Every university has its strong seasons — stretches where a big win lands or an academic ranking ticks up — but FSU pulled off an especially impressive combo this week.

Over three days, Florida State University earned an NCAA championship and celebrated two rankings that highlighted the university’s reach both at home and abroad.

The week began with the Florida State women’s soccer team securing its fifth national title — and second under head coach Brian Pensky — after a 1–0 win over Stanford in the NCAA College Cup National Championship.

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.

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.

A day later, FSU celebrated a major recognition for its international education programs in the Institute of International Education’s Open Doors 2025 Report.

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.

“Florida State University’s strong performance in the Open Doors report is continuous and reflects our deep commitment to global engagement and experiential learning,” said Steve McDowell, Assistant Provost for International Initiatives and interim dean of The Graduate School. “Long-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.”

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’s First-Gen Explorer’s Fund, first-generation CARE students will travel to Durban, South Africa, for full-time internships paired with excursions and language study.

And on Wednesday, FSU announced another academic milestone: a significant rise in global rankings for the Reubin O’D. Askew School of Public Administration and Policy. In the ShanghaiRanking 2025 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects, 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.

“The Askew School of Public Administration and Policy has long been an academic powerhouse, but this ranking sees the program climb to even greater heights,” College of Social Sciences and Public Policy Dean Tim Chapin said. “This 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’s world-class policy programs.”

GRAS evaluates approximately 2,000 universities in more than 100 countries, ranking programs across 57 subjects.

Together, the three announcements marked one of Florida State’s most eventful stretches of the year. Go Noles!

___

Coming up, the usual assortment of news, intel, and observations from the week that was in Florida’s capital city by Peter Schorsch, Drew Wilson, Drew Dixon, Liam Fineout and the staff of Florida Politics.

But first, the “Takeaway 5” — the Top 5 stories from the week that was:

— Take 5 —

‘Floridians First’ — Gov. Ron DeSantis unveiled a $117 billion budget proposal, which he touted as a leaner spending plan than last year’s that still prioritizes pay increases for teachers and law enforcement officials. “We’re still doing big things,” DeSantis said in Orlando as he released his 2026-27 fiscal year budget recommendations for his final year of office. “Florida has really led the way with fiscal responsibility.” DeSantis’ 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.

‘New Frontier’ — House Speaker Daniel Perez has unveiled a health care agenda he says will align Florida with President Donald Trump’s new federal framework, tighten safety-net programs and push down prescription drug costs while loosening regulations on providers. Branded as “Florida’s New Frontier in Healthcare,” the package is built around the “Big Beautiful Healthcare Frontier Act” (HB 693), sponsored by Rep. Mike Redondo, and the Prescription Reduction Incentives and Competition Enhancement Act, or PRICE Act (HB 697), sponsored by Rep. Jennifer Kincart Jonsson. Perez framed the initiative as a state-level follow-up on the health care provisions in the federal “One Big Beautiful Bill,” 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.

‘Still measuring’ — 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. “Honest to goodness, we’re still measuring,” Albritton told reporters Monday. “We’ve 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.” 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’s done carelessly. “Every Floridian … depends on the fact that if they call 911, somebody comes to their place, somebody comes to help them,” he said. “We’ve got to be thoughtful about that.”

Family first — 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’s birth or adoption. The care and bonding leave “may be granted on an intermittent basis” and can’t be taken during the 60-day Legislative Session. It requires supervisor approval as well, Perez’s memo said.

Good luck! — What once was framed as “budget dust” 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 “big surplus” to a national audience. A total of 32 of Florida’s 67 counties are designated as fiscally constrained.

— Bay cash —

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’s Coral Reef.

“It 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’s Coral Reef,” 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 “building on those historic investments” to preserve “natural treasures” for future generations.

DEP Secretary Alexis Lambert added, “Biscayne Bay is Florida’s largest estuary and home to an array of important species of plants and wildlife. By making strategic investments in the bay’s water quality, we are revitalizing waters that support not only our wildlife but also our economy and way of life.”

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.

The additional $9.5 million backs the Florida Coral Reef Restoration and Recovery Initiative, created under Executive Order 23-06. 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.

View the complete list of selected Biscayne Bay and coral reef projects here.

— Uthmeier rolling Roblox —

Attorney General James Uthmeier has filed a lawsuit against online gaming platform Roblox for “knowingly” facilitating conditions for sexual predators.

