, or decline insurance coverage for a transplant or related service based solely on the fact that the individual has a disability.

The bill’s next step is to be marked up before the whole House Energy & Commerce Committee.