Capital Report

On tonight's program: We'll examine some of the most significant things to come out of this year's Florida Legislative Session; After a victory at the Department of Environmental Protection, opponents of fossil fuel exploration in Northwest Florida hope a bill ban passes gubernatorial muster; Florida has its own Emancipation Day on May 20th, but it also observes the national end of enslavement celebration called “Juneteenth”; As evacuation takes place in Israel, we check out the Florida connection; There's a new and exciting screening tool for cervical cancer. We'll find out more about it; And we get an update on how the issue of “name, image and likeness” profit sharing is impacting collegiate sports.

On tonight's program: Wonder of wonders, it looks like a budget deal has been between the Florida House and Senate; But some items in that budget could be considerably less. Can you spell education?; If Medicaid money is cut by the federal government, it may not only affect those folks who are on Medicaid; We meet a Florida family that could be facing separation under current immigration policy; And if you plan on protesting this weekend, the watchwords are, “be safe, be careful.”

On tonight's program: The race for Florida governor heats up as an “R” turned “D” jumps into the contest; We have a conversation with the ever-outspoken John Morgan. Who thinks a third-party candidate CAN win the Florida governor's race. Especially if his name is Morgan; Florida kids on the autism spectrum are expected to get a lot of help from a newly signed law; Why is there such a stubborn shortage of nurses? One nurse educator says part of the problem lies with the students; And we hear from some dental professionals who fear Florida's new law banning fluoride in public water supplies will lead to a big jump in kids' cavities.

On tonight's program: An immigration raid in Tallahassee resulted in more than 100 people being detained. Community members are speaking out; John Thrasher, former FSU President and Speaker of the Florida House, is remembered; Some members of the FAMU community are preparing to fight against a newly electeduniversity president they worry poses a threat to their university's mission; As Floridians continue to recover from past storms, some are turning to creative solutions; Checking our insurance policies is an important part of preparing for hurricane season, but whatshould we be checking for? And we learn about water safety, especially for children with autism.

On tonight's program: Florida A&M University supporters are figuring out their next move after the controversial appointment of a DeSantis ally to the HBCU's top job; An emerging 4-way gubernatorial race in 2026 complicates Democratic efforts to end the Florida GOP's 25 year dominance; For the first time in more than a decade, Florida might host a bear hunt; We provide information about prepping for this years hurricane season, which is just around the corner; And Florida state agencies are bracing for the unknown as the clock begins to wind down for the legislature to pass a budget.

On tonight's program: Lawmakers remain gone from Tallahassee as festering resentments between some lawmakers and the governor simmer; A new president for Florida A&M University sparks controversy over transparency; Florida's annual hurricane conference takes a hit in the wake of federal funding and personnel cutbacks; Meanwhile, should those under increasing risk from hurricanes be forced to relocate?; And what does it mean for those Florida college students who suddenly find themselves having to pay out-of-state tuition rates?

On tonight's program: The Florida Legislature was all set to come back to Tallahassee next week and work on the budget. Then everything went “BOOM!”; Some bills affecting the welfare of young people actually made it through this year's Florida Legislative Session; After a strict security check, we'll enter into a part of Florida that is not United States territory. It's also a place where the Trump administration's international tariffs do NOT apply; Federal cuts to arts funding will hit hundreds of organizations in Florida alone; We'll take a look at one such entity in South Florida; A proposal in the U.S. Senate could help Florida's troubled citrus industry; And a famous and much-loved PBS personality talks about how her dance-loving showcame to be.

On tonight's program: So Florida lawmakers decided to go home for at least a week. We'll delve into what happened; More open government exemptions came out of this year's lawmaking session; We hear from the former Florida Democratic Party rising star who suddenly left the party to blaze his own trail; When it comes to Florida's medical malpractice laws, some are arguing that old laws aren't necessarily good laws; Despite big cuts in federal help, Florida's regional food banks could be making that up – and then some – with extra help from state government; And once again, Florida finds itself on the cutting edge of culture….more and more backyards are foregoing lawns and ornamental flowers for tropical fruit trees.

