| UNION DUES A U.S. District Court judge has ruled that Florida’s ban on the automatic deduction of union dues from employees’ paychecks is unconstitutional. The judge ruled that eliminating the decades-old payment system violated the terms of an existing contract, or collective bargaining agreement, between unions and their employer. SOCIAL MEDIA RESTRICTIONS Starting January 1, 2025, kids aged 13 and under will no longer be able to have a profile on certain social media sites. NetChoice and the Computer & Communications Industry Association filed a federal First Amendment lawsuit in October challenging the social media ban. The organizations have worked out a deal with Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody to hold off on enforcing the social media ban against platforms they represent until the U.S. District Court takes up the issue. A jury trial is scheduled for November 2025. UTILITY HURRICANE FEES The Florida Supreme Court unanimously rejected a challenge to state regulators’ approval of utility company plans to bolster the electric system to better withstand hurricanes. After Hurricanes Irma, Michael and other storms caused widespread power outages, utilities were required by the Legislature to file 10-year storm-protection plans. The Florida Office of Public Counsel, which represents consumers in utility issues, went to the Supreme Court after the 2022 approvals because it disagreed with the Public Service Commission’s process leading to the plans’ approval. |
