Florida Policy Index

North Carolina recently became the first state to explicitly incorporate federally regulated prediction markets into its state budget by imposing a 6 percent tax on operators' net trading fee revenue. While the immediate fiscal impact is expected to be modest, the policy significance is far greater. For the first time, a state has acknowledged prediction markets not simply as a regulatory issue, but as a legitimate component of its future revenue framework.

Florida’s 2026 infrastructure and regulatory framework is not designed for incremental growth—it is engineered to attract hyperscale, AI-driven data center development. The shift is deliberate, and it is already reshaping where capital flows.

For years, the digital economy was defined by its lack of physical constraints. Cloud computing, mobile platforms, and software-driven services created the perception of a system that could scale without friction—light, flexible, and largely detached from the physical world. Artificial intelligence is reversing that model.

Heated tobacco products (HTPs) and other nicotine alternatives are designed to reduce exposure to harmful toxicants by eliminating combustion—the primary driver of smoking-related disease. Backed by extensive scientific research, engineering, and regulatory submissions, these products represent a fundamentally different risk profile than traditional cigarettes. Yet, public policy has been slow to reflect that distinction.

The company is also expected to unveil the location of its first flagship IQOS store in Florida later this year. IQOS is Philip Morris International’s leading heat-not-burn product designed for adult smokers seeking a smoke-free alternative. The Florida location will serve as a key retail hub as PMI continues expanding its presence in the U.S. market.

Congressional Republicans are rallying behind Zyn, a leading brand of flavored oral nicotine pouches, following Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s call for federal agencies to investigate its marketing and health effects.

The legislation represents a significant change in Florida law. For decades, regulation of smoking had been largely preempted to the state, preventing local governments from adopting their own restrictions on smoking in public outdoor spaces. HB 105 creates a limited exception by allowing local governments to adopt ordinances restricting the use of cigarettes and electronic smoking devices at public beaches and parks within their jurisdictions.