News Service of Florida

A federal judge Tuesday stood behind a ruling that blocked restrictions the city of Naples tried to place on a drag show as part of an upcoming LGBTQ “Pridefest.”

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday signed a bill that includes preventing local governments from adding fluoride to water supplies. The bill (SB 700), dubbed the “Florida Farm Bill.” makes a series of changes related to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. “Yes, use fluoride for your teeth, that’s fine, but forcing it in the water supply is basically forced medication on people,” DeSantis said during a bill-signing event in Dade City. “They don’t have a choice. You’re taking that away from them.”

The Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund, a crucial reinsurance program, will have an estimated $6.72 billion in cash to pay claims during the 2025 storm season, according to a report approved Monday by a panel that helps oversee the program. The so-called Cat Fund also would have access to about $3.25 billion in borrowed money through what are known as “pre-event” bonds.

Legislative leaders have not reached agreement on key initial budget details, as lawmakers prepare to return to the Capitol to hammer out a spending plan for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, which will begin July 1. The House and Senate did not pass a budget before Friday’s scheduled end of the annual legislative session, requiring an extension.

The industry group Florida Realtors last week released a report that showed the statewide median sales price for single-family existing homes in March was $412,500. The Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island SMSA again leads the state with a median home price of $800,000.A median home price is the middle value in a collection of home sales prices with half the homes selling at a lower price and half higher. This is how the typical home price in a given area or market is calculated, giving a better representation than the average price, which can be skewed by extreme values.

A proposal to carve an exemption in the state’s voter-approved minimum wage isn’t expected to pass during this year’s legislative session, Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, told reporters last week.

With sponsor Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, calling it a “bold step,” the Senate on Wednesday unanimously passed a bill that would create a new state agency to oversee information technology.

A proposal to increase maximum speeds on Florida highways is moving forward in both legislative chambers, with the House adding it Tuesday to a wide-ranging transportation bill.