DeSantis signs bill expanding integrity in Voter Registration

DeSantis signs Florida's version of SAVE America Act, draws immediate lawsuit

The GOP governor said, “This bill protects and expands integrity in our voter registration process.”

DeSantis, who has pushed a series of election law changes during his nearly eight years in office, including a stand-alone election crimes office, said, “This bill protects and expands integrity in our voter registration process.”

“Our constitution in the state of Florida says only American citizens are allowed to vote in our elections,” he added. “And so we need to make sure that that is the law.”

It’s already illegal for noncitizens to vote in Florida, and in 2020 the prohibition was added to the state constitution. Florida — which has 13.3 million active registered voters — has found some examples of noncitizens voting thanks to this law.

The new law adds proof of citizenship requirements and increases the role of state agencies to confirm citizenship. Backers of the measure contend many Floridians would not be affected because roughly 99 percent of those with driver’s licenses are already compliant with REAL ID standards that require documentation such as birth certificates.

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Florida Farm Bill signed by Ron DeSantis

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed the 2026 Florida Farm Bill

an omnibus measure affecting agriculture, land use, consumer protection and public safety regulations

The legislation, SB 290, includes provisions preempting local restrictions on gas-powered equipment, expanding agricultural support programs and tightening land-use oversight, while also creating new criminal penalties and regulatory requirements across multiple sectors.

The bill additionally establishes new initiatives aimed at supporting the agricultural industry, including a veterinary loan repayment program and a native seed research program, while making existing food distribution efforts permanent.

The measure also includes provisions aimed at preserving agricultural land and shaping rural development. Senate staff analyses say it requires additional review for certain proposed development on ecologically significant parcels in small municipalities, requires state or local review of whether some surplused lands are suitable for bona fide agricultural use, and restricts the transfer of future development rights for some of those lands.

“The Free State of Florida just delivered another major win for the people who feed our state and our nation,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson.

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Even Democrats should like this bill.

Proof of Citizenship for Florida voters

Florida Senate Backs Election Bill Tightening Voter Registration Rules

The Florida Senate on Thursday approved an elections bill that would require citizenship verification for voter registration, restrict some forms of voter identification at polling places and delay most of the changes until 2027, sending the measure back to the House for final action.

HB 991 passed the Senate by a 27-12 vote after senators adopted a delete-all amendment that replaced the House bill with the Senate’s version of the measure, adding proof-of-citizenship document requirements for voter registration, creating an “unverified voter” category, requiring provisional ballots for voters whose citizenship cannot be confirmed, revising online registration procedures and delaying most of the changes until Jan. 1, 2027.

The amendment also requires Florida driver licenses and state identification cards issued to U.S. citizens to carry a legal-status designation by July 1, 2027. The House previously passed the bill 83-31 on Feb. 25, and must now concur in the Senate changes before the measure can go to Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The bill would require people registering to vote to swear or affirm that they reviewed the registration instructions, are U.S. citizens and understand the penalties for providing false information.

It would also require an applicant’s citizenship status to be verified through records maintained by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. If citizenship cannot be confirmed, the applicant would be designated an “unverified voter.”

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Florida proposes an Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights

DeSantis Proposes AI Bill of Rights, Limits on Data Centers

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday introduced a legislative package to regulate artificial intelligence, proposing an AI Bill of Rights, new consumer protections, and limits on the development of hyperscale data centers.

The plan would require companies and government agencies to disclose when AI tools are being used, expand Florida’s restrictions on deepfakes and unauthorized use of a person’s likeness, and impose new privacy, parental-control, and data-security standards.

The package further seeks to prevent utilities from shifting data-center costs onto ratepayers, block government subsidies for large-scale facilities, and give local governments authority to reject new data center developments while imposing environmental and land-use limits.

In the insurance sector, the plan would prevent companies from using AI as the sole basis for denying or adjusting claims. Insurers that use AI tools would be required to disclose how those systems function and submit them for review by state regulators.

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Florida Condo reform bills signed by Governor

Gov. Ron DeSantis signs condo reform bills

On Monday signed two bills intended to ease financial burdens on Florida condominium owners and strengthen oversight of community associations, three years after the collapse of Champlain Towers South in Surfside.

House Bill 913 revises post-2022 safety mandates by tightening inspection rules, requiring updated insurance appraisals, and capping budget increases unless limited to essential repairs. It also restricts discretionary spending and increases transparency in association operations.

Condo associations would be required to propose a substitute budget that excludes any discretionary spending if the proposed budget exceeds 115% of the assessments of the previous year. This new budget would have to be presented to property owners before it could be adopted.

