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Books on LGBTQ+ topics are currently being restricted in schools across Florida due to proposed legislation. Educators share how access to similar books helped them understand their sexual identities growing up.
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Shredding on a roller skating rink might seem like a thing of the past, but the 37 surviving rinks in Florida say their businesses are at the mercy of insurance companies and liability lawsuits. They found allies in the Florida legislature. If Governor Ron DeSantis signs it into law, the bill would exempt rinks from liability lawsuits that do not accuse the location and staff of clear negligence. To qualify for the protections, rink operators would need to maintain floors, lights, walls and rental equipment properly. Similar legislation exists in 11 other states. The effort was the latest in Florida to limit damages that can be recovered in liability lawsuits.
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Florida's record budget would be about $7 billion larger than the spending plan for the current fiscal year.
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Legislation is moving through the Florida legislature during the 2023 session that would enact an exemption to Florida's robust public records laws to hide details of travel by the governor and his immediate family, and numerous other government officials including the Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court. It would also exempt visitor logs to the Governor’s mansion, and would apply retroactively, meaning details of past travel and visits also would be shielded. Critics say it’s the most aggressive assault on our public records protections ever.
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Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd is backing a House bill to revamp elections laws.
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The Florida House on Wednesday is expected to pass three fiercely debated bills about transgender people, targeting drag shows, treatments such as hormone therapy and puberty blockers and bathroom use.
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Moving quickly on what supporters call the “Heartbeat Protection Act,” Gov. Ron DeSantis late Thursday signed a bill that would prevent abortions after six weeks of pregnancy.DeSantis’ office announced the signing about 11 p.m., several hours after the House gave final approval to the bill (SB 300), one of the most-controversial issues of this year’s legislative session.
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The Florida House on Thursday gave final approval to a bill that would eliminate a requirement for unanimous jury recommendations before judges can impose death sentences, sending the issue to Gov. Ron DeSantis.The bill (SB 450) emerged after Nikolas Cruz was sentenced to life in prison last year in the 2018 shooting deaths of 17 students and faculty members at Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. A jury did not unanimously recommend the death penalty, requiring Cruz to be sentenced to life.
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The Florida House on Thursday gave final approval to a bill that would prevent abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, setting up a showdown at the state Supreme Court that could determine the future of abortion rights in Florida.The Republican-controlled House voted 70-40 to pass the six-week limit (SB 300), which also was approved April 3 by the Senate. The bill is ready to go to Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is expected to sign it.