State Budget Includes Millions for Northwest Florida Projects

Pensacola, FL (NewsRadio 92.3) -- The proposed $115 billion dollar state budget includes more than thirty million dollars in funding for Northwest Florida projects sponsored by Senator Don Gaetz.

The University of West Florida is the largest beneficiary, with 9.25 million dollars earmarked for infrastructure, cybersecurity, and digital credentials. Pensacola State College would receive five-point-five million for a new health science and nursing center and expanded military education services.

Other funded projects include two million dollars for storm hardening at Baptist Gulf Breeze Hospital, three million for research at Andrews Institute, and seven-hundred-fifty-thousand each for Re-entry Pensacola and Pensacola Veterans and Families Mental Health. The budget still needs final legislative approval and the Governor's signature, which is expected on Friday.

Patronis Files Bill to Legalize Machine Guns; Comments on Permanent Daylight Savings Time; and more in Newsradio 92.3 Interview

Escambia County, FL (NewsRadio 92.3) -- Northwest Florida Congressman Jimmy Patronis joined Pensacola Morning News Tuesday with a wide-ranging interview covering a provocative new gun bill, the latest on permanent daylight-saving time, veterans' legislation, and housing policy.

Firearm Freedom Act

Patronis filed the Firearm Freedom Act last week — a bill that would repeal the federal provision restricting civilian ownership of machine guns, effectively allowing anyone legally permitted to own a firearm to purchase a fully automatic weapon. Patronis says the idea came through constituent outreach and he decided to file it as a standalone bill. He says he's also co-sponsoring two national concealed carry reciprocity bills as part of a broader push to reduce restrictions on gun ownership. The bill is new and has not yet drawn reaction from fellow members of Congress.

Permanent Daylight Saving Time

The push to eliminate the twice-yearly clock change is gaining momentum. Patronis says Senator Rick Scott has the bill teed up in the Senate and House sponsors from the Sarasota area have already moved the companion bill out of committee. President Trump has publicly backed the effort. Florida's legislature previously passed its own version but federal action is required to make the change nationwide. Patronis says the bill appears on track and called it time to rip the bandaid off.

Major Richard Starr Act

Patronis says the Major Richard Starr Act — which would allow disabled veterans to collect both disability and retirement benefits simultaneously — is expected to be folded into a broader veterans package moving through Congress in the coming weeks. He says Secretary of Veterans Affairs has publicly advocated for the legislation.

Road to Housing Act

A bipartisan bill limiting corporate home ownership — HR 6644 — remains hung up between the Senate and House over free market language concerns. Patronis says a provision requiring investment groups to sell residential properties after seven years was removed from the bill. He says there's a fine line between preventing housing monopolies and discouraging legitimate real estate investment.

Anti-Weaponization Fund

Patronis says a 1.776 billion dollar settlement establishing an anti-weaponization fund is drawing scrutiny from the Senate. He acknowledged concerns about the administration settling with itself but stopped short of opposing the measure outright — saying Congress may need to step in to establish oversight guardrails.

Memorial Day

Patronis attended a Memorial Day ceremony in Fort Walton Beach Monday with roughly 300 people in attendance. He said his remarks focused on gold star families — those who have lost loved ones in military service — and said Memorial Day carries special weight in Northwest Florida given the concentration of military families in the region.

Click here to listen to the full interview.

Florida Tourism Slightly Down in First Quarter but Overseas Visitors at Record High

Tallahassee, FL -- Florida saw slightly fewer tourists in the first three months of the year compared to the same period in twenty-twenty-five. Visit Florida reports an estimated thirty-nine-point-nine million visitors in the first quarter — down about one percent from last year. Canadian travel dropped more than twelve percent, likely tied to ongoing tensions over trade and tariffs. However, overseas visitors hit a record high for the quarter at two-point-three million — up more than eight percent — with travel from the United Kingdom and Ireland both seeing double-digit increases.