The measure would also remove “assessments for the betterment of the community” as part of that 115% cap and limit those added expenses to repairs required by structural integrity reserve studies.

Meanwhile, House Bill 393 ties access to state grant programs to compliance with safety requirements and mandates a cost-sharing match for weather-hardening upgrades.

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Governor DeSantis signs Firefighter's bill while at their convention at PGA

Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at Florida Professional Firefighters Convention

He was in Palm Beach Gardens on Thursday, speaking at the 81st Annual Convention of the Florida Professional Firefighters (FPF).

Firefighters from across the state gathered at PGA National for this year’s event. The meeting allows for discussions about safety, budgeting and legislation.

During the event, DeSantis signed HB 929, ensuring that firefighters and first responders stay safe and healthy on the job. The bill also calls for mental health protections.

“With HB 929, we are providing firefighters with additional tools, support and protection that they deserve,” he said.

DeSantis added that the bill “updates the Florida Firefighters Occupational Safety and Health Act to reflect the full scope of harm that firefighters face, including occupational diseases and mental health ramifications.”

It will also attempt to reduce burnout by limiting regular shifts to 42 hours a week and adding suicide prevention to safety protocols.

HB 929 bill summary

Read article at WFLX

Florida passed a tough bill on Illegal Immigration

Ron DeSantis asked one question that left the RINO sellouts shaking in their boots

Ron DeSantis has been in a war with the Republican establishment in Florida.

He did not pulling any punches to get his conservative agenda passed.

What was the question?...Ron DeSantis wonders if this is Florida or San Francisco.

The Florida State Legislature is dominated by RINO turncoats who want to talk a big game on the campaign trail and do nothing to advance conservative policies once they get elected.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis held their feet to the fire.
He battled the RINOs in the State Legislature who wanted to pass a watered-down anti-illegal immigration bill to help the state carry out President Donald Trump’s mass deportation agenda.

Eventually, after public pressure on Trump’s signature issue, the RINO leadership in the legislature agreed to a tough bill. And DeSantis signed it in February.

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Squatters

Landowner Faces Lawsuit In Georgia

Morris, who currently resides in California, says the squatters began inhabiting his property in southeast Atlanta at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. While there were once approximately 30 unwanted occupants living on his land, the number has now dropped to eight.

Morris and his attorney, David Perrie, recently obtained a Writ of Possession, which is necessary when seeking to terminate a tenant’s right to possession. However, Morris says he is currently dealing with backlash from some of the squatters in response to this legal action.

He has spent significant amount of money cleaning up garbage left by vagrants on his property. He says he has spent $10,000 on this cleanup process, adding to the frustration and financial burden of the situation. However, Morris remains determined to reclaim his property and turn it into a positive and beneficial space for the community.

Meanwhile, Morris continues to face pushback from the remaining squatters on his property, who are refusing to leave. The legal process is ongoing, and it may take a few more weeks before Morris is able to fully reclaim his land. In the meantime, he continues to face challenges and expenses, but he remains committed to resolving the situation and making a positive impact in his community. [Redrightdaily.com]

Thank God for Ron DeSantis as Florida is 'leading the nation in this quest to approach squatters legally and kick them the hell out. [House Bill 621] gives police the ability to immediately evict squatters. That does not exist in most states, because they're treated as a civil matter. It also charges squatters with a misdemeanor for squatting or presenting a false lease. And furthermore, it's a felony for them to do $1,000 or more damage to the property.

House bill 621

Governor DeSantis to protect property owners from Squatters

Florida Lawmakers Pass Legislation To Remove Squatters

New legislation in Florida that was passed by the legislature unanimously would let authorities remove squatters from people’s homes immediately. Previously, to have squatters removed from their properties, people often had to go through major court cases.

Florida property owner Patti Peeples told News4Jax that the new bill was giving her hope that they would be given the ability to talk about the challenges they were facing in society while also finding bipartisan solutions.

Previously, Peeples was reportedly blocked from doing anything to remove squatters from her property who had refused to leave.

Amid a reignited national conversation regarding property rights, it appears the Sunshine State is poised to pass legislation to limit so-called “squatter’s rights.”

Read about it... Squatters shouldn't have any rights in this regard.

Florida's Homeless Dilemma

New Florida law on where homeless people can sleep could be costly for local governments

Local governments could be required to pony up big money to meet the demands of legislation Gov. Ron DeSantis signed barring homeless people from either camping or sleeping on public property.

