A massive piece of legislation geared towards improving rural communities in the Sunshine State has passed its first committee hurdle with full support from both lawmakers and constituents.

Tallahassee Republican Sen. Corey Simon’s bill (SB 110) seeks to improve infrastructure and enhance education and health care as part of a comprehensive package of proposals designed to usher in a “modern-day renaissance” to rural communities across Florida.

The measure contains critical investments for 31 of Florida’s 67 counties, including broadband internet upgrades, affordable housing, small-business support, roadway improvements, investments into rural schools, and bolstering of rural hospitals.

During the bill’s passage through the Community Affairs Committee, former Senate President and Naples Republican Sen. Kathleen Passidomo showed her support for the bill, commending Simon for bringing it forward and taking the opportunity to address constituents in the audience directly.

“I want to thank Sen. Simon for all the time and effort you’ve put in this bill. … Looking in the audience here, I see people from all over rural Florida, and I want you all to know this is a very special piece of legislation,” Passidomo said. “But it’s going to be up to you all to implement it and make sure that whatever happens with this really fantastic opportunity, that you develop your community how you want to do it.”

Passidomo noted that it’s up to rural communities to take the lead and grow the economy in these areas.

“This is not up to us. This is not the Legislature telling you what to do, but how you want to develop, and I feel really strongly about that because the heart of our state is the center of our state. So I look forward to hearing how you develop this project over the next 10, 20, 30, 50 years,” Passidomo said.

Davie Democratic Sen. Barbara Sharief also showed her support for the bill and shared her excitement for the internet upgrades.

“I was just extremely thrilled about the technology portion of this. … We talked about extending smart technology in the state of Florida, and particularly to have it come into rural communities. I think it’s going to do so much good at increasing your tax base and doing so much more for your communities. I know it’s rural, but you still have to progress and grow, and I think this bill is a great start.”

The bill passed 6-0 and now moves on to the Fiscal Policy Committee.

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As Florida faces more frequent and intense hurricanes, solar energy is proving to be a key solution for homeowners seeking resiliency in the aftermath of storms.

With power outages a frequent occurrence following hurricanes, solar panels are a reliable source to power homes in the wake of hurricanes and remain functional even when the grid fails.

Solar systems are designed to endure the harsh weather storms bring, including hurricane-force winds and heavy rainfall. Homeowners have found in addition to providing alternative energy options, solar panels also act as an added layer of protection during storms. Many homeowners report that their solar systems remained intact in the aftermath of hurricanes, protecting their roofs from damage while other parts of their homes suffered destruction.

“I’ve had countless customers come to me after hurricane season amazed at how well the systems held up — and acted as an added layer of protection — in the wake of massive storms,” said Damon Egglefield of Mirasol Solar.

“Solar panels and batteries have provided unmatched resiliency and peace of mind to countless Floridians in the aftermath of hurricanes. As Floridians, hurricanes are a reality of living in the Sunshine State. While we can’t prevent the next storm to hit, we can be better prepared during and after storms.”

In addition to durability, solar systems equipped with battery storage are essential for maintaining power during extended outages. After storms knock out electricity for days, solar energy ensures that homes are not left in the dark. The combination of solar panels and batteries allows homeowners to stay operational while waiting for the grid to be restored.

For Floridians, solar power has become more than just an environmentally friendly option — it has become a lifeline during post-storm power outages. As the state continues to experience severe weather events, the ability to remain self-sufficient in the face of adversity is more important than ever.

“After countless storm seasons relying solely on a generator, I made the switch to solar panels and have never looked back,” said Dennis Chapman, customer of Solar Source in Orlando.

“My panels powered me through the aftermath of Hurricane Helene while my neighbors remained without power. Solar energy has provided me with so much more than energy independence and cheaper utility bills, it’s given me the tools for resiliency when life circumstances are beyond our control.”

Solar energy also represents a step toward reducing reliance on the power grid. With solar, Floridians are less dependent on a system that often fails when the state’s infrastructure is put to the test by extreme weather. Moving toward greater energy independence is a cost-effective option that benefits the entire community in the face of natural disasters.

As more Floridians invest in solar technology, the state moves closer to a future where energy independence is not just an ideal, but a reality that can help families protect themselves when the next storm hits.

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Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum said Tuesday that Mexico will respond to 25% tariffs imposed by the United States with its own retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods.

Sheinbaum said she will announce the products Mexico will target on Sunday in a public event in Mexico City’s central plaza, perhaps indicating Mexico still hopes to de-escalate the trade war set off by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Unlike China and Canada, Mexico decided to wait until Sunday, though the country has said since January that it had a plan ready for precisely this scenario.

Canada said it would slap tariffs on more than $100 billion of American goods over the course of 21 days.

Sheinbaum said Tuesday that there is no reason for penalties on some of the largest trading partners for the U.S.

“There is no motive or reason, nor justification that supports this decision that will affect our people and our nations,” she said.

The tariffs that had been threatened by Trump against Canada and Mexico went into effect Tuesday, ratcheting up the risk of retaliations from the United States’ North American allies.

Starting just past midnight, imports from Canada and Mexico are now to be taxed at 25%, with Canadian energy products subject to 10% import duties.

Sheinbaum rejected the “fact sheet” published by the White House Monday that repeated the accusation that Mexican drug traffickers persist because “an intolerable relationship with the government of Mexico.”

Mexico’s President called it “offensive, defamatory and without support” and then listed the achievements of her young administration against Mexico’s powerful drug cartels, including seizing more than a ton of fentanyl and dismantling 329 methamphetamine labs. She also noted that Mexico had sent 29 drug cartel figures requested by the United States to that country last week.

“We collaborate to avoid illegal drug trafficking to the United States, but as we have said on multiple occasions, that country’s government must take responsibility too for the crisis of opioid consumption that has caused so many deaths in the United States,” Sheinbaum said.

Mexico’s President added that the tariffs Mexico will respond with are “not in any way or with the purpose of starting an economic or commercial confrontation that unfortunately and regrettably is the opposite of what we must be doing.”

“It’s inconceivable that they don’t think about the damage this is going to cause to United States citizens and businesses with the increase in prices for things produced in our country,” Sheinbaum said. “Also, the damage it will cause by stopping job creation in both countries. No one wins with this decision.”

In reaction to tariffs on China, Beijing announced additional tariffs of up to 15% on imports of key U.S. farm products, including chicken, pork, soy and beef, and expanded controls on doing business with key U.S. companies.

China’s new tariffs will take effect starting March 10. They follow Trump’s order to raise tariffs on imports of Chinese products to 20% across the board. Those took effect on Tuesday, along with 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico.

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Republished with permission of The Associated Press.

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