The 76-page lawsuit was filed Thursday in the 8th Judicial Circuit Court in Baker County. There’s no one particular victim listed in the lawsuit, but the filing states, “These 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.”

The lawsuit follows several legal maneuvers by Uthmeier this year challenging Roblox’s operations. There was already one civil action, and Uthmeier launched a criminal investigation of the online platform in October.

In a video statement, Uthmeier said that the criminal investigation, which included subpoenas, is ongoing but that he decided to file the civil action regardless.

“We reviewed the information demanded in our subpoena, and what we found is unacceptable,” Uthmeier said. “Roblox aggressively markets to young children. But fails to protect them from sexual predators.”

The lawsuit alleges Roblox violated Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practice Act 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.

— AG isn’t drinking decaf —

Attorney General Uthmeier has filed a lawsuit against giant coffee shop retailer Starbucks, claiming the company’s hiring strategy uses “race-based quotas.”

The civil legal action against Starbucks was filed in the 10th Judicial Circuit Court in Highlands County. The 21-page lawsuit doesn’t 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 “in a pattern or practice of discrimination.”

The filing said Starbucks established racial quotas for hiring, paid employees different wages based on race, tied compensation to race-based mentorship programs “only to a person of certain favored races,” and excluded “people of disfavored races” from many of those programs.

While many of Starbucks’ diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs were aimed at including underrepresented minorities, the lawsuit said that they still exclude others.

“All racial discrimination, even for supposedly benign purposes, is invidious and unlawful,” the filing reads.

In a video statement, Uthmeier said Starbucks’ actions are ironically at odds with the company’s stated goals.

“Starbucks 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,” Uthmeier said.

“That is brazen discrimination and it is against the law. DEI can never be an excuse to violate someone’s 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.”

A Starbucks spokesperson issued a statement responding to the suit.

“We 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,” the statement sent in an email said.

— See you in court, Part III —

Attorney General Uthmeier says his Office has filed a lawsuit against three organizations to stop gender-affirming care for minors.

Uthmeier filed the 75-page lawsuit in the 19th Judicial Circuit Court in St. Lucie County against the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, Endocrine Society and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The lawsuit was not filed to stop treatment for any specific individual; it targets the three organizations’ general practices. The suit seeks declaratory and injunctive relief, along with civil penalties in violation of Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act and the Florida RICO Act.

The lawsuit targets explicitly the organizations for addressing gender dysphoria, which is a condition that causes anxiety about “one’s sexed body and/or associated social expectations.”

Uthmeier’s 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 “it is natural for children and adolescents to feel anxious about their changing bodies, these feelings usually ‘disappear’ after they reach puberty.”

The suit said gender dysphoria is really a symptom of psychological needs, and that a “holistic psychosocial” 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.

— Build back better … for real —

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.

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.

“Investing in economic development and infrastructure hardening after a storm helps communities become stronger and more resilient,” Ingolia said.

“The 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.”

McLeod said President Donald Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick are focused on helping disaster-impacted areas advance “long-term economic planning and vital project development,” describing the supplemental funding program as a tool to help communities rebuild stronger and support local jobs.

Kelly praised the EDA’s support and its emphasis on both long-term recovery for sectors such as the North Florida timber industry and on leveraging state strengths in “defense, maritime, aerospace and aviation.” 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’s workforce.

The Economic Development Administration’s FY 2025 Disaster Supplemental Grant Program 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.

— Summer BreakSpot —

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.

Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson’s 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.

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.

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.

FDACS also noted that information on required annual training for the Summer BreakSpot Program is available on the department’s Sponsor Training page.

— Instagram of the week —

— Making it rain —

Small businesses and nonprofit organizations impacted by Florida’s seasonal drought in April are being urged to apply for low-interest federal disaster loans to cover losses.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) 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.

The Florida Climate Center at Florida State University found 17% of the state was in “extreme drought” in April, and another 30% of the state was in “severe drought” at the time.

“Many 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),” the Climate Center report concluded.

The SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) 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.

“Through a declaration by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, SBA provides critical financial assistance to help communities recover,” said Chris Stallings, Associate Administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “We’re pleased to offer loans to small businesses and private nonprofits impacted by these disasters.”

— Fool of the Hill —

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.

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.

“This 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,” Heekin said.

“The 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.”

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’s 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).

