A bill that would repeal a law passed last year in the state Legislature requiring the Department of Health to inspect septic tanks once every five years passed through the Senate Health Regulation Committee Tuesday.

Senators in support of Senate Bill 168 said the costs of the program would be too heavy a burden on homeowners and businesses in harsh economic times, but admitted some measures need to be taken to ensure failing septic tanks don't pollute Florida's waters.

A Republican in the Senate and a Democrat in the House have teamed up to craft a bill that would stop convicted criminals who injured or killed members of their own family from receiving inheritance or alimony benefits that they would inherit due to their actions.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, and Rep. Richard Steinberg, D-Miami Beach, based the measure on a similar law in New Jersey.

Pro-life activist Randall Terry, the founder of Operation Rescue, who may be best known to Floridians for serving as a spokesman for the parents of Teri Schiavo, announced last month that he was entering the Democratic presidential primaries to take on President Barack Obama in 2012 -- but now the Republicans are in his sights.