On tonight's program: With plenty of work still to do on the state budget, lawmakers have decided to leave Tallahassee and take next week off with no announcement as to when they might be back; Governor Ron DeSantis has announced more than one-thousand undocumented immigrants were arrested in Florida over the past month; Florida lawmakers have passed a bill banning commercial development in state parks and sent it to the governor; And more legislation has passed, which would make it easier to convert traditional public schools to charter schools in Florida.

On tonight's program: The Florida Senate has unanimously passed a bill that eases the financial strain on condominium owners; The Florida House and Senate are going back and forth on a policy to place more restrictions and protections on the state's ballot initiative process; Attorneys for one of the men killed April 17th during the shooting at Florida State University are demanding more information about the incident and the suspect; And a bill to ban adding fluoride to public water systems is heading to Governor Ron DeSantis' desk.

On tonight's program: The Florida House is announcing plans to look into several proposals this summer that would reduce and reform property tax; A bill would bar local governments from adding fluoride to their public drinking water. Now it's heading to the governor's desk; And Head Start, a childcare and early childhood education program, could be nixed under a federal budget proposal put forth by the Trump administration. Experts worry the plan could be bad news for thousands of Florida kids.

On tonight's program: Jason Pizzo resigned last week as the minority leader in the Florida Senate. His successor, Lori Berman, gave her first news conference today; The Trump administration's crackdown on Canadian visitation, as well as the tariffs on that nation's goods, may lead to a lot few Canadians coming to Florida; Florida State University is working to preserve and catalog the many tributes placed around campus to the victims of the recent shooting tragedy; And Florida honored its fallen law enforcers during ceremonies at the Capitol today.

On tonight's program: Florida lawmakers were scheduled to wrap up their session a week from today. But that's not happening; The leading Democrat in the Florida Senate is dropping his party affiliation while insisting the move isn't driven by self-interest; Florida lawmakers scramble to address the state's growing teacher shortage; There's pushback aplenty for a bill that would require students to see videos of fetuses in the womb; Florida condo owners are still waiting for lawmakers to agree on a plan to cut the rising cost of condominium association fees; And it seems it doesn't take the children of immigrants long to get away from their parents' native tongue.

On tonight's program: Unable to reach the first step in crafting a new Florida budget, State Senate President Ben Allbritton announced late this afternoon that lawmakers will not be able to adjourn this year's session as scheduled on May 2nd; The Florida House will conduct no more hearings into the Hope Florida controversy, at least for the time being; Meanwhile, the governor and first lady today charged a biased media with keeping the controversy alive; And the electronic gaming devices that many veterans' organizations keep in their post homes as fundraisers could become the source of felony charges under a bill that began as a tool to stop internet cafes and other illicit gaming sites.

On tonight's program: FSU students march to the state capitol demanding tougher gun regulations in the wake of last week's fatal on-campus shooting; The Florida Senate strengthens its proposal to limit drilling in the Apalachicola River Basin, but it differs from the House's version; Governor Ron DeSantis continues to defend Hope Florida amidst controversy regarding money that was funneled into the charity's foundation; And new details are coming out surrounding Taylor County's shuttered West Fraser sawmill, a major employer in Perry.

On tonight's program: Students from Florida State University lobby for gun reform legislation in the wake of the fatal shooting on their campus last week; Although a bill loosening the regulations on child labor is quite alive in the House, it seems there's opposition in the Senate; And Florida's open records law always seems to get pushback from various lawmakers and the state's number one open government advocates has some thoughts on that score.

On tonight's program: In the wake of last week's fatal shooting at Florida State University, many on the Tallahassee campus remain traumatized and reluctant to “return to normal”; Some Democrats in the Florida House are calling for tighter gun laws following last week's FSU shooting; A Florida Senate Bill would make it harder to get citizen initiatives on the ballot to make state constitutional changes; After some committee changes, a bill exemption some kinds of workers from Florida's minimum wage continues to move forward in the legislature; And Florida's endangered springs are attracting more fans and advocates.

