Florida News – Highlights from around the state – February 6th
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the some of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida.
- Florida consumer confidence remained at record highs in January on back of record low unemployment in our state according to University of Florida’s research team. Events like the coronavirus didn’t show up as a major concern in our state.
- The state Senate took a big step towards creating a statewide Office of Resiliency and a Sea Level Rise Task Force. The bill backed by Governor DeSantis passed through all Senate committees and is ready for a full vote.
- The state Senate budget panel voted to Keep Visit Florida in place for up to eight years as they debate the state budget. DeSantis has called for it to remain intact at its current level of funding. Additionally, they approved the repealing of Florida’s “Best and Brightest” bonus program. The repeal is needed to take up the new teacher pay plan proposed by the governor.
- The Bear Poaching bill raising penalties for hunting black bears outside of an authorized hunt (which hasn’t happened in five years) passed unanimously in the House and heads to the Senate.
- The House Agriculture Committee has voted to move the state’s Energy Department out from under the Agriculture Commissioner's office. The after the state found Nikki Fried’s use of her face on gas pump stickers to be in violation of the state’s use of official material for campaign purposes. No effort has been made by Fried to replace the violating stickers.