DeSantis Pushes to Repeal Red Flag Law & Tampa Investors Pursue Rays Ownership
March 13, 2025 — This Week's News from Central Florida
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Here’s the latest from Central Florida…
DeSantis Pushes to Repeal Red Flag Law, Enact Open Carry
Governor Ron DeSantis has taken a firm stance on expanding gun rights during Florida’s 2025 legislative session, which began last week. In his State of the State address on March 4, he called for a broad agenda that aimed at rolling back key gun safety measures enacted in recent years after the 2018 Parkland school shooting. Among his most controversial proposals is repealing the state’s red flag law, formally known as risk protection orders, which allows courts to temporarily remove firearms from individuals deemed a threat to themselves or others. Enacted with bipartisan support under former Governor Rick Scott, the law permits law enforcement to petition courts for gun removal. It was used nearly 10,000 times from July 2022 through 2024, per statewide data. DeSantis argues the law violates due process, shifting the burden of proof from the government to gun owners. However, Senate President Ben Albritton (R-Wauchula) opposes repeal, citing the importance of risk protection orders in preventing potential tragedies and law enforcement’s overwhelming support of the law. Pro-gun groups like the Gun Owners of America claim the law is misused in domestic disputes like divorce and child custody hearings. Conversely, Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, who is chairperson of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission, defends the law, stating it has "unquestionably averted violence." Despite DeSantis' push, no repeal legislation has been filed by lawmakers in the current session. The governor is also calling for the open carry of firearms and lowering the minimum age for rifle purchases from 21 to 18, another law that followed the deadly Parkland shooting. House Speaker Daniel Perez (R-Miami) supports reducing the age requirement, but Senate President Albritton remains hesitant on the measure. Past attempts to lower the age for rifle purchases have cleared the House during the last two legislative sessions but have stalled without support in the Senate. An open carry law has historically faced even greater resistance, with Gov. DeSantis’ multi-year effort to pressure lawmakers into making the changes leading to little progress. Even First Lady Casey DeSantis weighed in on the issue ahead of the legislative session, urging the GOP supermajority to prioritize the measure. However, Republican legislative leaders including Senate President Albritton have opposed open carry, aligning with the Florida Sheriffs Association's prior stance against it. Florida is currently one of only five states that fully prohibit open carry, alongside New York, Illinois, Connecticut, and parts of California.
Tampa Investors Pursue Rays Ownership, Commit to St. Pete Stadium
Two Tampa-based groups have emerged as potential buyers for the Tampa Bay Rays, both expressing interest in keeping the team in the region. Joe Molloy, a former New York Yankees executive, is leading one group committed to pursuing the planned St. Petersburg stadium deal. "We have assembled an incredible team that shares our vision," Molloy told the Tampa Bay Times, declining to name group members due to non-disclosure agreements. The investors reportedly would like to keep the Rays in St. Petersburg and move forward with the redevelopment of downtown St. Pete. According to The Athletic, the Tampa-based DeBartolo family is part of the prospective buyers–a family known for their ownership in professional sports teams and commercial real estate development. A second group, represented by Tampa attorney Carter McCain, is also interested in purchasing the baseball franchise, envisioning a large-scale entertainment complex built around a new stadium. While they plan to keep the Rays in Tampa Bay, the group’s representative did not specify whether Tampa, St. Petersburg, or another location was preferred for the new stadium. McCain compared the proposed concept to Las Vegas' Sphere, featuring hotels, restaurants, and a music venue. Sources say the second group of investors is being led by someone well-respected in the baseball community and who has spoken with Major League Baseball officials about their interest in the Rays. They are prepared to make a “multi-billion dollar commitment with primarily private funding,” their representative said. The developments come amid reports that MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred and other team owners are pressuring Rays owner Stuart Sternberg to sell the team despite his previous public statements denying any intent to sell. Sternberg faces a March 31 deadline to proceed with the new $1.3 billion stadium deal in St. Petersburg.
