The victory also marked the 20th national title across all FSU sports. Fans were invited to welcome the team back to Tallahassee at Million Air, watch them light the spear at the Unconquered Statue, and later attend a ceremony at the Dunlap Champions Club for photo-ops with players, coaches and the championship trophy.<\/p>\n
Individual honors accompanied the team win. Sophomore forward Wrianna Hudson was named Offensive Most Outstanding Player after scoring the decisive goal in the 87th minute, while first-year goalkeeper Kate Ockene earned Defensive Most Outstanding Player honors. Hudson, Ockene, senior defender Hether Gilchrist, and sophomores Peyton McGovern and Taylor Suarez were named to the All-Tournament Team.<\/p>\n
A day later, FSU celebrated a major recognition for its international education programs in the Institute of International Education\u2019s Open Doors 2025 Report<\/a>.<\/p>\n FSU ranked No. 1 among public universities and No. 4 overall for long-term study abroad, with 170 students completing programs of eight weeks or more during the 2023-24 academic year. It also ranked No. 10 among public institutions and No. 12 overall for total study abroad participation, with 2,702 students studying in locations including Florence, Valencia and London, where FSU maintains a year-round footprint.<\/p>\n \u201cFlorida State University\u2019s strong performance in the Open Doors report is continuous and reflects our deep commitment to global engagement and experiential learning,\u201d said Steve McDowell, Assistant Provost for International Initiatives and interim dean of The Graduate School. \u201cLong-term study abroad experiences provide transformative opportunities for students to immerse themselves in different cultures, broaden their perspectives, and develop skills that prepare them for success in an interconnected world.\u201d<\/p>\n The report identified Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom as the top destinations for U.S. students, all locations where FSU has established programs. Additional offerings include opportunities in countries such as Germany, New Zealand and Costa Rica, as well as a newly launched partnership between the university and the Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement (CARE). Through support from FSU First Lady Jai Vartikar\u2019s First-Gen Explorer\u2019s Fund<\/a>, first-generation CARE students will travel to Durban, South Africa, for full-time internships paired with excursions and language study.<\/p>\n And on Wednesday, FSU announced another academic milestone: a significant rise in global rankings for the Reubin O\u2019D. Askew School of Public Administration and Policy. In the ShanghaiRanking 2025 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects<\/a>, the Askew School climbed five spots to No. 4 nationally and nine spots to No. 14 worldwide. The rankings cite faculty awards, influential research output and international collaboration as factors.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Askew School of Public Administration and Policy has long been an academic powerhouse, but this ranking sees the program climb to even greater heights,\u201d College of Social Sciences and Public Policy Dean Tim Chapin said. \u201cThis success is due to the excellence of the faculty, the quality of our students, and sustained investment by the state and university in the college\u2019s world-class policy programs.\u201d<\/p>\n GRAS evaluates approximately 2,000 universities in more than 100 countries, ranking programs across 57 subjects.<\/p>\n Together, the three announcements marked one of Florida State\u2019s most eventful stretches of the year. Go Noles!<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n Coming up, the usual assortment of news, intel, and observations from the week that was in Florida\u2019s capital city by Peter Schorsch, Drew Wilson, Drew Dixon, Liam Fineout and the staff of Florida Politics.<\/p>\n But first, the \u201cTakeaway 5\u201d \u2014 the Top 5 stories from the week that was:<\/p>\n \u2014 Take 5 \u2014<\/p>\n \u2018Floridians First\u2019<\/a> \u2014 Gov. Ron DeSantis unveiled a $117 billion budget proposal<\/a>, which he touted as a leaner spending plan than last year\u2019s that still prioritizes pay increases for teachers and law enforcement officials. \u201cWe\u2019re still doing big things,\u201d DeSantis said in Orlando as he released his 2026-27 fiscal year budget recommendations for his final year of office. \u201cFlorida has really led the way with fiscal responsibility.\u201d DeSantis\u2019 priorities include $25 million for $5,000 recruitment bonuses for law enforcement officers, accelerating construction projects in congested areas and $278 million for cancer research. The budget recommendations also set aside $118 million to max out the rainy-day fund and $1.4 billion for Everglades restoration projects, DeSantis said. For teacher raises, DeSantis is proposing $1.56 billion. In addition, DeSantis wants to support transportation and infrastructure, allocating $15.4 billion to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and $14.3 billion to the transportation work program.