Jake Stofan

Reporter by day — Keeper of fish by night.

"We took it personal" - The Rodman Dam survives another removal effort, but Putnam County locals know the fight isn't over. @ActionNewsJax twtr.in/3nEh

@FLSenate @EdEhooper1 @ActionNewsJax .@FLSenate approves the bill 29-7 with the amendment. Bounces back to the @myflhouse. @ActionNewsJax

.@FLSenate taking the bill up now... Senator @EdEhooper1 calls it the "last bill" of the session. @ActionNewsJax

Florida lawmakers are nearing the end of the legislative session and there's a big issue yet to be resolved: The Governor's ability to tap into an emergency trust fund. There's an amendment that will likely come up in the @FLSenate today that would extend the fund (which expired last month) until July 1, 2028, but it would also restrict the fund from being used to purchase vehicles. It also requires there to be a separate account for federal reimbursements, which appears to be a reaction to @GovRonDeSantis' use of the emergency fund to bankroll the construction and operation of Alligator Alcatraz and Deportation Depot on the assumption the federal government would pay the state back. It remains to be seen how much of the $608 million the state receives from the federal government, if it gets anything at all. @ActionNewsJax

The @FLSenate also refused to concur with a @myflhouse amendment tagged onto a transportation bill that would raise speed limits on some state highways to 80 mph. It now heads back to the House which can either concur, or try again to force the Senate to accept its version. @ActionNewsJax

This year’s elections bill which includes new citizenship verification requirements and citizenship indicators in driver’s licenses starting next year has passed the @myflhouse and will head to @GovRonDeSantis’ desk. @ActionNewsJax

Looks like Florida lawmakers plan to wrap up budget issues after Easter in April according to President @Sen_Albritton. @ActionNewsJax

The @FLSenate approved a bill clearing a path for @_JoeCarlucci_ to become VP of Jax City Council. He's currently blocked from serving in leadership, because his father is also on council. @GovRonDeSantis just needs to sign the bill before the leadership vote in late May. @ActionNewsJax

The @myflhouse has approved a bill banning DEI in local governments. The bill specifically targets DEI in spending, hiring and contracting. Next step, the desk of @GovRonDeSantis. @ActionNewsJax

Just yesterday, the @myflhouse also passed a bill that would authorize school districts to use private funds to bolster high school coach pay. That bill is also in returning messages with the @FLSenate. @ActionNewsJax

Legislation allowing school athletic head coaches to expend up to $15,000 of their personal money to support their teams has cleared the @myflhouse. Now bounces back to the @FLSenate after amendments were adopted on the House floor. @ActionNewsJax

Florida Secretary of State @CordByrd declares “the case is over” after @flcourts declines to hear to @SmartandSafeFl’s latest attempt to get its recreational marijuana measure on the 2026 ballot. @ActionNewsJax

Stopped short of a full endorsement, but noted he vetoed last year's funding because it felt rash and lacked community input - Things this year's legislation do attempt to address. @ActionNewsJax

.@GovRonDeSantis sounds like he may have changed his tune a bit on @WymanDuggan's bill that would get rid of the Kirkpatrick Dam by the end of 2032. Previously, he'd suggested he hadn't changed his mind since vetoing funding for the project last year. @ActionNewsJax

The @FLSenate has given final approval to HB 559, a bill that improves the state's animal cruelty public database and increases penalties for acts of animal cruelty committed in front of minors. Next stop is @GovRonDeSantis' desk. @ActionNewsJax

.@AGJamesUthmeier announces civil enforcement against @CityofJax related to the list of gun owners who entered city buildings while armed over a two-year period. @ActionNewsJax

Some past coverage on that one too from @ActionNewsJax: shorturl.at/uF6SO

A little earlier, the @FLSenate also sent legislation to @GovRonDeSantis that would add more transparency to the state's land swap process. The bill came in response to last year's attempted Guana land swap. @ActionNewsJax