Gov. DeSantis signed five public-safety laws in Winter Haven that raise penalties for crimes against officers, curb xylazine trafficking and expand gang and offender-registration rules.

Byron Donalds rolled out 'Healthy Florida Healthy Families' — a plan to remove ultra‑processed foods from school meals, require contaminant testing and expand farm‑to‑school links.

The New College Foundation has moved to replace the college’s nearly 50‑year‑old alumni association with a foundation‑run committee, prompting alumni backlash and possible legal action.

Multiple lawsuits say Amendment 3’s ballot language is misleading and may have to be rewritten before ballots are finalized. A consolidated hearing is set for July 29 as fiscal estimates and local budgets hang in the balance.

Hedge‑fund billionaire Ken Griffin gave $10 million to a PAC backing Byron Donalds, widening the front‑runner’s financial edge and concentrating megadonor influence in the Florida primary.

A GOP-backed House bill that would block a federal heat‑safety rule cleared a key committee vote this week; several Florida Republicans signed on.

State wildlife officers pulled DMV records on critics, raising privacy and legal questions about how the FWC monitors opponents.

The State Board approved a uniform weighted GPA for honors and accelerated courses and a uniform core curriculum for teacher-prep programs, with staggered deadlines through 2027.

Hernando County’s board will meet next Thursday at 9 a.m. to set the maximum millage that will appear on property‑tax notices and shape the FY 2026–27 budget process.

UCF joined a statewide decision to raise out‑of‑state fees 15%, increasing costs for non‑Florida students and adding roughly $9.8M to UCF’s budget for faculty and instruction.

Local supervisors say public equipment tests, signature checks and audits will protect the 2026 vote across Tampa Bay and Florida.

Contract talks in Pinellas County have turned into a showdown over affordability, with teachers warning an impasse is possible as school board races approach.

Federal and industry data say the Working Families Tax Cuts preserved roughly $1 trillion in output and helped protect hundreds of thousands of jobs in Florida. Officials point to new deductions and expensing rules as the drivers behind investment pledges.