news from Tallahassee

Book objection list approved
The State Board of Education on Wednesday approved a new rule that will lead to Florida officials publishing an annual list of library books and instructional materials that have drawn public objections, in a move that the board’s chairman said will “provide transparency for our families.”

School start time changes raise questions
School officials will soon be gearing up to push back start times for many high schools under a new law that mandates changes to the beginning of the school day — but some lawmakers and education experts are wary of the challenges that could come with such a change.

DeSantis signs bills targeting LGBTQ issues
With LGBTQ advocates decrying it as a “slate of hate,” Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday signed a suite of bills that will prohibit or limit medical care for transgender people, prevent minors from attending drag shows and impose restrictions on which bathrooms trans people can use.

DeSantis signs bill targeting mandates
With opposition to COVID-19 mandates a key part of his political brand, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday signed a bill that includes issues such as barring businesses and government agencies from requiring people to take COVID-19 tests or wear masks to enter their facilities.

DeSantis shelves cell phones, TikTok in schools
Saying that social media does “more harm than good,” Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday signed education changes that include prohibiting students from using cell phones during class time and curtailing use of the social-media platform TikTok on school grounds.

Lawmakers sign off on shielding travel records
The GOP-controlled Florida House passed a measure that would shield past and future travel records of DeSantis, the governor’s immediate family, the lieutenant governor, Cabinet members, the House speaker, the Senate president and the chief justice of the Florida Supreme Court.

Immigration changes teed up for DeSantis
The House gave final approval to a controversial bill that includes steps up requirements on businesses to check the immigration status of workers, cracks down on people who bring undocumented immigrants into Florida and collects data about whether hospital patients are in the country legally.