As Rep. Michelle Salzman continues her work shepherding legislation to regulate hemp products, including THC-infused beverages, it is imperative for her to make decisions on the bill that make keeping products out of the hands of minors the top priority.

Her proposed amendment to tax THC-infused drinks and other products is appropriate, with a 20% proposed tax on the beverages that aligns with cigarette and wine taxes. But another part of the amendment she’s considering is dangerous, and should be reconsidered.

As it currently stands, the bill (HB 7029) would block sales of THC-infused beverages at gas stations and convenience stores, places easily accessible to kids and teens. While such stores can sell beer and wine, most do not carry liquor licenses to sell the harder stuff, and for good reason.

It makes sense to limit sales to establishments already licensed to sell liquor, such as at liquor stores, bars and certain restaurants. In the case of liquor stores, there are already rules in place that limit a minor’s access without a qualifying adult present.

The current version of the bill blocks sales of THC-infused beverages at convenience stores.

Salzman’s attempt to remove that restriction may have merit. Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed a similar legislative package last year, writing in a veto message that regulations on the burgeoning hemp market would “impose debilitating regulatory burdens” on Florida retailers. Allowing sales at convenience stores may be an effort to ensure his support this year. But it’s foolhardy.

The measure, as well as a similar measure (SB 438) that has already cleared the upper chamber, rightly include various provisions to protect kids, including restricting packaging that may be attractive to children and, in the Senate version, signage that promotes the products.

It’s clear that sales of these products are appropriate — many consumers use them as an alternative to alcohol and, when used responsibly, they can be safe. But such sales should only be made under key conditions, including limiting THC dosage at 10 mg or less for single-use units or at 100 mg per package, as long as the serving size does not exceed 10 mg of THC.

There may be limited circumstances for which higher dosages are appropriate, but it is reasonable to expect that such sales be restricted to licensed medical marijuana dispensaries and not be readily available in liquor stores.

The legislation, for the most part, rightly seeks to regulate THC products derived from hemp — known as Delta-9 — similarly to alcohol. But unlike alcohol, which is often sold in attractive packaging, THC products should, as the bill currently insists, be sold without any imagery that could be attractive to minors and restricted to those 21 years of age or older.

And clear labels should be provided outlining the total THC content.

DeSantis was not entirely wrong for being concerned about retailers, but sensible regulation is critical in protecting our children, and it can be accomplished in a way that protects retailers such as liquor stores.

While it may be frustrating to convenience store business owners, kids simply must be prioritized over profit.

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Winter Garden lawyer Lee Steinhauer has filed to run in House District 45, setting up a Primary in arguably Florida’s hottest 2026 House race.

The President of The Steinhauer Group, a strategic government and legal affairs firm located in Central Florida, and author of “The Art of the New Cold War,” Steinhauer previously ran in House District 44 in 2020, before the last round of redistricting. But he withdrew from that contest before the Republican Primary.

The longtime lobbyist will face Orange County GOP Chair Erin Huntley, who announced her candidacy in January and has already raised more than six figures between her campaign and political committee. Allies of Steinhauer expect him to match or outpace that fundraising in his first quarter.

Steinhauer’s entry to the race will heighten interest in an already high-profile contest in 2026.

The winner of next year’s Republican Primary will face Rep. Leonard Spencer, a Gotha Democrat. Spencer last year unseated Republican Rep. Carolina Amesty, a Windermere Republican and the only GOP lawmaker in the Legislature to lose re-election in 2024.

Following two Democratic Representatives switching parties ahead of the Legislative Session, Spencer remains the only Democrat in the House currently representing a district where a majority of voters supported Republican Donald Trump in November.

That has Republicans eager to fight to take back the seat. But first, they will have to battle with one another.

Huntley will likely have significant support from the state party. Republican Party of Florida Chair Evan Power donated money to her campaign already, and as Chair of the Republican Party of Florida’s Chairman Caucus, she will have access to a statewide network of donor support.

But there has also been tension within the Orange County GOP, one of the few areas in Florida where Republicans have lost ground in recent years.

Now, it appears Huntley and Steinhauer will engage in what could be a lengthy Primary, giving both sides time to raise — and spend — heavy resources ahead of an Aug. 18, 2026, election date.

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Northeast Florida’s six-county region saw a mixed bag of housing market trends in March.

The Northeast Florida Association of Realtors (NEFAR) report on the housing market shows there were 1,784 closed single-family home sales last month. That’s down from a year ago, when there were 1,980 houses sold on the First Coast. It’s a 9.9% drop in the year-to-year comparison.

But last month’s figure is a substantial jump from the February figure, when there were 1,315 houses sold. That’s a 35.7% increase in the month-to-month numbers.

“Spring is shaping up to be a strong season for buyers. With more homes hitting the market, there’s greater choice and sellers are more flexible on price, terms, and repairs,” said 2025 NEFAR President Mario Gonzalez.

While sales went up on the monthly basis, the price for homes is starting to dip. The median sales price for a single-family house settled at $379,995. That’s down by 1.8% from February’s median price of $387,000, and is a 2.5% decline from March 2024’s price tag of $389,000.

Meanwhile, the number of homes on the First Coast market saw a substantial increase. There were 8,258 homes listed in the active inventory last month, a whopping 63.7% hike from the March 2024 figure of 5,046 and a 10.2% increase over February 2025, which had 8,258 houses for sale.

With no clear signs of mortgage interest rates dropping in the immediate future, the First Coast might be leaning more toward a buyer’s market for the first time in years. But Gonzalez said prices remain stubborn and may not come down much any time soon.

“While interest rates remain in line with pre-COVID levels, today’s higher home prices have become the new normal. Recent price dips have sparked renewed buyer interest, with a noticeable jump in showing requests and open house traffic,” Gonzalez said.

Duval County, the First Coast’s most populous county and home to Jacksonville, saw 967 homes sold in March, which was a notable hike over February’s figure of 697 houses sold, or a 38.7% jump. But that was down from March 2024’s figure of 1,000, or a 3.3% decline. The median home price settled at $320,000 last month, a 7.8% decline from March of last year and a 3.6% slide from February 2025.

St. Johns County, Northeast Florida’s most lucrative housing market, held steady on median sales price in March at $549,000, the same price as February. But it is slightly up by 1.7% from March 2024, when the figure was $540,000. There were 415 homes sold last month, down by 19.9% from a year ago but up a robust 34.3% compared to February 2025.

Nassau County, the most northern county in the region, isn’t far behind St. Johns in sales prices. The median price tag for a home was $515,000, an 18.4% hike from a year ago and a 12% increase from February 2025. There were 93 houses sold in March in Nassau, a substantial 38.4% decline from March 2024, but a 9.4% increase month-to-month.

Clay County reported 253 houses sold in March, which is a notable 39% hike from February, but a 2.7% slide from March 2024. The median home sales price was $379,990 in Clay last month, an 8.9% increase from a year ago and a 7.7% climb from the month prior.

Putnam County recorded only 40 houses sold last month, which is the exact same number sold in March 2024 and a 25% increase over February. The median home sales price was $235,000 last month, a 2.2% increase in Putnam compared to a year ago and an 8.7% decline from February 2025.

Baker County, the most rural county on the First Coast, saw 16 homes sold last month, a 45.5% jump over a year ago, and a 60% increase from February. The median home sale price in Baker was $310,000, a 5.1% increase from a year ago but a 0.5% drop from the previous month.

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