The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments on June 8 in Florida's lawsuit against the federal health-care law, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Thursday.

U.S. District Court Judge Roger Vinson declared the law unconstitutional last month. Florida and 25 other states have brought the suit against the federal government over the health care law passed by Democrats in 2010.

The Senate Budget Committee voted to cut the ad valorem tax rates of the state's water management districts to the tune of $210.5 million, increasing its oversight of the bodies for good measure.

The move got the unanimous approval of the committee, and would allow the Legislature to annually review and authorize the millage rates of each of Florida's five water management districts. Currently the WMDs, which are made up of unelected board members appointed by the governor, arrange and adopt their own budgets and tax rates.

The Senate Budget Committee passed a reworking of the state's pension system Thursday over the objections of several state workers and union officials.

The overhaul of the pension system calls on workers to contribute 3 percent of their salary toward their pension. It moved through the committee on a 12-8 vote, with Republicans Mike Fasano of New Port Richey and Thad Altman of Melbourne joining the six Democrats on the committee in voting against it.

In a decision that could affect the issuance of future specialty license plates in Florida, a federal judge overturned the state's rejection of a Confederate tag.

Judge John Antoon said the state acted unconstitutionally in rejecting a specialty plate for the Sons of Confederate Veterans. The group had paid the requisite fees and complied with all conditions applicable to the sale of the tag, but the Legislature blocked its issuance.