On tonight's program: We talk with some of the students who witnessed the deadly shooting yesterday at Florida State University; The battle ramps up between the leadership of the Florida House and Governor Ron DeSantis; We hear the story of an immigrant from Honduras who suddenly found himself in custody and possibly facing deportation; What had been a legal deal meant to spare some South Florida jail inmates from federal custody seems to have fallen off the rails; The State of Florida moves to change all official references to a well-known body of water; And an expert on the topic of artificial intelligence talks about the possible future ramifications of this exploding technology.

On tonight's program: A mass shooting on the campus of Florida State University in Tallahassee has left two dead and six hospitalized, including the suspected shooter; A meeting to untangle some of the issues surrounding the Hope Florida Foundation and its alleged diversion of money for political purposes ended in chaos today; If lawsuits to halt the Trump administration from scrapping Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for immigrants fail, nearly 400,000 Venezuelan-born Floridians might be subject to deportation; And advocates of term limits for Florida's county commissioners and school board members have launched a campaign to put those limits into the state constitution.

On tonight's program: Governor Ron DeSantis is pushing back on a move by the Florida House to re-open the process of interviewing and choosing state university and college presidents; State parks would have more protection from development under a bill approved in the full Florida House Wednesday; Cell phones and other wireless devices would be banned throughout the school day under a bill that has passed the Florida House without opposition; And time is running out for bills addressing child protection, autism and child care in the Florida Legislature.

On tonight's program: The president of a foundation tied to Hope Florida — First Lady Casey DeSantis' signature welfare-assistance program — said today that “mistakes were made” with the nonprofit's failure to file required tax documents and other records; Florida lawmakers are considering a measure that would require hospitals to test for fentanyl when a person comes in with a suspected drug overdose; And frustrated by often destructive and unruly young people, some Florida beach towns say they're ready to get out of the spring break business.

On tonight's program: During this “Children's Week” at the Florida Capitol, lawmakers are looking at ways to make childcare less costly and more available for more parents; A complex web of financial transactions involving an organization run by First Lady Casey DeSantis and political action committees is prompting sharp questions in Tallahassee; Federal funding cuts are hitting the Florida Humanities Council and its beneficiary art programs, museums and libraries hard; And Florida gasoline prices tumbled in the past week.

On tonight's program: A proposal in the legislature would change how complaints can be made about law enforcement officers, but some police are opposed to the move; Traditional public schools worry as more kids use Florida's school choice program to attend private schools, their bottom lines could be in trouble; There's a lot of talk lately about tariffs, but what does it all mean for Floridians and their pocketbooks? We'll hear about a plan to protect state parks from development like golf courses and pickleball courts; It's alligator nesting season. The animals don't typically attack, but they can become more aggressive this time of year. Experts say the solution is simple—avoid them; And there's a new registration system aimed at getting more Floridians to become organ donors.

On tonight's program: President Trump changed the “Gulf of Mexico” to the “Gulf of America.” The Florida Legislature has now passed a bill to make the change mandatory in all government and school references to that body of water; Governor DeSantis and the Florida House have been at odds over what form tax cuts should take and the Senate leadership is now offering a compromise solution; The Florida Senate has approved a Black History Museum in St. Johns County although the House has yet to move on the proposal; And the Senate version of the new state budget includes $50 million to funnel more produce from the state's farmers to the food insecure.

On tonight's program: New reporting show Governor Ron DeSantis is behind proposals advancing in the Florida legislature this session that would reduce child labor protections in the state; A bill that would allow a public school to be more readily converted into a charter school is heading for the House floor; Negotiations will soon begin as the Florida House and Senate work to close a $4.4 billion gap in their respective versions of a new state budget; And we take in “FAMU Day” at the Florida Capitol.