<\/p>\n \u2018New Frontier\u2019<\/a> \u2014 House Speaker Daniel Perez has unveiled a health care agenda he says will align Florida with President Donald Trump\u2019s new federal framework, tighten safety-net programs and push down prescription drug costs while loosening regulations on providers. Branded as \u201cFlorida\u2019s New Frontier in Healthcare,\u201d the package is built around the \u201cBig Beautiful Healthcare Frontier Act\u201d (HB 693<\/a>), sponsored by Rep. Mike Redondo, and the Prescription Reduction Incentives and Competition Enhancement Act, or PRICE Act (HB 697<\/a>), sponsored by Rep. Jennifer Kincart Jonsson. Perez framed the initiative as a state-level follow-up on the health care provisions in the federal \u201cOne Big Beautiful Bill,\u201d which passed earlier this year and included sweeping changes to public health care programs, including an 80-hour-per-month work requirement for Medicaid starting in 2027.<\/p>\n \u2018Still measuring\u2019<\/a> \u2014 With eight proposals on eliminating or cutting property taxes moving through the House and Gov. DeSantis maintaining that none go far enough, many are looking more and more to the Senate for signs of what, if any, change could be coming. As he has in past months, Senate President Ben Albritton is advocating a cautious, unhurried approach. \u201cHonest to goodness, we\u2019re still measuring,\u201d Albritton told reporters Monday. \u201cWe\u2019ve looked at the House proposals, and every one of those has a certain amount of cost to it and a certain amount of impact to Floridians.\u201d Albritton said that while the Senate is committed to delivering financial relief to Floridians in the form of property tax cuts or rollbacks, he and others in the chamber are cognizant that many core services at the local level stand to be adversely affected if it\u2019s done carelessly. \u201cEvery Floridian \u2026 depends on the fact that if they call 911, somebody comes to their place, somebody comes to help them,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ve got to be thoughtful about that.\u201d<\/p>\n Family first<\/a> \u2014 Perez also announced that the House is expanding its paid parental leave policy to provide full-time salaried employees with up to seven consecutive weeks of paid parental leave for maternity leave after childbirth. The policy takes effect immediately and applies retroactively to parents who took leave from Nov. 19, 2024, onward. The House will also offer mothers and fathers paid care and bonding leave for up to two weeks within one year after a child\u2019s birth or adoption. The care and bonding leave \u201cmay be granted on an intermittent basis\u201d and can\u2019t be taken during the 60-day Legislative Session. It requires supervisor approval as well, Perez\u2019s memo said.<\/p>\n Good luck!<\/a> \u2014 What once was framed as \u201cbudget dust\u201d could eventually be gone with the wind, leaving local politicians in small towns with tough decisions in the coming years. DeSantis is reiterating his promise to provide funding to fiscally constrained counties in his new budget proposal to replace potential property tax revenue if it is phased out. But DeSantis is now saying those cash-strapped jurisdictions will have to do without supplemental funds in the future. DeSantis rolled out the budget proposal to aid smaller counties during a cable news hit last week. Still, they did not say there would eventually be an end to state-level generosity despite touting a \u201cbig surplus\u201d to a national audience. A total of 32 of Florida\u2019s 67 counties are designated as fiscally constrained.<\/p>\n \u2014 Bay cash \u2014<\/p>\n Gov. DeSantis announced nearly $30 million in new environmental spending during a swing through Miami, directing $20 million toward eight projects under the Biscayne Bay Water Quality Improvement Grant Program and another $9.5 million across 11 projects tied to restoring Florida\u2019s Coral Reef.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was great to be in Miami this morning to announce new investments of almost $30 million to improve Biscayne Bay water quality and support the long-term recovery of Florida\u2019s Coral Reef,\u201d DeSantis said. He added that his administration has awarded more than $3.5 billion to over 1,000 local projects aimed at protecting water resources and said the state is \u201cbuilding on those historic investments\u201d to preserve \u201cnatural treasures\u201d for future generations.<\/p>\n DEP Secretary Alexis Lambert added, \u201cBiscayne Bay is Florida\u2019s largest estuary and home to an array of important species of plants and wildlife. By making strategic investments in the bay\u2019s water quality, we are revitalizing waters that support not only our wildlife but also our economy and way of life.