Tourist Development Tax
Florida House Republicans want to shift tourist tax dollars toward reducing local property taxes.
This week, they approved a bill that would redirect “Tourist Development Tax” revenue to the general fund of county governments.
But local governments would not be allowed to spend it how they like. Instead, municipalities would have to pass most of it on in the form of lower property taxes.
Guest:
- Rolando Aedo, chief operating officer of the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Session ends without budget
The Florida Legislature will end its 60-day regular session this week, but there’s still more to be done. Lawmakers will have to return to Tallahassee in the weeks ahead to finalize a state budget. That needs to be passed and then signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis by July 1, the start of the new fiscal year.
We checked in with the “Your Florida” team for an update on which bills passed and some of the issues that went unresolved.
Guest:
- Douglas Soule, state government reporter for WUSF.
Soon-to-be Florida college grads look ahead
The college class of 2025 is entering a difficult jobs market with lower hiring in the federal workforce and a crowded private sector.
We reached out to college students across the state about their post-graduation career plans.
Weekly news briefing
A Brevard County English teacher was fired for referring to a student by that student’s preferred name without permission from the student’s parents. That’s a violation of Florida’s Parental Rights in Education law.
In response, dozens of students, parents and other community members have called for the teacher’s contract to be renewed.
A federal judge this week said she was “surprised and shocked” that Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier told police he couldn’t prevent them from arresting people under the state’s new immigration law even though the judge ordered a temporary stop to the law. Uthmeier has appealed the temporary suspension of the law.
The first of its kind court in the state, Broward’s Community Court is designed to engage and empower the homeless community.
There’s still a chance the Stanley cup will stay in Florida. But it will not be in Tampa Bay. That’s after the Florida Panthers ousted the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-3 in Game 5.