COUNTY 

Click Orlando 

Orange County made nearly $400M in tourist taxes in 2025. Here’s what the money is used for and why 

By law, tourist development taxes have to be used for tourism-related projects 

 

Daily Commercial  

Lake County leaders seek millions in Tallahassee for infrastructure 

Lake County leaders have traveled to Tallahassee to advocate for funding and support for major community projects and improvements. 

 

WMNF 

Pinellas leaders celebrate completion of $126 million beach nourishment project  

Pinellas County has completed its nearly $126 million beach nourishment project, restoring beaches after erosion from an active 2024 hurricane storm season.   

 

Levy Citizen 

Levy County advances major oyster restoration project through RESTORE Act  

The Levy County Board of County Commissioners has approved an updated State Expenditure Plan under the RESTORE Act Spill Impact Component, clearing the way for a major new investment in oyster reef restoration and working waterfront recovery along Levy County’s Gulf Coast. 

 

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE & DATA CENTERS 

Fox 13 

Florida AI legislation update: House feud threatens DeSantis’ AI guardrails and data center limits  

TALLAHASSEE – Florida’s 2026 legislative session is seeing a significant divide between the House and Senate over the regulation of artificial intelligence. 

 

CL Tampa 

Why Florida is hiding its data center boom 

Hoping to position Florida as the next big destination for large and hyperscale data centers that power artificial intelligence, state lawmakers are weighing how much corporate secrecy is enough but not too much and how to manage the centers’ intensive demands for energy and water where they operate. 

 

PROPERTY TAXES 

Sun-Sentinel  

What we miss when we talk about property taxes | Opinion  

When we talk about property taxes, the conversation often starts and ends with the number at the bottom of the bill.   

 

Click Orlando 

‘Worst states:’ DeSantis weighs in on latest Florida tax ranking 

Index looks at tax competition between different states 

 

Miami Herald 

How Florida property tax cuts could hollow out Miami-Dade cities  

When Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and others talk about eliminating property taxes, their pitch seems straight-forward: We’ll fix Florida’s affordability crisis and cities and counties will be forced to live within their means. 

 

DOGE 

Florida Politics 

CFO pushes for government transparency — except in his own Office 

It took Florida Politics more than 5 months and required a lawyer’s letter for the CFO to release 20 pages of public records. 

 

LEGISLATION  

My News 13 

Senate passes bill on renting ‘affordable dwelling units’ 

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — A pending bill in the Florida legislature may provide more affordable housing options for both homeowners and renters across the state if it is signed into law. 

 

AROUND THE COUNT(R)Y 

Merced Sun-Star 

California seniors could choose to opt out of property tax  

If you’re a Californian who is at least 60 years old, Rishi Kumar thinks you should be able to choose whether to pay property taxes.