\u201d<\/p>\n The Governor has made the bay a recurring priority since taking office in 2019, directing $90 million to targeted water quality projects and codifying the Biscayne Bay Commission in 2021 to ensure science-based decision-making. Grant funding supports efforts to reduce nutrient pollution through wastewater upgrades, stormwater management and septic-to-sewer conversions.<\/p>\n The additional $9.5 million backs the Florida Coral Reef Restoration and Recovery Initiative, created under Executive Order 23-06<\/a>. Those dollars will scale up land-based coral propagation, bolster data management, and build out the infrastructure, technology and workforce needed to support long-term reef recovery through 2050.<\/p>\n View the complete list of selected Biscayne Bay and coral reef projects here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2014 Uthmeier rolling Roblox \u2014<\/p>\n Attorney General James Uthmeier has filed a lawsuit against online gaming platform Roblox<\/a> for \u201cknowingly\u201d facilitating conditions for sexual predators.<\/p>\n The 76-page lawsuit<\/a> was filed Thursday in the 8th Judicial Circuit Court in Baker County. There\u2019s no one particular victim listed in the lawsuit, but the filing states, \u201cThese predators use the Roblox (application) to find, groom, and abuse children. Florida children have been coerced into taking and sending sexual images of themselves. Others have been physically abducted and raped.\u201d<\/p>\n The lawsuit follows several legal maneuvers by Uthmeier this year challenging Roblox\u2019s operations. There was already one civil action<\/a>, and Uthmeier launched a criminal investigation<\/a> of the online platform in October.<\/p>\n In a video statement<\/a>, Uthmeier said that the criminal investigation, which included subpoenas, is ongoing but that he decided to file the civil action regardless.<\/p>\n \u201cWe reviewed the information demanded in our subpoena, and what we found is unacceptable,\u201d Uthmeier said. \u201cRoblox aggressively markets to young children. But fails to protect them from sexual predators.\u201d<\/p>\n The lawsuit alleges Roblox violated Florida\u2019s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practice Act<\/a> on five counts. The legal action seeks a court injunction to block Roblox from engaging in the acts alleged and civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation and additional penalties up to $150,000.<\/p>\n \u2014 AG isn\u2019t drinking decaf \u2014<\/p>\n Attorney General Uthmeier has filed a lawsuit against giant coffee shop retailer Starbucks, claiming the company\u2019s hiring strategy uses \u201crace-based quotas.\u201d<\/p>\n The civil legal action against Starbucks was filed in the 10th Judicial Circuit Court in Highlands County. The 21-page lawsuit<\/a> doesn\u2019t identify a specific incident or individual. But it points to a series of practices Starbucks has engaged in over the past five years, which together constitute \u201cin a pattern or practice of discrimination.\u201d<\/p>\n The filing said Starbucks established racial quotas for hiring, paid employees different wages based on race, tied compensation to race-based mentorship programs \u201conly to a person of certain favored races,\u201d and excluded \u201cpeople of disfavored races\u201d from many of those programs.<\/p>\n While many of Starbucks\u2019 diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs were aimed at including underrepresented minorities, the lawsuit said that they still exclude others.<\/p>\n \u201cAll racial discrimination, even for supposedly benign purposes, is invidious and unlawful,\u201d the filing reads.<\/p>\n In a video statement<\/a>, Uthmeier said Starbucks\u2019 actions are ironically at odds with the company\u2019s stated goals.<\/p>\n \u201cStarbucks made DEI more than a slogan. They turned it into a mandatory hiring and promotion system based upon race. The coffee empire set numerical racial targets for their workforce and they tied executive bonuses to those targets,\u201d Uthmeier said.<\/p>\n \u201cThat is brazen discrimination and it is against the law. DEI can never be an excuse to violate someone\u2019s civil rights. Every worker in our state deserves to be hired on merit, qualifications and character, not race. Florida law protects that principle and we will enforce it.\u201d<\/p>\n A Starbucks spokesperson issued a statement responding to the suit.<\/p>\n \u201cWe disagree. We are deeply committed to creating opportunity for every single one of our partners (employees). Our programs and benefits are open to everyone and lawful. Our hiring practices are inclusive, fair and competitive, and designed to ensure the strongest candidate for every job, every time,\u201d the statement sent in an email said.<\/p>\n \u2014 See you in court, Part III \u2014<\/p>\n Attorney General Uthmeier says his Office has filed a lawsuit against three organizations to stop gender-affirming care for minors.