Leon County Indivisible
Activism for Busy People
new state law allows families to opt into the practice, but only if their school district permits it. Florida is one of 14 states that still allow corporal punishment in public schools. Under the law, school districts that allow corporal punishment must adopt a formal policy approved by the school board. Parents can then choose to sign a consent form authorizing school staff to use it.
The DeSantis administration’s Hope Florida scandal took a serious turn for the worse this week, and the only question is whether lawmakers, regulators and law enforcement will hold those involved accountable.
DeSantis announced Thursday that the new facility is to be housed at the Baker Correctional Institution, a state prison about 43 miles (69 kilometers) west of downtown Jacksonville. It is expected to hold 1,300 immigration detention beds, though that capacity could be expanded to 2,000, state officials said.
Despite his description of a punishing landscape, there are Native Americans who have been living in the area for generations, including just adjacent to the controversial detention camp. On August 1, the Miccosukee Tribe joined a lawsuit filed against the project because, their intervening complaint alleged, the federal and state agencies involved in the construction of the camp were not “adhering to required environmental review procedures.” The complaint also specified that the tribe “attaches historic, cultural, and spiritual significance to the areas affected by the construction and operation” of the detention facility.
Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez (R) announced Thursday the formation of a Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting that would begin reexamining the state’s current map, which holds 20 Republican and eight Democratic seats. The announcement comes just weeks after the Florida Supreme Court rejected challenges to the state’s current GOP-drawn map, concluding that restoring a Black-performing district violated the U.S. Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause and would be a racial gerrymander.
Fourteen insurers writing individual policies in Florida have proposed double-digit rate increases for Affordable Care Act-compliant plans in calendar year 2026, a review of federal data shows. Insurers cited rising costs, utilization of services, and the loss of enhanced advanced premium tax benefits as the reasons behind the rate increases.
At their next meeting, the Tallahassee City Commission will review information about the agreement between the federal government and the Tallahassee Police Department related to the enforcement of immigration laws.
Florida Republican Senator Rick Scott was called out after he—a politician worth hundreds of millions of dollars—defended his position that members of Congress should be allowed to trade stocks despite clear conflict of interest concerns, saying it’s okay because he doesn’t “want to be poor.”
Florida is one of the most diverse states in our country. Our state is home to nearly five million immigrants who are our neighbors, co-workers, and the backbone of critical industries. Over a third of the state’s agricultural workers and nearly a quarter of its construction workers are immigrants. Instead of supporting practical pathways to integrate essential workers and their families, our Governor, Attorney General, and leaders in the legislature have aligned themselves with Trump’s xenophobic and nativist agenda. One that openly disregards principles of fairness, human dignity, and the rule of law.
Attempting to thwart a Republican move to draw more GOP districts, Democratic lawmakers in Texas fled the state for Illinois. That maneuver, however, wouldn’t work in Florida if Gov. Ron DeSantis called lawmakers in for a redistricting session, to redraw the state’s congressional district lines. Florida’s constitution only requires a simple majority for a quorum for the Legislature to conduct business, and Democrats comprise a superminority in the House and Senate.
A Florida controlled growth watchdog group is assailing a newly approved state measure, claiming it attempts to provide help on hurricane recovery but severely limits local autonomy.
People seem to forget that once upon a time Florida had leaders who actually cared about the environment, the rule of law, and the lives of ordinary Floridians. Today, Florida (and Tallahassee Indivisible) honor the legacy of Bob Graham, who was a true leader in the areas of education and the environment.