The legislation, which takes effect on Oct. 1, requires local governments to designate a public space for camping or sleeping if shelter spaces are full. Local governments must also provide security, behavioral health services and bathrooms with running water, but Tallahassee is not sending additional money so that local governments can fulfill that mandate.

City officials are still looking into what the legislation, H.B. 1365, might mean for them.

So, what will Lake Worth Beach, that has tons of homeless as well as Palm Beach County, do?

With more and more illegals being dumped into our state, every city will have a huge expensive problem. Perhaps DeSantis can ship them to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.

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H.B. 1365

Governor DeSantis on top of the illegal alien situation

Governor DeSantis signed bills to address illegals

Bottom Line: On Friday, Governor DeSantis along with AG Ashley Moody and other officials held a presser on combating illegal immigration. In that presser DeSantis detailed what his just announced deployment of Guard Troops and law enforcement officers to South Florida, to combat specifically Haitian illegal immigration, would do.

The key, as Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw also outlined, is to capture would-be illegal immigrants in state waters prior to their making landfall. Florida’s state waters extend out three miles from the Atlantic coastline and nine miles from the Gulf coastline so that’s the window they’ll be operating within. As for Florida’s new legislation that Governor DeSantis signed at the event.

Three bills aimed at combating illegal immigration were signed into law on Friday by Governor DeSantis.

They are:

• The Reclassification of Criminal Penalties

• The Identification Documents law

• Driving Without a Valid Driver’s License law

Read about the new laws at WJNO

No more "wild west" in Florida when DeSantis signs this law

Florida Lawmakers Unanimously Pass Anti-Squatting Bill to Permanently Close Infuriating Loophole

Lawmakers in Florida addressed the problem of squatting, one of the most egregious property rights violations going on in America today.

This month, both chambers of the state Legislature unanimously passed a bill allowing law enforcement to immediately remove squatters without waiting weeks or months for a case to move through the courts.

Now, let's get this law signed and arrest these people who take over a home that does not belong to them. This law should be made by every state in our country. Why has this taken so long?

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Ban on Social Media for children?

Florida Lawmakers Approve Ban on Social Media Use for Children

Legislation to keep children under the age of 16 off social media has been approved by Florida’s House and Senate and only requires Governor Ron DeSantis’ signature to bring it into effect.

DeSantis, however, has not yet confirmed that he will approve it and has expressed some concerns over the content and reach of the bill. He also pointed out that there already exists a federal law banning children under 13 from using social media platforms, yet this is not generally enforced.

The legislation demands that social media sites delete accounts belonging to any minor under 16 years of age. It also requires that they use third-party software to verify that a user is aged 16 or over before allowing them to create their account.

The bill is aimed at sites and apps that have potentially addictive aspects, such as notifications, videos that automatically play, and infinite scrolling. It does not, however, block sites whose primary function is the sending and receiving of direct messages such as emails.

The bill had support from Democrats and Republicans and passed the House vote with a majority of 108-7 as they believe that social media companies were manipulating children by use of “addictive features.”

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Personally, I believe that parents need to take a pro-active approach with their children. It is up to them to keep them out of harm's way and know what they are viewing on social media, who they hang out with and what they are doing... not the government interfering in their lives in this respect. Parents have abdicated their responsibility in many ways. Kids rule them.

Don't allow Florida to become San Francisco

Gov. DeSantis seeks ban on camping in public throughout Florida to get homeless off streets

The initiative would prohibit camping on all city streets and sidewalks, and in parks in an effort to ensure public order and quality of life.

A measure, House Bill 1365, was filed last month that prohibits public sleeping or camping on public property without a permit.

DeSantis said he's open to providing funding for sheltering and to address mental illness and substance abuse as a component of the initiative.

House bill 1365

Bill text

Uneducated Gen Z Congressman

Dem Newbie Proposed Bill To Tear Down The Statue Of Liberty

Democrat Representative Maxwell Frost from Florida (gosh, that's embarrassing) recently made a shocking proposal that has been met with widespread ridicule and criticism. In an attempt to score political points against the GOP, Frost (who is 27) proposed a bill to remove the iconic Statue of Liberty if a new Republican-supported border security bill, H.R.2, were to pass.

In a video shared on social media, Frost can be seen mocking Republicans for their support of the Secure the Border Act. He claims that if they are going to demand a secure border, they might as well take down the Statue of Liberty, our largest symbol that welcomes immigrants to our country. His argument falls flat as he fails to understand the true purpose and symbolism of the statue.

The Statue of Liberty has nothing to do with our current border crisis and illegal immigration. It is a gift from France, commemorating their alliance with the United States during the American Revolution.

