State of Florida

Sunday is the mid-point of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. AccuWeather expects at least one or two more tropical storms or hurricanes to hit hit the U.S.

While Idalia caused major damage to some municipalities, it had less of an impact than feared since it hit less densely populated areas than Hurricane Ian did last year.

Florida led the nation in payroll growth in July, Wells Fargo said in a Friday report, which noted most of the upturn was in the healthcare and professional and the scientific and technical services sectors while leisure and hospitality shed jobs.

The affirmation reflects Florida's "sound financial management practices, high gap-closing capacity and reserves, and low long-term liability," Fitch said.

A $40 billion White House supplemental funding request includes $12 billion for FEMA's disaster relief fund, but critics say it may be safer to consider the measure alone.

"The main climate factors expected to influence the 2023 Atlantic hurricane activity are the ongoing El Nino and the warm phase of the Atlantic Multi-Decadal Oscillation, including record-warm Atlantic sea surface temperatures," said NOAA's Matthew Rosencrans.

The bond division undertook two transactions last week to retire outstanding taxable public education capital outlay and state revolving fund bonds. The transactions used $200 million in program funds, along with additional money, to pay down $400 million in state debt.

The Florida Insurance Guaranty Association is getting ready to head back to the market next week with a variable-rate bond deal after successfully selling fixed-rate bonds last week to help fund claims from insolvent insurance companies.

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity said the state unemployment rate in May was steady at 2.6% for the fifth straight month, the lowest among the 10 largest states in the nation.

"This recent escalation of the Disney-DeSantis fight is unnerving, but it doesn't make that fight any more consequential for the municipal market," said Justin Marlowe of the University of Chicago.

"When the rating agencies developed and rolled out their ESG scores, they said their ESG scores would not impact an issuer's credit rating. We are holding them to their word," said Ben Watkins, director of the state Division of Bond Finance.

The state Senate on Tuesday gave a green light to the general appropriations act, which now goes into a constitutionally required 72-hour cooling off period before a Friday vote.

The Florida Legislature has passed a law that bans the issuance of municipal bonds, such as green bonds that use environmental, social or governance criteria. The bill now heads to Gov. Ron DeSantis for his signature.

"Florida may have the statutory authority to abrogate an agreement, but  what does that say for things going forward?" asks Joseph Krist, publisher of Muni Credit News. "Why couldn't an anti-development administration do the same thing in reverse to somewhere like the Villages?"

The bill would create a state investment fund and establish a debt reduction program to be administered by the Division of Bond Finance.

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed the bill to rename the Reedy Creek Improvement District and end Disney's self-governance. Separately, the Legislature will look at prohibiting the issuance of environmental, social and governance bonds and using associated ratings.

"The main point is that this is a change primarily in name only," said Ben Watkins, head of the state's Bond Division. "There will be no impact on debt whatsoever."

"Our budget proposal not only builds on the successes of the past four years, but ensures that Florida will continue to thrive," said Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The Miami area unemployment rate fell to 1.4% in December and saw the second-highest number of private-sector job gains in the state on a year-over-year basis.

The state's benchmark debt ratio for debt service to revenue is at 3.78% — well below a 6% target and 7% limit.