He previously served 15- and 84-month sentences. After completing his new prison term, Hill will be on supervised release for five years.

— Actuary, it’s pretty interesting —

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 — the list goes on. But what about insurance? Any insurance-heads in the House? We might need a word for them.

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.

“Florida 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’s evolving market. We have seen great success in Florida’s market recently, and we hope to build on this momentum,” Yaworsky said.

“Our 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.”

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.

Happy summitting!

— An honor indeed —

Senate President Pro Tempore Jason Brodeur was honored with the 2025 Daniel Webster Leadership Award during a Tuesday reception at the Governors Club.

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.

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–Senate 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.

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.

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.

“Senator 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,” Webster said. “Let’s all continue to focus on prevention as a way to help families thrive while using state resources efficiently.”

Brodeur said, “I am honored to receive this award once again. It is important that we strive for a stronger future for Florida’s children, and I’m 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.”

— Swim lesson vouchers, baby —

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.

The state currently offers free vouchers for parents seeking swim lessons for their children, but only for children up to age 4. Legislation DeSantis signed last year implemented the program.

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.

The House Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee held a hearing to consider the measure (HB 85), which would instead make the vouchers available for children up to 7 years old.

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.

“The younger kids have to keep repeating the swim lessons. They don’t stick with the younger kids,” Kendall said. “Babies under 1 show reflex swimming movements that can be misleading.”

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.

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

— He-shed, she-shed —

Adding a so-called “she-shed,” “mancave,” or “mother-in-law suite” to homes might get a little easier if a House bill gets traction.

Rep. Danny Nix, Jr., a Placida Republican, proposed amending HB 313 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.

The measure “removes 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’s comprehensive plan.”

There are several other stipulations.

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) that was approved by the Senate Community Affairs Committee last month.

While the measure appears to have momentum now, a similar bill died in both chambers last Session.

— ‘Yes,’ but faster —

The Florida Association of Health Plans 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.

The presentation detailed ways commercial, Medicaid and Medicare Advantage plans are using the technology to speed up administrative processes and improve member services.

“Health plans are cautiously deploying AI to streamline administrative processes that slow down access to care to plan members,” FAHP CEO Brittney Hunt told lawmakers.

“These 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.”

FAHP emphasized that the health plans’ 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.

“Operational efficiency is not just about speeding up processes, it’s about removing barriers that stand between patients and the care they need — it’s all about getting to ‘yes’ faster,” Hunt said.

“Florida’s 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’s health or well-being.”

— AFP approves —

Americans for Prosperity-Florida is backing a pair of legislative efforts it says would expand housing options and reshape Florida’s health care market, signaling early support for proposals moving through the Senate and House.

On housing, AFP-Florida State Director Skylar Zander pointed to testimony before the Senate Community Affairs Committee addressing Florida’s housing shortage. Zander said outdated zoning policies — particularly minimum lot size mandates — are contributing to the pinch.

“Minimum lot size mandates limit supply, drive up costs, and make it harder for families to find affordable homes,” Zander said, adding that lawmakers are preparing legislation to modernize those requirements. AFP-Florida, he said, supports a “conservative, pro-growth approach” that would restore flexibility for homeowners and builders and allow the market to produce smaller, more affordable housing options.

Separately, the group applauded Rep. Mike Redondo for filing HB 693, a sweeping health care proposal that is part of House Speaker Daniel Perez’s broader “New Frontier in Healthcare” agenda.

“Americans for Prosperity-Florida applauds Representative Mike Redondo for filing legislation that takes meaningful steps to expand access to care for Floridians,” 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.

HB 693 represents half of Perez’s health care priority. The other portion, known as the PRICE Act (HB 697), would add more regulations for pharmacy benefit managers and institute a “most favored nation” 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.

— Deck the Hallways —

A Tallahassee native and Florida A&M University alum is behind one of Lifetime’s newest holiday films.

Writer Gregory Anderson penned “Deck the Hallways,” 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’s heart.

“The 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,” Anderson said.

He added that the script — his last project before his father’s death in August — helped him process “the importance of embracing life, cherishing every moment, and understanding that traditions evolve but faith and love endure.”

The film includes a dedication to the elder Anderson in its closing credits.

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.

“My dad always said that mathematics was about finding patterns and connections,” Gregory Anderson reflects. “In a way, that’s 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.”

“Deck the Hallways” 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.

