Why 'Florida Man' Headlines Exist, and What They Say About Public Records
The Florida Man meme grew out of a 2013 Twitter account and a 2019 viral challenge. Journalists often trace it to the state’s wide-open records law.
Follow the Money: How to Search Florida Campaign Finance Records
Florida posts nearly every reported state and local campaign contribution online. Here is how the limits work and how to look up any donor yourself.
How to Make a Public Records Request in Florida, Step by Step
Florida law lets anyone see government records without giving a reason. Here is how to ask, what it costs, and what to do when an agency drags its feet.
License Plate Readers in Florida: What They Collect and How Long Police Keep It
Florida law keeps most plate-reader data out of public view and caps how long agencies can store it. Civil liberties groups warn of mass tracking.
Florida's Social Media Law for Minors: What HB 3 Requires and Where the Fight Stands
HB 3 bars under-14 accounts on certain platforms and requires parental consent for 14- and 15-year-olds. An appeals court let Florida enforce it.
Florida's Digital Bill of Rights: Who It Covers and What It Lets You Do
Florida’s 2023 privacy law gives residents rights over data held by billion-dollar tech firms. Only the attorney general can enforce it.
What Is Palantir? The CIA-Backed Data Firm Behind ICE's Case Systems
Founded in 2003 and named for Tolkien’s seeing stones, Palantir grew from CIA venture funding into a major federal contractor, including for ICE.
From Mariel to 'Wet Foot, Dry Foot': How Cuban Migration Shaped South Florida
The 1980 boatlift, the 1994 rafter crisis and a policy that lasted until 2017 remade South Florida. Here is the history.
Know Your Rights: What Legal Groups Advise During an Immigration Encounter
Silence, warrants at the door, signing papers and lawyers: a plain-language summary of guidance from established legal groups.
What Are 287(g) Agreements, and Why Does Every Florida County Have One?
A 1996 federal law lets ICE deputize local officers. Florida laws since 2019 have pushed nearly every agency to sign on.
Lake Okeechobee's Long Shadow: The 1928 Hurricane, the Dike and the Algae Emergencies
The deadly 1928 storm led to the Herbert Hoover Dike, whose management shapes discharges to Florida’s coasts and the algae crises of 2016 and 2018.
From 'River of Grass' to CERP: How Everglades Restoration Took Shape
A 1947 book, a 1947 national park, a 1948 flood-control project and a 2000 restoration plan define the long fight over the Everglades.
Why Florida Has No Personal Income Tax, and What Pays the Bills Instead
A 1924 constitutional ban, a 1971 corporate tax and a 6% sales tax explain how Florida funds its government without taxing personal income.
Preservation 2000 to Amendment 1: The Fight Over Florida's Land Conservation Money
Florida has spent billions buying conservation land since 1990. A 2014 voter mandate guaranteed funding, then sparked years of litigation over its use.
How Florida's Property Insurance Crisis Began: From Hurricane Andrew to the 2022 Reforms
Hurricane Andrew in 1992 set off decades of state intervention, from a catastrophe fund to Citizens Property Insurance to the 2022 special sessions.
Florida's Sunshine Law: A History of Open Records and Open Meetings
From a 1909 records law to a 1992 constitutional right, here is how Florida opened government to the public, and how exemptions get made.
How Tallahassee Became Florida's Capital, and How the Old Capitol Was Saved
Tallahassee was picked in 1824 as a midpoint between two colonial capitals. A 1977 tower nearly cost the state its historic Capitol.
Florida's Constitution Revision Commission Meets Every 20 Years. Here's What It Does
A 37-member panel can put constitutional changes directly on Florida’s ballot. Its last round in 2018 drew lawsuits over bundling. It returns in 2037.
Florida's Line-Item Veto: How the Governor Cuts the Budget, and Why Overrides Are Rare
The governor can strike single items from Florida’s budget. This year’s veto list cut nearly $810 million, and overrides remain uncommon.
How a Bill Becomes Law in Florida, From Filing to the Governor's Desk
Florida’s 160 lawmakers get 60 days a year to pass bills. Here is how committees, floor votes, governor deadlines and veto overrides work.