Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Ana CeballosJanuary 15, 2018

A Senate panel on Tuesday will consider two measures that would provide more oversight to the state’s juvenile justice system, which is under scrutiny for its widespread use of unnecessary and excessive force on youth detainees. Sen. Jeff Brandes, a Pinellas County Republican who chairs a powerful criminal justice committee, is sponsoring both bills and […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 10, 2018

In the wake of recent high-profile data breaches compromising the information of thousands of Floridians, legislators and cabinet members on Wednesday advocated for two bills that would eliminate credit report freeze fees for consumers. Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam are backing two measures proposed in the Legislature, which they say […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 9, 2018

A Senate panel on Tuesday advanced a bill that would grant people immunity for carrying small amounts of drugs if they seek medical help for an overdose. The proposal applies to individuals who are found in possession of any drug, including fentanyl and illicit opioids, if they ask for medical assistance in “good faith” when […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 4, 2018

Sen. Jeff Brandes filed a bill Wednesday that would toss a controversial “certificate of need” hospital regulatory process as the House fast-tracks an identical bill. House Republican leaders and Gov. Rick Scott, a former hospital CEO, have long supported repealing the “certificate of need,” but the effort has stalled in the Senate. This year, though, the […]

Ana CeballosDecember 28, 2017

A pair of criminal justice reform proposals are laying out an ambitious plan that could reduce crime and incarceration rates in Florida by implementing pre-arrest diversion programs statewide. Sen. Jeff Brandes, a Republican from St. Petersburg, filed a bill on Thursday that would direct all judicial circuits in the state to create and implement both […]

Danny McAuliffeDecember 15, 2017

New-Florida-Licenses_1500976290579_63344027_ver1.0_640_480.png

No one should lose their driver’s license over an infraction that isn’t related to driving. That’s the premise of a bill (SB 1270) filed Friday by St. Petersburg Republican Sen. Jeff Brandes. “It is time to address the growing problem of non-driving related license suspensions,” Brandes said in a press release announcing the bill. “Stop the […]

Mitch PerryDecember 14, 2017

It’s time to deal with privacy in the age of Alexa, Sen. Jeff Brandes says. The St. Petersburg Republican has filed legislation (SB 1256) to protect the expectation of privacy in the use of cell phones and other microphone-enabled household devices. The surge in sales of “smart speakers” like Amazon’s Echo, with its “Alexa” cloud-based voice service, […]

Mitch PerryDecember 13, 2017

democrats-revere-linda-sarsour-terrorist-apologist-trump-hatred-unites.jpg

Linda Sarsour, national co-chair of the 2017 Women’s March, has endorsed Ahmad Saadaldin in the House District 58 race in Hillsborough County taking place Dec. 19. “Temple Terrace Seffner Plant City Thonotosassa LISTEN UP. VOTE for Hussam Ahmad for State House,” Sarsour wrote on her Facebook page Tuesday. “There are only 5 days left of voting. […]

Danny McAuliffeDecember 7, 2017

Legislation providing for a review of efficiency in government procurement is making its way through the Legislature. St. Petersburg Republican Jeff Brandes’ SB 368 cleared the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government Thursday with a unanimous and undebated yes vote. Brandes’ bill — which is accompanied in the House by Wauchula Republican Rep. Ben Albritton’s […]

Mitch PerryNovember 28, 2017

At an anti-poverty conference, state Sen. Jeff Brandes said that, if possible, he thinks it could be beneficial for the Legislature to work on policies that encourage millennials to marry before having children, though he acknowledged that’s unlikely to occur. “The regulatory effects from that would be game-changing,” the St. Petersburg Republican said during the […]

Tag: Jeff Brandes
Mike Johnson. Image via AP.

Senate panel to consider juvenile ‘Fight Club’ reforms

After high-profile data breaches, legislators want to toss credit freeze fees

Florida could grant legal immunity for reporting drug overdoses

Senator files ‘certificate of need’ repeal bill, identical to House priority

Florida could soon implement pre-arrest diversion programs statewide

Bill seeks to prevent driver’s license suspensions in non-driving offenses

Jeff Brandes wants privacy protection for Echo, Google Home

Women’s March national co-chair backs Ahmad Saadaldin for HD 58

Bill to review government efficiency sails through committee

Jeff Brandes on how criminal justice reform can address generational poverty