Its name, the “Immigrant’s Statue,” speaks to its historical role as a welcoming symbol for millions of immigrants who entered the country legally through Ellis Island. These immigrants came seeking the American dream and were met with the reassurance of Lady Liberty, a sign that they had arrived in the land of opportunity.

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Florida HB 901 could ban Gay flags on certain property

Lake Worth Beach City Hall

Florida bill HB 901 could ban Pride flags from being flown on government property

A newly proposed Florida bill could bar government buildings, including public schools and universities.

Florida State Rep. David Borrero filed the bill, HB 901, on Dec. 18. If passed, the bill would prohibit governmental entities from erecting or displaying certain flags and requiring those entities to remain neutral in certain circumstances.

Those circumstances include representing a political viewpoint on anything politically partisan, racial, relating to sexual orientation and gender or political ideological views.

The bill text

Effective Date: 7/1/2024
Last Action: 12/18/2023 House - Filed

Florida bill to Prohibit flags at government buildings and schools

Florida bill would prohibit flying flags tied to sexuality, gender orientation at certain locations

Proposed legislation would limit where certain flags can be flown at government buildings, schools

The proposed legislation, HB 901, was filed by state Rep. David Borrero, R-Sweetwater, and would prohibit flying flags tied to political topics including sexuality, gender orientation or race.

As our city is predominantly made up of liberals, as is the entire city commission loving diversity, I am sure they will be opposed to this bill along with Compass ...of course.

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HB 901

Florida Concealed Carry Law

On Monday April 3, 2023, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 543 into law. This bill, strengthening the second amendment, eliminates the requirement that an individual obtain a permit to carry a concealed firearm in Florida.

Beginning July 1, 2023 permitless concealed carry for lawfully owned weapons will become legal.

Following the bill’s passage Florida joins Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansa, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming as the 26th state to enact a permitless concealed carry law. With Florida’s new bill a majority of states now have a permitless concealed carry law.

Democrats are acting like this is some sort of rogue law that will allow criminals to conceal carry. Nearly three million Floridians over 21 have active licenses earned by completing a safety training course, and meeting a host of other eligibility requirements.

Those requirements, like not being a felon, still apply.

106 page Law

See all who have licenses to carry in Florida

Reasonable relief from Unreasonable regulations

No More Crazy Local Ordinances-New Florida Law Empowers the People

We are always being told about Home Rule by Lake Worth Commissioners.

Getting a building project through a Florida city is often complicated and the project could get killed because of an arbitrary local ordinance that was ridiculous and over-burdensome.

Not anymore, Bill SB 170 (HB 1515) Local Ordinances, sponsored by Republican Representative Robbie Brackett, protects Florida businesses from excessive local government regulations by allowing a court to award attorney fees, costs, and damages for successfully challenging a local ordinance.

SB 170 gives citizens and businesses the tools to challenge local government’s authority. Elected officials in every municipality will scream “home rule” when they catch wind of this new law, but home rule is only as good as those ruling.

According to the majority office, this new law prohibits a county or municipality from enforcing an ordinance subject to challenge. Additionally, local governments must consider the economic impact of proposed ordinances on local businesses by preparing a “business impact estimate” before adopting specific local ordinances.

It also clarifies public notice requirements to allow properly noticed consideration of a proposed ordinance to continue to a subsequent meeting under certain circumstances without further publication, mailing, or posted notice.

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Disney exerting its power

Disney Doubles Down On Controversial Stance!

Disneyland has announced the launch of a new Pride Nite event, which could be in response to the recent battle between Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the entertainment giant. The event, which is priced at $139 a ticket, was announced on Twitter shortly after DeSantis threatened to build a state prison next to Walt Disney World and Reedy Creek.

In what seems to be a “doubling down” move, the event, which will be held in June, is open to all members of the LGBT community and their allies and will include a performance by a local LGBT artist, a selection of food and drinks, and a special Disney character meet and greet.

Three bills that will be going to Governor DeSantis from the Florida Republican backed legislation are 1) preventing children from attending drag shows, 2) banning transgender children from receiving puberty blockers  3) and requiring people to use the bathroom that aligns with their sex at birth.

This has nothing to do with "Don't Say Gay."  These bills are common sense and protect the children in Florida. Disney is using all its clout but these bills have nothing to do with anti-gay legislation.

The Walt Disney World territory operated within Florida's Reedy Creek Improvement District for decades, allowing the resort to function as its own municipal government. And back in March, it sruck a utilities deal wshere Disney gets to set its own rates.

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