Florida state Sen. Geraldine Thompson died Thursday following complications from knee replacement surgery, her family said. She was 76. The Orlando-area Democrat had served in the Florida Legislature since 2006.

Geraldine Thompson, a long-serving legislator and “trailblazing” civil-rights leader from Central Florida, died after complications from knee surgery, her family announced Thursday. Senate President Ben Albritton,

Two immigration-related bills were passed by the Florida Senate in an three-hour session on Thursday. The House of Representatives will take up the bills as lawmakers face a Friday deadline to get legislation passed designed to bolster the state's assistance with President Donald Trump's deportation program.

Without the waivers, the undocumented students’ tuition rate would be tripled or quadrupled to out-of-state rates.

The bills were a point of contention between DeSantis and Republican legislative leaders, but a compromise was reached. Democrats opposed the bills, arguing they are unconstitutional and politically motivated.