Senate President Joe Negron officially named a third party investigator to look into allegations state Sen. Jack Latvala harassed and groped at least six women in Tallahassee, the Senate President’s office announced Thursday.

A bill to permanently expand the state’s Bright Futures Scholarship Program passed through a key Senate committee on Thursday, receiving unanimous support from nine senators. 

Sen. Anitere Flores used her powerful position as chairwoman of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee to request favors for her mother's Hurricane Irma-damaged property, including getting a Citizens Property Insurance claims adjuster to put her mother's claim ahead of policyholders with greater damage.

Florida senators are renewing a push to require high-school students to pass a financial-literacy course before graduation, though at least two lawmakers are concerned about students being squeezed for time during the school day.