Bill Targets Corporate Ownership of Single-Family Homes
A new bill filed in the Florida House of Representatives, HB 401, aims to curb corporate ownership of single-family homes and ease housing affordability concerns for Floridians. Introduced by Rep. Berny Jacques (R-Seminole), the Strengthening Homeownership Act seeks to address rising housing costs driven by Wall Street-backed landlords. “When you have corporations buying up single-family homes meant to be residential, it takes away from the supply and therefore has an impact on cost,” Jacques said. The bill creates a new classification, “single-family hybrid housing,” for corporate-owned rental homes, allowing local governments to restrict corporate-owned rentals in certain neighborhoods through zoning rules. Small-scale landlords with three or fewer properties would be exempt. The legislation follows a Tampa Bay Times report revealing that corporations own over 117,000 homes statewide, contributing to rising rents, costlier homes, and even gentrification. Critics argue the bill could limit rental options and would not apply to existing corporate-owned properties. Meanwhile, supporters praise its focus on protecting prospective home buyers and stabilizing communities.
Florida Housing Market Hits Peak with 172K Homes for Sale
Florida's housing market reached a 13-year peak in January 2025, with over 172,000 homes available for sale. According to Redfin, this represents a 22.7% increase from the previous year and the highest number since records began in 2012. Several factors contribute to this surge, including new condo safety regulations, increased home construction, and rising insurance costs forcing some homeowners to sell. The abundance of options has led to longer listing times and a buildup of inventory. Major cities saw significant increases in active listings: Fort Lauderdale up 27.2%, West Palm Beach up 19.5%, and Orlando up 24.5%. Statewide, active listings rose 19.4% to 212,437, approaching the all-time high set in 2019. This data indicates a shift towards a buyer's market, offering more options and increased negotiating power.
DeSantis Cautions Donalds on Skipping Votes Amid Governor Bid
Governor Ron DeSantis issued a subtle jab at U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Naples) last week, urging the Republican lawmaker to prioritize congressional duties over his newly announced 2026 gubernatorial campaign. This advice comes despite DeSantis' own history of absenteeism during his 2018 gubernatorial run. Both Trump-endorsed Florida politicians, DeSantis and Donalds share similar career trajectories. However, the term-limited Florida governor now emphasizes the importance of Donalds focusing on his current role to enact President Trump’s agenda, citing the narrow Republican majority in Congress. "We have such a narrow majority that to be trying to campaign other places and missing these votes I think is not something that's advisable at all," DeSantis stated at a recent news conference. Ironically, during his 2018 campaign, DeSantis ranked in the 98th percentile for missed votes among U.S. representatives from July to September. The governor’s warning comes as he is eyeing his wife Casey for a 2026 gubernatorial bid, seeming to retain his influence on steering the direction of state politics despite Donalds’ rising profile fueled by Trump’s nod.
Bartow Residents Rally Against 2,245-Home Development
Residents of Bartow are speaking out against a proposed 2,245-home development called Emilie Springs, citing concerns over increased traffic, strain on local schools, and heightened flood risks. A Change.org petition opposing the development has attracted nearly 1,300 signatures, while frustrated locals have voiced heated concerns on social media. The proposed Emilie Springs community would be built in phases over five to ten years. The developer, CBD Real Estate Investment, has applied for a zoning change, land-use amendment, and annexation for property near the two-lane State Road 60 and Peace Creek canal. The project could bring about 5,000 more cars and 10,000 additional residents to Bartow, a city with a population of 20,000 people. Many residents criticize the lack of communication about recent meetings with the city and the developer throughout the application and site plan process. City officials confirmed the project will go before the Planning and City Commissions within 90 days, allowing public input. “There will be plenty of time for citizens to express their point of view,” a city official said.
FSU Settles with ACC, Ending Legal Dispute
Florida State University and Clemson University have reached a settlement with the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), concluding over a year of contentious litigation that began with the school’s challenging the ACC’s financial structure and long-term media rights agreement. The agreement introduces a new revenue-sharing model and reduces exit fees for schools leaving the conference before 2036. The settlement allows Clemson and FSU to remain full ACC members while dismissing all pending lawsuits. At its core, the deal includes a revised financial distribution system that rewards teams based on TV viewership for football and men’s basketball, incentivizing top-performing programs. The new revenue model will allocate 60% of media earnings into a pool favoring teams with higher TV ratings over a five-year period. Exit fees, previously as high as $700 million, have been lowered to $165 million for 2026, decreasing annually to $75 million by 2030-31.
