News Service of Florida

The ruling comes after Floridians Protecting Freedom, a political committee that led unsuccessful efforts to pass the abortion ballot measure, filed a notice that it was dropping its challenge against the state.

Disability Rights Florida claims in its lawsuit that the data would help in monitoring psychiatric hospitals. The organization says it did not receive the information after making a public records request.

The lawsuit centers on part of Florida’s Medicaid system that contracts with managed-care plans to provide what are known as home- and community-based services for people who need long-term care.

The National Council on Compensation Insurance, which makes rate filings for the industry, submitted a proposal in August that called for an overall 1 percent rate decrease.

Opponents filed the lawsuits last month in various parts of the state and sought to invalidate the failed abortion-rights ballot measure.

A federal appeals court will hear arguments Jan. 15 in a legal battle about restrictions on treatments such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy for people diagnosed with gender dysphoria.

While large numbers of voters supported Amendment 4 in areas such as Broward, Duval, Hillsborough, Miami-Dade, Orange, Palm Beach and Pinellas counties, majorities opposed it in 40 counties.

The state Agency for Health Care Administration data showed that 52,753 abortions had been reported this year as of Thursday, compared to 64,918 last year.

The cannabis company's latest $1.5 million contribution to Smart & Safe Florida provided the political committee a total of $152.27 million in cash and $959,000 in in-kind contributions.

As the campaign to get recreational marijuana in the state constitution goes into its final days, the cannabis company has funded more than $143 million of Smart & Safe Florida's war chest.