Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Danny McAuliffeFebruary 28, 2018

As many speculate that Florida’s affordable housing issues will be exacerbated by the influx of Puerto Ricans displaced by Hurricane Maria, the state Legislature intends to sweep millions from the Sadowski Trust, which funds the state’s affordable housing programs. Speaking with reporters late Tuesday night following an organizational meeting of the newly announced budget conference, Senate […]

Ana CeballosFebruary 27, 2018

With three minutes left in the Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday, a bill mandating each judicial district in the state to implement pre-arrest diversion programs headed to the Senate floor. There was no debate on the bill (SB 1392) that would set up diversion programs with the intent of giving local law enforcement agencies a […]

Ana CeballosFebruary 27, 2018

With two weeks left in Session, the Florida Legislature on Tuesday agreed to the outline of the 2018-19 state budget that will use roughly $32 billion in state funds. At 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Conference Chairs Sen. Rob Bradley and state Rep. Carlos Trujillo will hold an organization meeting in 212 Knott Building. Conference subcommittees have […]

Ana CeballosFebruary 27, 2018

As the Florida Legislature on Tuesday turned its focus to proposals crafted in the wake of the state’s deadliest school mass shooting in Parkland, a measure that would give law enforcement officers more power to investigate deadly threats made on social media cleared the Senate Appropriations Committee. Sarasota Republican Sen. Greg Steube, who on Monday […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 27, 2018

With increasingly crowded courts and jails, few will disagree that Florida’s justice system needs improvement. Nevertheless, are statistics — and removing the human element — really the best path to reform? Among the sweeping measures moving through the Florida Legislature is a proposal for a “pretrial risk assessment” tool, which is designed to give an […]

Ana CeballosFebruary 27, 2018

A bill intended to stop companies from dodging worker’s compensation benefit payouts to undocumented workers who are injured on the job is likely dead, state Sen. Gary Farmer, the bill sponsor, said Tuesday. “I hate to wave the white flag, but it looks like I will,” the Fort Lauderdale Democrat said. The effort was born […]

Ana CeballosFebruary 26, 2018

Following a chaotic and emotional two-hour debate at the Senate Rules Committee on Monday, dozens of gun control advocates left the meeting angry and disappointed when senators voted down a ban on assault weapons. “Vote them out! Vote them out!” protesters chanted after Senate Rules Chair Lizbeth Benacquisto announced the failure of on an amendment filed […]

Ana CeballosFebruary 26, 2018

A sit-in protest over gun-control legislation erupted inside and outside the Senate Rules Committee on Monday as senators considered three contentious proposals rolled out in the wake of the deadly Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. Clad in bright orange shirts, gun control advocates wielded signs slamming the National Rifle Association. They yelled, “this is […]

Ana CeballosFebruary 26, 2018

The Florida Legislature is considering sweeping criminal justice reform measures that have come under fire by the bail bond industry, but the sponsor of one of the bills said Sunday that he is “not in the business of making bail bondsmen money.” “They are in the business of writing bonds, and their business will go […]

Ana CeballosFebruary 24, 2018

A day after Gov. Rick Scott and the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature unveiled their plans to back unprecedented new restrictions on guns in the state, the Florida Democratic Party started taking note of the Republican gubernatorial candidates who have stayed silent on the issue. Citing their “significant backing from the gun lobby,” the state party is […]

Tag: Florida Legislature

Budget remarks don’t bode well for Sadowski Trust

Pre-arrest diversion program proposals head to House, Senate floors

Budget conference begins tonight, state allocations unveiled

Florida cops could soon have more power to investigate social media threats

Are risk assessment tools — justice by algorithm — best for criminal justice reform?

Workers’ comp bill aiding injured immigrant workers likely dead, sponsor says

Senate pushes gun, school safety proposals without assault weapon ban

Protest erupts in Senate Rules Committee as gun proposals are considered

Bail bond industry, Jeff Brandes spar over sweeping justice reform bill

Fla. Democrats hammer Adam Putnam, Ron DeSantis over gun proposal silence