Florida taxpayers -- in the comfort of their homes -- can now start to shift through more than 23,400 state contracts that make up more than 50 percent of the states budget and have long been inaccessible without the time-consuming public records request process.

And the move to provide more transparency could precede efforts by the state's top financial officer to push legislators to define what the contract process is, requiring contracts to be bid upon rather than simply awarded, and what they believe could remain shielded from public view.

Students giving inspirational messages at public school events, revamped auto insurance rules, a new statewide energy plan, advertising on state trails, student-athletes being able to transfer to more competitive programs and a new state symbol all become law on Sunday.

In addition to the states $70 billion budget -- including a $1 billion boost to public education -- for the 2012-2013 fiscal year kicking into effect, more than 100 new laws and regulation repeals will hit the books, or be removed, as of July 1.

The Republican National Convention in Tampa will kick off with an invitation-only, cocktail-style reception for 20,000 that will feature local talent and designs tailored to highlight Pinellas and Hillsborough counties.

The Host Committee announced that the Aug. 26 event will mark the first time delegates and the media will be jointly welcomed at a convention.

A U.S. Supreme Court decision to ban mandatory life sentences with no chance of parole for minors who commit murder will greatly impact the states justice system, Attorney General Pam Bondi said Tuesday.

Ive seen firsthand juveniles commit some of the most egregious, gruesome crimes imaginable, Bondi said.

Bondi, a former prosecutor, said her agency is reviewing the ruling Miller v. Alabama that could require about 250 state prisoners to get new sentencing hearings because they were sentenced for life terms for murder committed prior to the age of 18.

Regardless of how the U.S. Supreme Court rules on the Affordable Care Act, Associated Industries of Florida plans to help craft and oversee an overhaul of health care in the Sunshine State.

Tom Feeney, AIF president and CEO, released a statement Tuesday that his business group will soon host the first of a continuing series of public events where industry stakeholders will be invited to provide input on crafting a new vision for health care access and affordability in Florida.

Florida officials have yet to decide if they will appeal a federal judges decision that now blocks the state from punishing companies that do business with Castros Cuba.

Gov. Rick Scott said Tuesday that his office has yet to review Mondays decision by U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore that granted an injunction against Floridas new anti-Cuba contract law which Coral Gables-based Odebrecht USA claims violates federal law.

I havent seen it yet, but well look at that, Scott told reporters in responding to a question about Moores ruling.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Arizonas immigration law may revive Floridas 2010 effort to bring some Western justice to the Sunshine State.

In a victory for the federal government, the nations top court tossed out most of Arizonas 2010 immigration law on Monday.However, the court upheld the most controversial portion, allowing state and local law enforcement officials to verify a persons legal status when stopped on suspicion of committing a separate offense.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott didnt take any action Monday on an allegation that the three state Supreme Court justices up for merit retention violated state law by allegedly using a court employee to prepare campaign documents.

But he also isnt waiting to make up his own mind about the legality of what they did.

Asked to discuss a lawsuit filed Monday that seeks to remove the three justices from the ballot for the alleged violation, Scott didnt use the word "alleged."