A doctor tapped by Gov. Ron DeSantis to become the state’s surgeon general has been embroiled in legal squabbles and investigations while working at the University of Florida.

Scott Rivkees has been the subject of a university sexual harassment investigation, was found by a university auditor to have not properly filed financial-disclosure information and has sued a one-time colleague for libel and slander.

DeSantis’ communications director, Helen Ferre, said Tuesday that Rivkees is an “outstanding candidate for state surgeon general.”

After hurricanes during the past three years knocked out electricity for millions of Floridians, lawmakers are moving forward with regulatory changes that could lead to more underground power lines.

But it would come at a cost.

A House panel this week approved a bill (HB 797) that would create a new process that would allow utilities to pass along costs to customers for storm-protection projects, including installing underground power lines. A similar bill (SB 796) has received unanimous approval from two committees.

Hundreds of diverse crime survivors from across the Sunshine State traveled to Florida’s Capitol Tuesday to advocate for policy changes that make communities safer and meet the needs of crime victims. 

Passionate participants included Parkland and Pulse mass-shooting survivors. 

From his perch on the U.S. House Ways & Means Committee,  U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., was able to get his proposal to offer employees of small businesses better retirement benefits through the committee.

Former state House Speaker Dean Cannon is taking over as president and managing director of GrayRobinson at the start of September. 

GrayRobinson announced Cannon’s promotion from his current post as executive vice president and chair of the firm’s government affairs practice. He takes over from Mayanne Downs who will continue her work with the firm.  

A move to eliminate Florida’s no-fault auto insurance system advanced Monday in the Senate, though a similar House proposal has not been heard as the annual legislative session reaches its halfway point this week.

The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee voted 5-3 to approve the Senate bill (SB 1052), which sponsor Tom Lee, R-Thonotosassa, expects to be worked into any broader insurance package that emerges in the second half of the session.

State health officials have dropped an appeal of a Tallahassee judge’s ruling and agreed to allow Florida’s largest medical marijuana operator to open more dispensaries than a state law allowed.

Quincy-based Trulieve challenged a limit on the number of storefronts that was included in a 2017 law aimed at carrying out a 2016 constitutional amendment that broadly legalized medical marijuana.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Monday the appointment of Thomas K. Frazer, Ph.D., as Florida’s first chief science officer. Joining DeSantis at the announcement in West Palm Beach were Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Noah Valenstein and state environmental organization leaders.

A Florida Republican congressman has been tapped to help lead the Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Caucus in Congress. 

On Monday, Antonio Flores, the president and CEO of the Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Caucus and the president of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), announced that U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., will help lead the caucus. He joins U.S. Rep. Susan Davis, D-Calif., U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., and U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-Tex., to cochair the HSI Caucus. 

On Monday, Gov. Ron DeSantis tapped Dr. Scott Rivkees to serve as Florida surgeon general and secretary of the Florida Department of Health.