Floridas

Florida’s Controversial Child Labor Bill Fails Amid Widespread Public Backlash

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A proposed bill aimed at relaxing child labor laws in Florida met with significant opposition and ultimately failed to pass as the state’s legislative session concluded. The measure had initially advanced through the House but stalled in the Senate, leaving its future uncertain as lawmakers wrapped up their regular session last Friday. Had the legislation been enacted, it would have permitted teenagers as young as 14 to work overnight shifts. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis voiced his support for the bill, questioning the need for foreign labor when local youths could fill such … Read more

Florida’s Legal Landscape Transforms Amid Surge in Class Actions and Mass Tort Cases

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida stands as a critical battleground for class actions and mass tort claims, a status nurtured by its considerable population—the third largest in the nation—and historically plaintiff-friendly legislation and court rulings. However, recent trends indicate a reversal in this inclination, driven largely by Republican legislative and governance efforts. Class action lawsuits in the state span a range of issues, from deceptive advertising claims to discrepancies in product sizes, while mass tort claims frequently arise from varying individual damages from shared grievances, notably in drug reactions and defective products. In 2023, spending on … Read more

Florida’s Expanded ICE Collaboration Sparks Community Fear and Legal Concerns, Critics Say

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Tallahassee, FL — On Tuesday, immigrant communities and their supporters spoke out against a program that enlists local law enforcement in Florida to cooperate with federal immigration agents, claiming it sparks widespread fear and disrupts the lives of families. Under President Donald Trump’s administration, the use of the 287(g) program, which deputizes local police to perform immigration enforcement duties, has seen more expansive application in the state. Critics argue that the collaboration between local police and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) compels undocumented immigrants to withdraw from community engagement, fearing deportation could follow any … Read more

Florida’s Struggle for Transparency: The Fight to Restore and Strengthen Sunshine Laws Amid Growing Secrecy

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Tallahassee, FL — Once a pioneer in open government, Florida now sees its tradition of transparency under increasing threat. The sunshine state, recognized for its robust Sunshine laws enacted in 1967, which promised open meetings and public access to records, now faces a tide of legal exemptions that could cloud the operations of government from public scrutiny. In a time when public access should be expanding thanks to digital advancements, Florida’s government appears to be backtracking. New proposed exemptions are moving through the state Legislature with alarming speed, raising concerns about the future of government … Read more