State News – Capital Outlook

Change provides Medicaid to former foster children

April 9, 2021

Gov. Ron DeSantis By Christine SextonNews Service of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration has quietly backed away from a policy that removed 1,730 former foster children from the state’s Medicaid rolls over the past six years in apparent violation of federal law. Since January, the Department of Children and Families

Legal protections for farmers moving in House

April 9, 2021

Rep. Randy Fine By Jim TurnerNews Service of Florida A Senate-backed proposal to expand the state’s “Right to Farm” law continued to move last Tuesday through the House over objections that it could block lawsuits about the potential health impacts of burning sugar cane. The House Environment, Agriculture & Flooding

House, Senate budgets differ on stimulus money

April 9, 2021

Rep. Jay Trumbull By Jim TurnerNews Service of Florida Florida House and Senate committees moved forward last Wednesday with budget proposals that stand $2 billion apart and take different approaches to $10 billion in federal stimulus money headed to state government. The House’s $97 billion proposal includes tapping into the

Senate weighs school, college pandemic concerns

April 9, 2021

Sen. Perry Thurston By Ryan DaileyNews Service of Florida In an effort to offset COVID-19’s impacts on Florida’s education system, a Senate committee last Tuesday gave bipartisan support to a proposal that would shield public-school students from testing accountability this year and protect colleges and universities from lawsuits. The Senate

Lawmakers pass parental rights measure

April 9, 2021

Rep. Erin Grall NSF Staff Report Along almost straight party lines, the Republican-controlled Florida House last Thursday passed a measure that would spell out a “Parents’ Bill of Rights” in state law. The bill (HB 241), sponsored by Rep. Erin Grall, R-Vero Beach, spells out a series of rights for

Deal reached to lower business rent tax

April 9, 2021

Rep. Blaise Ingoglia By Jim TurnerNews Service of Florida Florida businesses would get a second massive benefit as lawmakers move toward requiring out-of-state retailers to collect sales taxes on purchases made by Floridians, under a deal announced by House and Senate leaders. The House Commerce Committee backed a measure (HB

Many inmates wary of vaccinations

April 9, 2021

A “Morbidity and Mortality” report from the CDC show that Black inmates are the least willing to be vaccinated against COVID-19.Photo special to the Outlook NSF Staff Report A survey of 5,110 people incarcerated in prisons and jails in four states — including Florida — shows that more than 45

House seeks to eliminate Chiles Fund

April 9, 2021

Former governor Lawton Chiles By Christine SextonNews Service of Florida Florida lawmakers might wipe out a special account used to pay for healthcare and biomedical research and set up with money from a landmark 1997 settlement with tobacco companies. The House Appropriations Committee last Wednesday voted to scrap a fund

Health centers getting millions in COVID stimulus

April 9, 2021

Task force administering cash grants to faith-based groups Individuals can find a vaccine site by visiting the Leon County COVID-19Information portal at http://cms.leoncountyfl.gov/covid-19/Vax-Map.Leon County photo submitted Congressman Al Lawson has announced that federal health centers in Jacksonville and Tallahassee will receive $21,152,500 million from the American Rescue Plan.Photo by St.

DeSantis targets COVID-19 ‘passport,’ signs liability bill

April 2, 2021

Gov. Ron DeSantis is ready to sign a ban on the idea of COVID-19 “passport.” By Christine SextonNews Service of Florida Pointing to privacy concerns, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Monday he will issue emergency rules that prevent businesses from requiring customers to show proof of vaccinations through COVID-19 “passports” and