<\/p>\n Uthmeier filed the 75-page lawsuit<\/a> in the 19th Judicial Circuit Court in St. Lucie County against the World Professional Association for Transgender Health<\/a>, Endocrine Society<\/a> and the American Academy of Pediatrics<\/a>.<\/p>\n The lawsuit was not filed to stop treatment for any specific individual; it targets the three organizations\u2019 general practices. The suit seeks declaratory and injunctive relief, along with civil penalties in violation of Florida\u2019s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act and the Florida RICO Act.<\/p>\n The lawsuit targets explicitly the organizations for addressing gender dysphoria, which is a condition that causes anxiety about \u201cone\u2019s sexed body and\/or associated social expectations.\u201d<\/p>\n Uthmeier\u2019s main complaint in the legal filing is that pediatric gender dysphoria was a rare condition as little as a decade ago. His complaint says diagnoses of gender dysphoria do not justify transgender procedures for minors because \u201cit is natural for children and adolescents to feel anxious about their changing bodies, these feelings usually \u2018disappear\u2019 after they reach puberty.\u201d<\/p>\n The suit said gender dysphoria is really a symptom of psychological needs, and that a \u201cholistic psychosocial\u201d approach would be better equipped to deal with the pediatric condition. The lawsuit added that family therapy and individual counseling would likely lead to a more balanced approach to dealing with the condition rather than more aggressive procedures.<\/p>\n \u2014 Build back better \u2026 for real \u2014<\/p>\n Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia convened a roundtable with Trump Administration officials this week to highlight new federal disaster recovery dollars available to communities affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.<\/p>\n FloridaCommerce Secretary Alex Kelly, CareerSource Florida President and CEO Adrienne Johnston, and U.S. Department of Commerce Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Rob McLeod joined the discussion, which also included U.S. Department of Commerce Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Rob McLeod.<\/p>\n \u201cInvesting in economic development and infrastructure hardening after a storm helps communities become stronger and more resilient,\u201d Ingolia said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Trump Administration, through the U.S. EDA and the U.S. Department of Commerce, is taking a hands-on approach to long-term economic development and disaster recovery efforts, which is a welcome change of pace from the previous administration.\u201d<\/p>\n McLeod said President Donald Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick are focused on helping disaster-impacted areas advance \u201clong-term economic planning and vital project development,\u201d describing the supplemental funding program as a tool to help communities rebuild stronger and support local jobs.<\/p>\n Kelly praised the EDA\u2019s support and its emphasis on both long-term recovery for sectors such as the North Florida timber industry and on leveraging state strengths in \u201cdefense, maritime, aerospace and aviation.\u201d Johnston noted that storms often cause temporary workforce disruptions and elevated unemployment, saying the EDA partnership offers an opportunity to help industries recover and bolster Florida\u2019s workforce.<\/p>\n The Economic Development Administration\u2019s FY 2025 Disaster Supplemental Grant Program<\/a> provides roughly $1.45 billion for communities that received major disaster declarations for hurricanes, wildfires, severe storms, tornadoes and other natural disasters in 2023 and 2024.<\/p>\n \u2014 Summer BreakSpot \u2014<\/p>\n The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is seeking new partners to deliver free Summer meals to children from low-income families through the Summer BreakSpot Program.<\/p>\n Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson\u2019s office is encouraging nonprofit organizations, schools, residential Summer camps and faith-based groups to participate, saying those entities are well-positioned to reach children who may otherwise go unserved during the Summer months.<\/p>\n Registration is now open for sponsors for the 2026 program year. The department outlined two application timelines to ensure sponsors are approved in time to operate and, if needed, receive advance funding before their programs begin.<\/p>\n Sponsors requesting an advance for June or July must submit a completed application by March 15 and receive approval before their first day of operation. Sponsors not requesting an advance must submit their complete application by April 15, with approval required before opening.