The movie is available to stream on demand through the Lifetime app and website, with additional airings scheduled throughout the holiday season.

— Capitol Directions —

Ron DeSantis — Down arrow —DeSanta Claus checked his list twice. Miami Democrats came up nice.

DeSantis administration — Double down arrow — The math is fuzzy. The intent isn’t.

Glorioso and Mower — Up arrow — Good reporters still make bad secrets nervous.

Daniel Perez — Up arrow — The memo staffers actually wanted to read.

Shevaughn Harris — Down arrow — Are you still “unbothered?”

Richard Corcoran — Crossways arrow — Has the DeSantis administration ever heard of the sunk-cost fallacy?

Rural counties — Crossways — Turns out DeSantis’ idea of a “Rural Renaissance” is 1420s Florence.

Teachers — Up arrow — Raises announced. FEA red ink in 3… 2… 1…

Lauren Melo — Blue ribbon — Prepared. Persuasive. Effective.

Kevin Steele — Down arrow — Even the Grinch left the soup kitchens alone.

Ralph Massullo — Up arrow — Took a season off. Came back like the ’95 Bulls.

Rob Long — Up arrow — He didn’t just move the chains — he went full Rax Grissman.

Nikki Fried — Up arrow — It’s called momentum.

Kevin Cooper — Down arrow — Nikki Fried’s curse didn’t disappear; it just found a new host.

Erin Huntley — Up arrow — It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas at campaign HQ.

Tina Vidal-Duart — Down arrow — “On the advice of counsel” is doing some heavy lifting.

Miami Beach — Down arrow — Somewhere, a VLOOKUP just returned #REF!.

Starbucks — Down arrow — This could all go away if a dozen Bear Cups fell off a truck.

Albert Balido — Down arrow — Sometimes layoffs are necessary, but two weeks before Christmas is a choice.

Ben Crump — Up arrow — The scoreboard needs more digits.

Christian Ulvert — Up arrow — We thought hat tricks were a Sunrise thing.

Andrew Dolberg & Eric Johnson — Up arrow — HD 90 wasn’t supposed to be a cupcake game.

Michael Worley & Co. — Up arrow — That’s how you earn a full 2026 slate.

Jack Porter — Up arrow — Sunlight beats secrecy.

FSU Women’s Soccer — Double up arrow — The trophy room needs an annex.

NCAA — Down arrow — Changed the rule, kept the penalty.

Capitol City Country Club — Crossways — Another 3-2 vote, this time with a century of baggage.

Bob Lotane — Halo — Big voice, bigger heart. Tallahassee won’t be the same.

Florida Democrats say an amendment shot down by the U.S. House Rules Committee could have protected the Everglades from energy exploration.

U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a Weston Democrat, pushed for a change in language in the Improving Interagency Coordination for Pipeline Reviews Act (HR 3668) during Committee proceedings. That bill, filed by U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson, a North Carolina Republican, would expedite review of natural gas or liquified gas pipelines by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

Wasserman Schultz’s amendment to the bill would have excluded the Everglades and other Florida navigable waters from that change, still requiring extensive review to put a pipeline through Florida’s largest national park. However, the Rules Committee did not allow the amendment to come to a vote.

“While we spend billions to restore the Everglades, House Republicans voted to pollute it,” Wasserman Schultz posted on social media.

She said the amendment was worked on with the support of most Democrats in Florida’s congressional delegation, including U.S. Reps. Kathy Castor, Lois Frankel, Darren Soto and Frederica Wilson. Wasserman Schultz is the Democratic co-chair of the congressional delegation.

The proposed change “tried to exempt the Everglades from this dirty water bill, but House Republicans rejected it,” Wasserman Schultz said.

Republicans characterized the legislation differently, with some members from Florida.

U.S. Rep. Cory Mills, a New Smyrna Beach Republican, said he supported advancing the bill from the Committee to the floor.

“I voted to support HR 3668, the Improving Interagency Coordination for Pipeline Reviews Act, to cut red tape and speed up approvals for natural gas pipelines and LNG terminals,” he posted. “This bill puts FERC in charge of NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) reviews, sets strict timelines, improves agency coordination and strengthens pipeline security. This is how we lower energy costs and boost American energy independence.”

FERC is responsible for reviewing and issuing permits for new or expanded gas lines. The legislation, as written, would shift oversight responsibilities from state governments to the agency and eliminate the need for state certifications.