Florida senators and state officials Thursday took up where so many of their litigious-minded colleagues left off earlier in the week, taking the federal Environmental Protection Agency to task over its water quality standards. Those standards are set to be finalized in August 2012.

A pilot program to prevent foreclosures in Lee County will get a statewide rollout in February, pending federal approval, state officials said Wednesday.

Floridians could get the chance to opt out of the federal health-care law if state legislators get their way.

The Florida Cabinet, convening Tuesday for the last time with its current members and governor, approved a controversial biomass plant in Gainesville.

Several state legislators screened the education reform documentary Waiting for Superman in Tallahassee Tuesday, then discussed the possibility and parameters of legislation to improve Florida's schools.

Committee meetings for the 2011 legislative session begin Tuesday, and the biggest item on any agenda is Senate Joint Resolution 2, known as the Florida Health Care Freedom Act, which would place a constitutional amendment on the ballot to opt out of the Affordable Care Act.

Two weeks after legislators passed a law enabling more stringent legislative oversight of the rulemaking process of state agencies, the new law is already having the effect of delaying some new regulations.

Forecasts for the cost of Floridas Medicaid program were set to be agreed upon Thursday, but because of discrepancies between the estimates of two state agencies, they were delayed.

Floridas construction industry has had a rough time the past three years, but some builders have hope for a turnaround, despite the numerous challenges facing the industry.

The U.S. Senate failed to extend benefits Tuesday for thousands of Americans nearing the end of their unemployment checks.