<\/p>\n FDACS also noted that information on required annual training for the Summer BreakSpot Program is available on the department\u2019s Sponsor Training page<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2014 Instagram of the week \u2014<\/p>\n \u2014 Making it rain \u2014<\/p>\n Small businesses and nonprofit organizations impacted by Florida\u2019s seasonal drought in April are being urged to apply for low-interest federal disaster loans to cover losses.<\/p>\n The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA<\/a>) has set the deadline for the drought relief applications for Jan. 5. The drought was so severe in April, there was a federal disaster declaration in more than a dozen counties, including Alachua, Brevard, Flagler, Hernando, Lake, Levy, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Polk, Putnam, Seminole, Sumter and Volusia.<\/p>\n The Florida Climate Center<\/a> at Florida State University found 17% of the state was in \u201cextreme drought\u201d in April, and another 30% of the state was in \u201csevere drought\u201d at the time.<\/p>\n \u201cMany locations in the Peninsula saw one of their top five driest Aprils on record, including Gainesville (3rd-driest), Daytona Beach (2nd-driest), Titusville (2nd-driest), Melbourne (2nd-driest), Venice (2nd-driest), Vero Beach (4th-driest), Naples (3rd-driest), and West Palm Beach (4th-driest),\u201d the Climate Center report concluded.<\/p>\n The SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL<\/a>) program is being made available to businesses, nonprofits, small agricultural cooperatives and nurseries that can show direct financial loss caused by the drought. SBA points out the agency is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers and ranchers except aquaculture businesses.<\/p>\n \u201cThrough a declaration by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, SBA provides critical financial assistance to help communities recover,\u201d said Chris Stallings, Associate Administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. \u201cWe\u2019re pleased to offer loans to small businesses and private nonprofits impacted by these disasters.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2014 Fool of the Hill \u2014<\/p>\n Tallahassee has spent the past week under nonstop rain and gloomy skies. But resident Deonte Deangelo Hill was dealing with far more than a stretch of bad weather.<\/p>\n John Heekin, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced this week that Hill has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.<\/p>\n \u201cThis serial offender has demonstrated that the only way our community can be kept safe from his criminal behavior is by keeping him incarcerated in federal prison. Thanks to the excellent work of our state and federal law enforcement partners, and this successful prosecution by my office, that is exactly where he will remain,\u201d Heekin said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe residents of the Northern District of Florida deserve to live in safe communities, and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute violent offenders like this defendant to deliver that safety.\u201d<\/p>\n According to court documents, on Sept. 21, 2024, Hill fired an AK-47-style rifle into the air in the parking lot of the Griffin Heights Apartment Complex in Tallahassee before driving away. Officers later located him and found the gun on the car\u2019s floorboard. Hill has prior federal convictions from 2012 (two counts of distribution of cocaine) and 2017 (possession with intent to distribute hydrocodone and cocaine base).<\/p>\n He previously served 15- and 84-month sentences. After completing his new prison term, Hill will be on supervised release for five years.<\/p>\n \u2014 Actuary, it\u2019s pretty interesting \u2014<\/p>\n There are endless hobbies to dive into as an adult. You can become a sneakerhead, a cinephile glued to the latest releases, a model-train purist, a music obsessive \u2014 the list goes on. But what about insurance? Any insurance-heads in the House? We might need a word for them.<\/p>\n Insurance Commissioner Mike Yaworsky announced this week that the 2026 Office of Insurance Regulation Insurance Summit is officially on the way. Top regulators, consumer advocates and industry executives will gather April 14-15 in Tallahassee for the event, which OIR will host. Early registration opens in January.<\/p>\n \u201cFlorida has one of the most complex insurance markets in the world and our upcoming Insurance Summit will bring together top experts, consumer advocates and regulators to discuss Florida\u2019s evolving market. We have seen great success in Florida\u2019s market recently, and we hope to build on this momentum,\u201d Yaworsky said.<\/p>\n \u201cOur Summit will be an unparalleled opportunity to engage in additional forward-thinking solutions to stabilize the market, national insurance perspectives, the importance of resiliency, critical oversight components and more. I encourage the industry to save the date and plan to join us this Spring in Tallahassee.