News Service of Florida

Pointing to permits in “regulatory limbo,” the Florida Department of Environmental Protection on Monday asked a judge for a partial stay of a ruling in a legal battle about a 2020 decision that shifted permitting authority from the federal government to the state for projects that affect wetlands.U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss on Feb. 15 ruled that federal officials did not follow required steps before transferring the authority to the state. Moss issued an order vacating the approval of the shift.

Legislation backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis that seeks to prevent homeless people from sleeping in public places is ready to go to the full Senate and House.The Senate Fiscal Policy Committee on Thursday voted 14-4 to back the Senate version of the bill (SB 1530), a short time after the House Health & Human Services Committee voted 17-3 to approve the House version (HB 1365).

Lee County's National Organization for Woman chapter is raising concerns over a piece of legislation sponsored by a Fort Myers Republican state representative.A House committee on Wednesday approved controversial HB 651 that would allow parents to file civil lawsuits seeking damages for the wrongful death of an “unborn child,” with critics of the bill saying it is too broad and could shrink the number of doctors who deliver babies in Florida.It now moves to the full House for approval.

After dozens of resignations and two lawsuits, a Florida House panel Wednesday supported providing reprieves from a 2023 law that requires local elected officials to disclose detailed information about their personal finances.The House State Affairs Committee approved revamping a bill to push back the effective date of the requirements to 2025 and to exempt mayors and members of local governing boards in communities with 500 people or fewer.

Municipalities and dozens of local elected officials from across Florida filed state and federal lawsuits Thursday challenging the constitutionality of a new law that requires the officials to disclose detailed information about their personal finances.

Controversial bills aimed at preventing local governments from removing historical monuments and restricting the types of flags flown at schools and other public buildings appear to be dead in the Florida Senate.Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, said she doesn’t expect the Senate to move forward on the monuments bill and that the flags bill is stuck in a committee that will not meet again.

An appeals court Wednesday upheld a ruling that rejected a long-running legal battle over state conservation funding. Spokesmen for the Sierra Club and Florida Wildlife Federation criticized the ruling, saying the Court of Appeals disregarded the will of a majority of Florida voters again.“This is a disappointing result for the people of Florida, who clearly directed that their tax money go to preserving land for future generations,” said Earthjustice Attorney Alisa Coe.

A coalition of groups Tuesday moved toward filing a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over regulation of phosphate-industry waste that the groups say poses environmental and health dangers.The groups, such as the Center for Biological Diversity, the Sierra Club and Waterkeepers Florida, submitted a formal notice that they plan to file a lawsuit in 60 days if the EPA doesn’t act on a 2021 petition seeking regulations on phosphogypsum waste.

A proposal aimed at helping what are known as “food recovery” programs, such as food banks, get discounted prices for fresh foods moved forward Monday in the Florida House, with lawmakers looking at a pilot program to help curb food insecurity in the state. The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee unanimously approved the bill (HB 1159).