/tags/2021-legislative-session 2021 legislative session en-US WLRN Tue, 16 Nov 2021 21:26:19 GMT /news/2021-11-16/florida-cities-challenge-states-protest-law-over-budget-power Nine cities on Tuesday filed a lawsuit challenging part of a controversial new protest law that gives the governor and Cabinet the authority to override local governments’ decisions about police spending, arguing the measure unconstitutionally “strips municipalities of budget-setting authority.” Tue, 16 Nov 2021 21:26:19 GMT /news/2021-11-16/florida-cities-challenge-states-protest-law-over-budget-power Dara Kam | News Service Florida /news/2021-10-08/federal-judge-clears-the-way-for-challenges-to-florida-elections-law A federal judge on Friday allowed a series of challenges to a new state elections law to move forward, setting the stage for a showdown over Republican legislators’ efforts to make it more difficult for Floridians to vote by mail and for organizations to conduct voter-registration drives. Fri, 08 Oct 2021 21:07:48 GMT /news/2021-10-08/federal-judge-clears-the-way-for-challenges-to-florida-elections-law Dara Kam / News Service of Florida /news/2021-09-09/federal-judge-issues-order-blocking-key-portion-of-floridas-anti-riot-law A federal judge on Thursday said a key portion of Florida’s so-called anti-riot law is too vague “to the point of unconstitutionality” and temporarily blocked law enforcement officers from enforcing it. Thu, 09 Sep 2021 21:04:04 GMT /news/2021-09-09/federal-judge-issues-order-blocking-key-portion-of-floridas-anti-riot-law Ana Ceballos /news/2021-08-25/legal-battle-over-florida-protest-law-could-come-down-to-language-and-syntax Parsing sentences might be a lost art, but attorneys in a court battle over a controversial Florida law that targets violent protests might want to brush up on their grammar skills in advance of a hearing next week. Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker this week ordered attorneys to diagram wording in part of the law (HB 1), which, among other things, enhances existing penalties and creates new crimes related to violent protests. Wed, 25 Aug 2021 18:47:21 GMT /news/2021-08-25/legal-battle-over-florida-protest-law-could-come-down-to-language-and-syntax Dara Kam / News Service of Florida /news/2021-08-24/desantis-administration-seeks-to-scuttle-challenge-to-florida-transgender-athlete-law Attorneys for Gov. Ron DeSantis, Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran and other defendants filed a 38-page motion Monday arguing that the challenge, filed on behalf of a Broward County transgender middle-school student identified by the initials D.N., should be dismissed. Tue, 24 Aug 2021 18:37:45 GMT /news/2021-08-24/desantis-administration-seeks-to-scuttle-challenge-to-florida-transgender-athlete-law Jim Saunders / News Service of Florida /news/2021-08-11/judge-clears-way-for-challenge-to-florida-protest-law A federal judge has refused to toss out a legal challenge to a controversial new law that creates a host of crimes and enhances existing penalties for protests that turn violent or block traffic, a priority of Gov. Ron DeSantis during this year’s legislative session. Wed, 11 Aug 2021 20:31:33 GMT /news/2021-08-11/judge-clears-way-for-challenge-to-florida-protest-law Dara Kam | News Service Florida /2021-07-13/key-west-cruises-haiti-update-and-sugar-cane-burning-in-palm-beach-county Key West leaders want to fulfill the wishes of voters and limit the types of cruise ships that can port at the city. Another person was arrested in the ongoing investigation of the assassination of Haiti’s president. And, a Palm Beach Post investigation looks into how sugar cane burning affects residents of the county. Tue, 13 Jul 2021 21:57:04 GMT /2021-07-13/key-west-cruises-haiti-update-and-sugar-cane-burning-in-palm-beach-county Kristin Moorehead, Odalis Garcia /news/2021-07-13/key-west-commission-tells-staff-to-create-cruise-ship-limits-like-those-approved-by-voters The Florida Legislature has banned voters from regulating ports, as Key West voters did last November when they approved limits on the cruise ship industry. City commissioners said they want to find a way to implement the will of the voters. Tue, 13 Jul 2021 16:08:53 GMT /news/2021-07-13/key-west-commission-tells-staff-to-create-cruise-ship-limits-like-those-approved-by-voters Nancy Klingener /news/2021-07-05/magic-city-casino-owners-sue-to-invalidate-sports-betting-deal-between-florida-and-seminole-tribe The lawsuit, filed Friday in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida by the Havenick family’s West Flagler Associates and Bonita-Fort Myers Corporation — also known as Southwest Parimutuels — argues that the agreement authorizing sports betting outside of tribal lands in Florida is in violation of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) and asks the court to enjoin implementation of sports betting. Mon, 05 Jul 2021 19:26:11 GMT /news/2021-07-05/magic-city-casino-owners-sue-to-invalidate-sports-betting-deal-between-florida-and-seminole-tribe Mary Ellen Klas /2021-07-02/surfside-update-floridas-real-estate-boom-and-federal-court-blocks-states-social-media-law The latest on the ongoing recovery efforts in Surfside, exploring the fears of instability in the state's housing market and a federal court prevents Florida law targetign social media companies from taking effect. Fri, 02 Jul 2021 22:30:56 GMT /2021-07-02/surfside-update-floridas-real-estate-boom-and-federal-court-blocks-states-social-media-law Andrea Perdomo