\u201d<\/p>\n The summit will feature sessions on oversight, transparency and national perspectives from leading regulators and industry voices. For more information, visit https:\/\/floir.com\/Summit2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n Happy summitting!<\/p>\n \u2014 An honor indeed \u2014<\/p>\n Senate President Pro Tempore Jason Brodeur was honored with the 2025 Daniel Webster Leadership Award during a Tuesday reception at the Governors Club.<\/p>\n An annual recognition jointly presented by U.S. Rep. Daniel Webster and Healthy Families Florida, the award highlights individuals whose leadership and commitment advance the prevention of child abuse and neglect.<\/p>\n The award, established in 2009, is named for Webster, who spearheaded Healthy Families Florida in 1998 while serving as Florida House Speaker. The bill passed the Senate under then\u2013Senate President Toni Jennings on the final day of the Session that year and was later signed into law by Gov. Jeb Bush, establishing the statewide home visiting program.<\/p>\n Administered by the Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida, Healthy Families Florida provides voluntary, evidence-based support to promote healthy child development and family self-sufficiency.<\/p>\n Brodeur was selected for his work to strengthen families and support better outcomes for children. The ceremony featured remarks from Ounce of Prevention Fund President and CEO Jennifer Ohlsen, Senate President Ben Albritton, 2024 honoree Gayle Harrell, Brodeur, and Department of Children and Families Secretary Taylor Hatch, along with video messages from Webster, past award recipient U.S. Rep. Aaron Bean, and a Healthy Families Seminole participant.<\/p>\n \u201cSenator Brodeur has put forth many policies that protect children and support families while emphasizing the importance of programs with measurable, positive outcomes that are proven to be effective, like Healthy Families,\u201d Webster said. \u201cLet\u2019s all continue to focus on prevention as a way to help families thrive while using state resources efficiently.\u201d<\/p>\n Brodeur said, \u201cI am honored to receive this award once again. It is important that we strive for a stronger future for Florida\u2019s children, and I\u2019m proud of the progress we are making each year in the Senate. I promise to continue to serve the people of Florida, including the families, home visitors, and site staff who make this program so special.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2014 Swim lesson vouchers, baby \u2014<\/p>\n A Subcommittee gave a thumbs-up to a proposal that would open up state vouchers to pay for swim lessons for kids in a broader age range.<\/p>\n The state currently offers free vouchers<\/a> for parents seeking swim lessons for their children, but only for children up to age 4. Legislation DeSantis signed last year implemented the program.<\/p>\n However, many parents say the stipulations are too restrictive, and most children in their first year of life are too young to understand and participate in swim lessons effectively.<\/p>\n The House Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee held a hearing to consider the measure (HB 85<\/a>), which would instead make the vouchers available for children up to 7 years old.<\/p>\n Rep. Kim Kendall, a St. Augustine Republican, is sponsoring the proposed revisions. During a presentation before the Subcommittee on Tuesday, she said swim instructors have told her that the current voucher is aimed at children who are too young.<\/p>\n \u201cThe younger kids have to keep repeating the swim lessons. They don\u2019t stick with the younger kids,\u201d Kendall said. \u201cBabies under 1 show reflex swimming movements that can be misleading.\u201d<\/p>\n She added that the majority of drownings for babies under 1-year-old happen in the house, most likely in the bathtub, and said the current Florida voucher system misses the mark.<\/p>\n Subcommittee members unanimously approved supporting the proposal, which still has two stops in the House. The Health Care Budget Subcommittee and the Health & Human Services Committee are both scheduled to hear the bill<\/p>\n \u2014 He-shed, she-shed \u2014<\/p>\n Adding a so-called \u201cshe-shed,\u201d \u201cmancave,\u201d or \u201cmother-in-law suite\u201d to homes might get a little easier if a House bill gets traction.<\/p>\n Rep. Danny Nix, Jr., a Placida Republican, proposed amending HB 313<\/a> to make it easier for homeowners to create accessory dwelling units on their property. The change was approved when the bill moved through the House Housing, Agriculture & Tourism Subcommittee on a 13-3 vote.<\/p>\n The measure \u201cremoves requirement that application for building permit to construct accessory dwelling unit include certain affidavit; revises accessory dwelling units that apply toward satisfying certain components of local government\u2019s comprehensive plan.\u201d<\/p>\n There are several other stipulations.