On tonight's program: Some educators and authors are objecting to a bill lawmakers are considering to change how schools evaluate books under consideration for removal from libraries; The Florida legislature could reverse itself on a fairly recent law that keeps the choosing of state university college and university presidents behind closed doors; After a huge public outcry last year, lawmakers are taking steps to prevent the building of resort hotels, golf courses and pickleball courts in Florida's state parks; And Florida's endangered Apalachicola Bay and river basin may get more protections from fossil fuel exploration under a bill now being considered.

On tonight's program: It didn't impact legislative happenings, but nasty weather produced some other disruptions – including scattered power outages – around the Capital City area around midday today; Florida lawmakers have begun probing the possible state budgetary consequences of President Trump's tariffs; Private colleges and universities in Florida could see a big drop in students' EASE grants under provisions of the Florida House budget proposal; And “Hands Off” rallies happened all across the country and throughout Florida over the weekend. We visit the one in Southwest Florida.

On tonight's program: As lawmakers debate renaming the Gulf of Mexico, some are asking, what's in a name?; Florida's state bird is the mockingbird, but should it be? A group of students is asking lawmakers to consider the flamingo or the Florida scrub-jay instead; Florida officials say the American public has lost confidence in higher education. They're working to change that in the Sunshine State; The first forecasts for Florida's upcoming hurricane season are in, but experts say regardless of the predictions, it's important to remember that one hurricane is enough to change a person's life; Homeowners are still struggling with recovery after last year's busy hurricane season; And after years of advocating, a plan to help protect Wakulla Springs and its underwater cave system is moving forward.

On tonight's program: The Florida House has approved a measure making it more difficult for citizen-led constitutional amendments to get on state ballots; The Florida Senate just passed a bill to reduce the impact of standardized testing when it comes to graduation requirements; And Florida lawmakers want teachers and other school personnel to have the same education about human trafficking that students now receive.

With the 2025 almost half over, the House and Senate have already rolled out theirrespective state budget proposals. And they're only $4.4 billion apart; The Florida House plan to cut state sales tax has passed its first committee; Both chambers of the Florida Legislature are working to protect the sensitive Apalachicola River basin in Northwest Florida from possible fossil fuel exploration; And it was Veterans Appreciation Day at the Florida Capitol.

On tonight's program: A debate over the long gun purchase age grows emotional amid memories of the Parkland school massacre. And how young is too young to work? Meanwhile, lawmakers in the House are trying to grant kids with disabilities more protection against abuse and neglect at school.

On tonight's program: Democrats are switching up their ground game ahead of two special elections in generally safe Republican Congressional seats; Meanwhile, State leaders are sparring over whether to cut property or sales taxes; And it all comes as the state weighs the price tag for its universal school choice program.

On tonight's program: Young people have had jobs since forever. The problem, say some, is when there are no limits to that employment; Florida may crack down even more on make-believe military veterans; Lawmakers may do away with a two-year-old law requiring later start times for Florida's high school students; If you've ever forgotten where you parked your car, you might be able to sympathize with the State of Florida agency that's lost track of thousands of vehicles. That even led the guy in charge of the agency to say the situation was a real mess; As Florida's local law agencies fall in line behind federal immigration policies, some human rights advocates continue their opposition; Former Florida foster kids were lobbying lawmakers this week in an ongoing campaign to make sure young folks like themselves aren't forgotten; Florida's jobless rate rose by one-tenth-of-a-percentage point in February; And we get a preview of what – besides the names of various politicians – might be on the 2026 ballot in Florida.

On tonight's program: A bill that would ban people from using force to resist unlawful arrest or detainment sparked tempers on the Senate floor today; Now that the Florida House has okayed 18-year-olds buying long guns, the matter is in the hands of the state Senate; A plan to cut Florida's state sales tax rate from 6 to 5.25% has cleared the House and has now landed in the Senate; And worries abound on how Florida will handle the wholesale loss of federal food subsidies for programs that fight food insecurity.

