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Capital Report

Capital Report: March 6, 2025

Published March 6, 2025 at 5:55 PM EST

Republican lawmakers and Governor Ron DeSantis have been pushing for a study on eliminating property taxes in Florida. But Tristan Wood reports, several of the proposals on the table focus on bringing relief to properties other than primary homes.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has his sights on legislation that would increase firearm access. During his State of the State address the governor touted plans to roll back key provisions of Florida’s current gun laws. He also voiced support for a push to allow open carry in the state. Adrian Andrews has more…

Florida lawmakers are looking again at tightening up the requirements for citizen-initiated changes to the state constitution.

The Florida Senate’s Committee on Children and Families has unanimously approved a sweeping measure aimed at plugging holes in the child welfare system. As Margie Menzel reports, the bill has a strong supporter in Senate President Ben Albritton.

Capital Report

Capital Report: March 5, 2025

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.
Capital Report: March 4, 2025

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.
Capital Report: February 28, 2025

Who are these people and why are they saying these things? In advance of next week’s start of the Florida lawmaking session, we’ll help you figure out what’s going on; Whatever lawmakers do, the governor usually has the last word. Sometimes well in advance; As a citizen, how do you let lawmakers know what you want? We’ll tell you how to go about that; You’ll get a quick primer on how the committee process works; Florida dreamers could find an affordable path to higher education blocked as a result of one bill already filed in the legislature; And we remember Geraldine Thompson, the Orlando lawmaker for whom the preservation of history was a sacred duty.
Capital Report: February 21, 2025

On tonight’s program: One lawmakers wants to let students carry guns on college and university campuses; A committee of lawmakers is reviewing the 950 million dollars in projects Governor Ron DeSantis vetoed last year; Florida’s insurer of last resort, Citizens Property Insurance, is raising its rates. And for some, it could be a good thing; We’ll hear about an effort to support Everglades restoration and flood planning. One lawmaker calls it a “great opportunity”; A Florida State University professor talks AI in education. It turns out it’s about a lot more than worrying about whether students are teaching on tests; And we’ll hear from a former first lady of Florida A & M University about helping to pave the way for future students.
Capital Report: February 14, 2025

On tonight’s program: A special legislative session on immigration also seems to signal a lessening of power for Governor Ron DeSantis; An attorney weighs in on Florida’s efforts to reform immigration policy; Florida lawmakers may again try to pass a bill restricting the kinds of flags that can be flown over government buildings or public schools; Artificial intelligence could be an effective way of detecting illicit firearms. Republicans aren’t happy with that, but some public safety proponents believe it’s a good thing; Florida’s agencies that help kids provide lots of services. But being a place where the children spend the night isn’t supposed to be one of them; The desperate search for something – anything – to halt the spread of citrus greening disease in Florida’s shrinking citrus groves may have turned up a solution. The problem is, that solution could take years to have a positive impact; And a civil rights champion in the Florida Legislature has died.
Capital Report: February 7, 2025

On tonight’s program: Governor DeSantis rolls out his proposed spending plan. But it includes a lot fewer state government workers than what’s now employed; Pro-gun folks have been pushing Florida lawmakers for years to approve open carry of firearms. Is this the year their efforts finally bear fruit?; Concern abounds over the move by Elon Musk and his team to access sensitive federal government information. Especially since it seems President Trump doesn’t seem to mind; Churches have religious freedom. But when it comes to shielding undocumented immigrants from the law, the government is arguing that’s going too far; Meanwhile, a dedicated organization stands ready to help immigrants caught up in deportation sweeps; In advance of the Florida legislative session, some lawmakers are already looking to improve services for children who have autism; And we get a jump on preparations for what could be yet another busy hurricane season.
Capital Report: January 31, 2025

Experts say a standoff between Governor Ron DeSantis and the legislature on proposed immigration legislation could be about political ambition; Undocumented immigrants in Florida are worried about what the fight between the governor and the legislature could mean for their futures; Florida’s agriculture commissioner shares his experience with addressing illegal immigration; We’ll hear local reaction to a proposal from President Donald Trump that Could do away with FEMA; The federal government appears to be taking a page from Governor Ron DeSantis’ book as the Department of education says complaints about book bans are unfounded; And we’ll hear about a new approach to tackling Red Tide
Capital Report: January 24, 2025

On tonight's Capital Report: Florida lawmakers will come to Tallahassee on Monday for a special session; Governor DeSantis wants the federal government to turn over its Everglades restoration program to the State of Florida; It wasn’t exactly a winter wonderland, but a big chunk of North Florida was hit this week by a mix of snow and sleet. Although weather experts point out this isn’t the first time; Although not everyone who endured the frigid assault was unhappy; The head of Florida’s House Democrats talks about the challenges of being so dominated by those in the other party; Speaking of challenge, Florida Democrats are picking new leaders this weekend. Although organizers of the event hope it will project a positive message about the party; And one of those who worked most closely with President Jimmy Carter has memories and stories that didn’t get much coverage during the former president’s funeral earlier this month.
Capital Report: January 17, 2025

On tonight’s program: We explore why Marco Rubio may be the perfect guy to be President-Elect Donald Trump’s secretary of state; Despite some pushback from the legislative leadership, Governor DeSantis still wants lawmakers to tackle undocumented immigration during a special session later this month. We’ll talk to an immigration attorney about it; We talk with a woman who could face deportation under new immigration policy proposals; Being a first responder is stressful. Now there’s a new emphasis on providing more resources to mitigate that stress and its impact on responder readiness; There seems to be yet another threat from climate change. Along with rising sea levels, there’s also rising levels of stormwater runoff; A campaign to elect moderate and progressive local school board members is chalking up some victories in Florida and beyond; And Florida bids farewell to the man who served a brief and accidental stint as governor, but is fondly remembered as a true statesman.
Capital Report: January 10, 2025

On tonight’s program: Florida represent! A bunch of sunshine state folks are coming aboard the incoming Trump administration; But there are also those in Florida who fear the new administration’s tough talk on immigration; Governor DeSantis would like state lawmakers to make a quick trip to Tallahassee before the regular 2025 session starts in March to tackle what he considers some critical issues; A possible – and risky – solution to Florida’s property insurance crisis? Just don’t have any insurance at all; A renowned Florida jurist retires and leaves a lasting legacy; Florida citrus production keeps falling; And We get up close to some wintering Manatees. We just won’t get TOO close.

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