<\/p>\n The bill has two more Committee stops before it can go to the full House when the Session begins on Jan. 13. Sen. Don Gaetz, a Crestview Republican, drafted a companion bill (SB 48<\/a>) that was approved by the Senate Community Affairs Committee last month.<\/p>\n While the measure appears to have momentum now, a similar bill died in both chambers last Session.<\/p>\n \u2014 \u2018Yes,\u2019 but faster \u2014 <\/p>\n The Florida Association of Health Plans<\/a> used its appearance before the House Health & Human Services Committee on Thursday to outline how insurers are incorporating artificial intelligence into day-to-day operations.<\/p>\n The presentation detailed ways commercial, Medicaid and Medicare Advantage plans are using the technology to speed up administrative processes and improve member services.<\/p>\n \u201cHealth plans are cautiously deploying AI to streamline administrative processes that slow down access to care to plan members,\u201d FAHP CEO Brittney Hunt told lawmakers.<\/p>\n \u201cThese tools help automate routine forms, support faster and more accurate data collection for prior authorizations, and enhance real-time processing, all with the goal of getting Floridians access to the care they need faster.\u201d<\/p>\n FAHP emphasized that the health plans\u2019 AI tools remain language-based and are designed to support workflow efficiency, not clinical decision-making. According to the association, all determinations involving medical necessity continue to be reviewed by licensed clinicians, and no FAHP member uses AI to issue adverse benefit decisions.<\/p>\n \u201cOperational efficiency is not just about speeding up processes, it\u2019s about removing barriers that stand between patients and the care they need \u2014 it\u2019s all about getting to \u2018yes\u2019 faster,\u201d Hunt said.<\/p>\n \u201cFlorida\u2019s health plans remain committed to ensuring that consumers can always speak to a real person about their care. While AI enhances our ability to ensure access to timely, coordinated care, it will never replace the human expertise required to make decisions that affect someone\u2019s health or well-being.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2014 AFP approves \u2014<\/p>\n Americans for Prosperity-Florida is backing a pair of legislative efforts it says would expand housing options and reshape Florida\u2019s health care market, signaling early support for proposals moving through the Senate and House.<\/p>\n On housing, AFP-Florida State Director Skylar Zander pointed to testimony before the Senate Community Affairs Committee addressing Florida\u2019s housing shortage. Zander said outdated zoning policies \u2014 particularly minimum lot size mandates \u2014 are contributing to the pinch.<\/p>\n \u201cMinimum lot size mandates limit supply, drive up costs, and make it harder for families to find affordable homes,\u201d Zander said, adding that lawmakers are preparing legislation to modernize those requirements. AFP-Florida, he said, supports a \u201cconservative, pro-growth approach\u201d that would restore flexibility for homeowners and builders and allow the market to produce smaller, more affordable housing options.<\/p>\n Separately, the group applauded Rep. Mike Redondo for filing HB 693, a sweeping health care proposal that is part of House Speaker Daniel Perez\u2019s broader \u201cNew Frontier in Healthcare\u201d agenda.<\/p>\n \u201cAmericans for Prosperity-Florida applauds Representative Mike Redondo for filing legislation that takes meaningful steps to expand access to care for Floridians,\u201d Zander said. He cited provisions that would roll back Certificate-of-Need requirements, expand licensure mobility, broaden the scope of practice for advanced practice nurses and physician assistants, and add transparency measures.<\/p>\n HB 693 represents half of Perez\u2019s health care priority. The other portion, known as the PRICE Act (HB 697), would add more regulations for pharmacy benefit managers and institute a \u201cmost favored nation\u201d model for prescription drugs by requiring manufacturers to report international pricing data and directing the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) to set a benchmark price based on the lowest price paid in comparable, market-based countries, excluding single-payer systems.<\/p>\n \u2014 Deck the Hallways \u2014<\/p>\n A Tallahassee native and Florida A&M University alum is behind one of Lifetime\u2019s newest holiday films.<\/p>\n Writer Gregory Anderson penned \u201cDeck the Hallways,\u201d a seasonal drama he completed earlier this year while caring for his father, longtime FAMU professor Osiefield Anderson, Ph.D. The experience, he said, shaped the movie\u2019s heart.<\/p>\n \u201cThe story became about everything Dad taught me, about honoring what matters, celebrating the people we love while we have them, and finding ways to keep their spirit alive,\u201d Anderson said.