On tonight's program: Legislation allowing college students to carry guns on Florida campuses was voted down this week; The Trump administration is cutting funds to the International Rescue Committee that helps unaccompanied kids who arrive from other countries; More development would be allowed in what had been protected wetlands under a series of bills now under legislative consideration; Employers would no longer have to pay interns and other “workers-in-training” the Florida minimum wage if a bill extending that exemption passes into law; And the two Democrats in Florida's Congressional special elections next month have out raised their Republican opponents by more than five to one.

On tonight's program: Young people 16 years of age and older would have no more child labor protections under an expansion of last year's rollback of such restrictions; A move to do away with property taxes in Florida continues in the legislature, although Democratic lawmakers are still voicing opposition; Certain kinds of flags would be banned from public schools and other government buildings under a bill that's still moving in the legislature; And more condo owners could soon be eligible for grants to help them harden their homes, thanks to state lawmakers.

On tonight's program: Governor Ron DeSantis was in Idaho and Montana today, making a push for a national constitutional convention; Florida Democrats continue to voice concerns about the policies coming out of Washington, DC as well as the legislation coming out of Tallahassee; The average price of gas in Florida is now below $3.00 per gallon; And Florida lawmakers may expand domestic violence intervention programs to include faith-based programs.

On tonight's program: A slew of anti-DEI bills marches through the Florida legislative process as opponents rail, but have no power to Derail; More protections against social media could be on the way for Florida kids; As some lawmakers urge tighter regulation of insurance companies, the industry pushes back, saying that that hostility is misplaced; Federal and state orders for local law officers to go into the immigration enforcement businesses aren't universally applauded; And We get Florida reaction on President Trump's dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education.

On tonight's program: Senate President Ben Albriton's signature “Rural Renaissance” legislation is passed and on its way to the House; An old law that compensates wrongfully imprisoned convicts may be revived this year; Once again, the Florida House wants to lower the age to buy long guns in Florida from 21 to 18 and once again the Senate has no interest in doing that; And parents would bear more of the responsibility for their children's truancy under a measure now moving in Tallahassee.

On tonight's program: A proposal in the Florida Legislature would steepen criminal penalties for drone misuse in the sunshine state; Two aging Florida parents are fighting for their son to be able to get insulin shots for his diabetes, with the help of a bill state lawmakers are considering; Proposed legislation would change state law relating to comprehensive planning, land use regulations, and homeowners' associations; Florida lawmakers are extending last year's protections for kids online; A key committee in the Florida Senate has passed a bill that targets diversity, equity and inclusion (“DEI”) efforts at medical schools and in state-agency contracts; And progressive groups in Miami are heading to court after accusing the Florida legislature in a lawsuit of illegally gerrymandering Latino voting districts

On tonight's program: Bills to block diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in local governments and state agencies are moving ahead in the Florida Legislature; With so much debris – literally and metaphorically – left over from the 2024 hurricane season, the Florida House is advancing a bill to address those many issues; All Florida schools would be equipped with cardiac defibrillators under a bill gaining support in the legislature; And people who must wear electronic monitoring devices are already in trouble if they tamper with them. But some lawmakers want even tougher penalties.

On tonight's program: Orlando Democratic Congressman Maxwell Frost went after the Trump administration and Florida Republicans during news conferences at the Florida Capitol today; Florida lawmakers are considering would require municipalities to allow the addition of accessory dwelling units to single-family homes as a way to create more affordable housing; Florida's unemployment rate edged up a tiny bit in January; And Florida lawmakers are proposing legislation to help military veterans, and their families launch their own businesses.

On tonight's program: There are Republicans in the Florida Legislature who admit there's a very good reason why they're following the lead of the guy who's the current president of the United States; It's not only lawmakers in Tallahassee that are under the gun to bend to the president's wishes; Florida lawmakers are tackling big issues sooner than usual in this year's session. We'll get analysis from Capital Reporter Tristan Wood; The Florida Senate gets serious about autism, passing a bill that boosts resources for early detection, intervention and research; And Florida is still wrestling with the matter of name, image and likeness money in college spots.