DeSantis Announces $1.5M for Winter Haven Rail Project
Governor Ron DeSantis has awarded a $1.5 million Florida Job Growth Grant to Winter Haven for a rail expansion project at the Central Florida Integrated Logistics Park. The funds will support the construction of a 4,450-foot rail spur connecting the CSX Winter Haven Intermodal Terminal to the 930-acre industrial complex. In announcing the award, DeSantis stated the project has a high potential for return on investment and job creation by allowing businesses to grow operations in the area. Bruce Lyon, President of Winter Haven Economic Development Council, called it "an important milestone" that will enhance appeal for businesses in the park by giving them direct access to ship and distribute their products via rail. The project, estimated to cost $3 million in total, is a public-private partnership involving the city, Tratt Properties, Evansville Western Railway, and CSX. It aims to attract new businesses and expand existing operations in the park, which currently houses Coca-Cola and Florida Caribbean Distillers, with Niagara Bottling set to break ground on a 1.2 million-square-foot warehouse soon.
Prominent Tampa Lawyer Tapped as New U.S. Attorney for Middle District of Florida
Tampa’s Greg Kehoe, a seasoned defense attorney and former federal prosecutor, is slated to become the U.S. Attorney for Florida’s Middle District, per court papers recently filed. Kehoe disclosed his appointment in a motion to withdraw from representing a defendant in an Orlando federal case. The 70-year-old attorney has an extensive legal background, including past roles as first assistant U.S. Attorney in Tampa, legal adviser investigating war crimes by Saddam Hussein’s regime, and work on international tribunals in The Hague, Netherlands. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida prosecutes federal crimes across a 35-county region stretching from Jacksonville to Naples. If formally nominated by President Trump, Kehoe must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate but may serve as acting U.S. Attorney in the interim.
Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival Returns with Star-Studded Concert Lineup
Busch Gardens' annual Food & Wine Festival is back for its 10th year, featuring a diverse lineup of concerts and culinary delights from around the world. The festival, which runs Fridays through Sundays from March 7 to May 18, will host free concerts with admission, including performances by Flo Rida, Luis Fonsi, The Commodores, and Village People. This year's festival will showcase dishes from various regions, including the Caribbean, India, Spain, and Chile. Food tastings, ranging from $6 to $12, will be paired with wine and cocktail suggestions. The festival will also feature specialty booths, such as the Bourbon Barn, offering flights of cocktails and bourbon tastings. The concert series will take place on Festival Field, with VIP seating available for $39.99.
Here’s this year’s performers:
March 15 - Flo Rida
March 21 - Joe Nichols
March 22 - Luis Fonsi
March 23 - The Commodores
March 28 - Easton Corbin & Matt Stell
March 29 - Edwin McCain
April 4 - Soulja Boy & Paul Wall
April 5 - Village People
April 12 - Michael Ray
April 13 - Fuel & Lit
April 19 - Plain White T’s
April 26 - Blackberry Smoke
April 27 - Mitchell Tenpenny & Graham Barham
May 3 - Third Eye Blind
May 4 - Robin Thicke
May 10 - Grand Funk Railroad
May 11 - TBA
May 16 - Hoobastank
May 17 - Justin Moore
Zephyrhills Opens First New Park in 40 Years
Zephyrhills celebrated the opening of Hercules Park last month, its first new park in four decades. This $7.6 million facility, located at 38100 County Road 54, offers a nature-inspired playground, a multi-tiered splash pad, walking trails, pavilions, and restrooms. The park's design pays homage to Zephyrhills' history, incorporating elements that recognize the Hercules Powder Co., once the city’s largest employer that provided employee housing on the site. Constructed in 14 months by Wharton-Smith, with design by Kimley-Horn, the park replaces the former Hercules Aquatic Center, which closed in 2009.
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