<\/p>\n He added that the script \u2014 his last project before his father\u2019s death in August \u2014 helped him process \u201cthe importance of embracing life, cherishing every moment, and understanding that traditions evolve but faith and love endure.\u201d<\/p>\n The film includes a dedication to the elder Anderson in its closing credits.<\/p>\n Osiefield Anderson taught mathematics at FAMU for more than six decades, from the late 1950s until 2019, and was known for blending life lessons into his teaching.<\/p>\n \u201cMy dad always said that mathematics was about finding patterns and connections,\u201d Gregory Anderson reflects. \u201cIn a way, that\u2019s what this story is about too: the connections between generations, the patterns of life that repeat themselves, and how we can solve the variables when everything changes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDeck the Hallways\u201d stars Loretta Devine, Naika Toussaint and Jamie M. Callica. The film follows Zoe, a Bay Area tech executive who returns home to Chicago and joins family and neighbors in reviving a beloved holiday party once hosted by her late grandfather.<\/p>\n The movie is available to stream on demand through the Lifetime app and website<\/a>, with additional airings scheduled throughout the holiday season.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/20-MHD-Florida-Politics-V1_1-728x90-1.png\")
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<\/a>Champs again! Florida State soccer wins fifth national title. Image via FSU.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2224700-Care-FL-Caregiver-Digital-Banner-Ads728x90.jpg\")
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<\/a>Gov. DeSantis swung through Miami this week to highlight $30 million in water quality and reef restoration grants. Image via X\/@GovRonDeSantis.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/DCN-Florida-Politics-600x400-1.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Uthmeier-Roblox-640x355.jpg\")
<\/a>James Uthmeier is taking Roblox to task. Image via X\/@AGJamesUthmeier.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/starbucks-640x400.jpeg\")
<\/a>Wait until he hears about pumpkin spice DEI.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-12-at-5.13.30-PM-copy-640x339.jpg\")
<\/a>The lawsuit earned James Uthmeier a spot on the Benny Show. Image via Instagram\/agjamesuthmeier.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ad-for-sunburn-dental-therapy.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/cfo-at-roundtable-640x426.jpg\")
<\/a>The feds joined Blaise Ingoglia in highlighting hurricane recovery grants.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/FPL_Image_StormRestoration_Eng_Display_600x400.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Summer-BreakSpot-600-1.jpg\")
<\/a>Don\u2019t delay, apply today.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/PMI_IIA_Static_600x400_V1.jpg\")
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<\/a>April was dry, but federal cash is flowing. Stock image via Adobe.<\/p>\n![\"U.S.](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/heekin-640x360.webp.webp\")
<\/a>John Heekin brought the hammer down on Deonte Deangelo Hill.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/fahp_ad.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/homeowner-insurance-640x359.jpeg\")
<\/a>Save the date, insurance enthusiasts.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Jason-Brodeur-Webster-Award-2025-640x483.jpg\")
<\/a>Jason Brodeur snagged the 2025 Daniel Webster Leadership Award. Image via Instagram\/brodeurforflorida.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2224700-Care-FL-Caregiver-Digital-Banner-Ads600x400.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/swimming-lessons-640x427.jpeg\")
<\/a>Just because babies make iconic album covers doesn\u2019t mean they are ideal swimming students.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AdobeStock_888309819-640x359.jpeg\")
<\/a>Your in-laws will nitpick it no matter what, but at least there will be less red tape. Stock image via Adobe.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/uber_ad.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AI-health-care-Large-640x427.jpeg\")
<\/a>FAHP says AI helps handle the mundane while practitioners focus on patients.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/zander-640x427.jpg\")
<\/a>Skylar Zander says lawmakers are heading in the right direction on health care and housing.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/fhca_ad-e1756311266335.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1024x768_IMGELoretta-640x480.gif\")
<\/a>The new Holiday movie \u201cDeck the Hallways\u201d on Lifetime is dedicated to the memory of Gregory Anderson\u2019s late father, Osiefield Anderson, Ph.D., beloved former FAMU Professor. Image via FAMU.<\/p>\n
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