On tonight's program: A bill to help grow rural communities is heading to the Senate Floor; A panel of Florida lawmakers agreed today (Thursday) officials should consider whether a child's injuries are really the result of abuse, or if they could stem from a rare medical condition; An effort to impose stricter penalties on reckless boaters keeps moving ahead in the Florida Legislature; And Republican Florida lawmakers want to fast track President Donald Trump's Presidential Library in the state as soon as he terms out.

On Tonight's program: Second Amendment supporters are rooting for a bill now heading through the Florida Legislature that would repeal an existing law that bans the sale of guns and ammo during locally declared emergencies; There are now 5 members on the Florida Public Service Commission. A proposal advancing in Tallahassee would expand that number to 7; And some libel protections for media outlets would vanish under a new defamation bill under consideration.

On tonight's program: The office of Florida Lieutenant Governor may be replaced by a newly created “commissioner of government efficiency” under a constitutional amendment that lawmakers could place on the 2026 ballot; Victims of dating violence could receive the same protections as victims of domestic violence under a bill now moving through the Florida Legislature; State lawmakers seem poised to repeal the later school start times for high school kids that the legislature passed just 2 years ago; And today was National Guard Appreciation Day at the Capitol and members of the State and National Guard may get more benefits under a bill now receiving significant legislative support.

On tonight's program: A carve out for some lower-level workers to be exempt from Florida's minimum wage is still moving in the legislature, although there are worries the measure could be unconstitutional; A railroad revival could be coming to a portion of Polk County as the governor signs a million-dollar award for increased train access; Although it was delayed in a key Senate committee, a proposed constitutional amendment limiting school board and country commission members to 8 years in office is still alive; And lawmakers are naming a bill against dog abandonment after the plucky bull terrier who was rescued by a Highway Patrol Trooper during Hurricane Milton.

On tonight's program: The Florida Legislature is moving to make it a lot tougher for citizens to put proposed changes to the state constitution on the ballot. Even though opponents say such proposals are often very popular; Lawmakers struggle to craft a plan that saves the state's condominium owners in the midst of a multi-faceted crisis; It appears things haven't been quite as bad for Florida property insurers as first thought; Online scammers consider Florida's older residents a prime target. But a bill working its way through the state senate could nab more of the bad actors; It seems there's a good reason the Florida National Guard has been doing double-duty as corrections officers during the past few years; Governor DeSantis has turned thumbs down on a new management plan for a critical marine sanctuary, even though many experts say it's the best they could come up with; And despite all the focus on private space firms like Elon Musk's, NASA is still the prime driver of America's space program.

On tonight's program: It seems some lawmakers, as well as the governor, would not only like to do away with property taxes on primary residences, but some other kinds of properties, too; After Governor DeSantis voiced approval for looser gun laws during his State of the State address this week, some bills to that effect seem to be picking up steam in the legislature; More restrictions on citizen-driven constitutional amendment votes may be in the offing this legislative session; And Florida has long had many deficiencies in its child welfare system, but the current Senate president seems determined to address them this year.

On tonight's program: Florida's rural renaissance initiative to help the state's rural and fiscally-constrained counties develop economically is working its way through the state legislature; Florida's pension fund investments will include no companies that support DEI principles, as a result of a resolution by the State Cabinet; State lawmakers are considering tighter controls over the hemp industry; And as the incidence of Alzheimer's disease increases in Florida, state lawmakers are looking at more robust responses to the illness.

On tonight's program: The 1st day of the 2025 Florida Legislative Session included lots of hopeful people advocating for various legislative outcomes; Governor Ron DeSantis kept the tone upbeat during his next-to-last State of the State address; Legislative Democrats find themselves in familiar – and lamentable – territory as Republican supermajorities prepare to work their will at the capitol; And property insurance and budgeting are two of the major issues on the House and Senate calendars.