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New State Laws Kick In on July 1st

June 29, 2010 - Thursday is the first day of July and dozens of new laws will take effect. The laws affect homeowners and renters; Teachers and students; Pot smokers and poker players.

Among the highlights:

High school students will now have to pass end-of course exams in certain core area including biology, algebra and geometry in order to graduate. 9th and 10th graders will no longer have to take the math and science portion of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, the FCAT.

Homeowners will now pay less in taxes if they sell their homes in a so-called short sale, when the sale price is less than the amount owed on the home. Renters can now be evicted if their landlord fails to pay homeowner of condo association fees. 

No-limits poker will be legal in Florida after Thursday. The high stakes games will be offered at the Seminole Tribe’s casinos in Hollywood, Tampa and three other locations. The Seminole casinos will be open 24 hours a day, every day of the year.  The new law also allows poker at pari-mutuel facilities such as horse tracks, dog tracks, and jai alai frontons.

Also, it will no longer be legal to sell bongs or pipes that could be used to smoke marijuana or other illicit drugs.

 

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