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Staff ReportsJanuary 27, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott proposed $618 million in tax cuts this week, which included four back to school holidays and reducing the commercial lease tax. “Governor Scott’s ‘Fighting for Florida’s Future’ tax package includes a number of cuts which will significantly support Florida’s retailers, including a reduction in the business rent tax, cutting the business tax […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 26, 2017

A bill filed Thursday in the Florida Senate would reduce harmful discharges from Lake Okeechobee and increase water storage capacity. Senate Bill 10, filed by Republican Rob Bradley, would bond money backed with Amendment 1 funds to purchase land south of the lake for water storage. Bradley, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Environment and […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 26, 2017

So far, 2017 has been unkind to proponents of buying land south of Lake Okeechobee. That’s the takeaway from two January Senate committee meetings that have been held on the issue. In the titanic legislative battle pitting landowners, minority residents from the Glades and state and water management district officials against Senate President Joe Negron and environmental groups, the […]

Larry GriffinJanuary 25, 2017

Carlos Guillermo Smith, a UCF graduate himself, wants you to have more access to higher education – that’s why his new bill, HB 489, introduces sweeping expansions to the Bright Futures scholarship. The bill, called the “Restore Our Bright Futures” act, will return the scholarship to the levels of the 2010-11 school year and make […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 24, 2017

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A bill filed Tuesday would allow delivery drones to operate in Florida. The legislation (SB 460), however, focuses on ground drones, or “personal delivery devices.” Such a unit is defined as a “motorized device for use primarily on sidewalks and crosswalks at a maximum speed of 10 miles per hour, which weighs 50 pounds or less excluding […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 23, 2017

Is North Florida losing the water wars again? “Stand Up for North Florida” says yes, and Monday they called a presser in Tallahassee to discuss it. Their grievance is with Senate Majority Leader Joe Negron and his “plan to buy more than 60,000 acres of farmland in south Florida to build a another reservoir for water […]

Staff ReportsJanuary 19, 2017

A hush has fallen on the state capital. Sure, there’s plenty of work to do before the start of the 2017 Legislative Session. But some Florida politicos are using this week to flee Florida and head to Washington, D.C., for President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration. Gov. Rick Scott will be there. An ardent supporter of the […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 11, 2017

State Sen. Bill Galvano filed two essential bills in the Senate’s Excellence in Higher Education Agenda, which seeks to improve Florida colleges and universities while keeping schools accountable to taxpayers. The Bradenton Republican, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education, filed Senate Bills 2 and 4 Wednesday for the 2017 Legislative Session, which […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 10, 2017

A Senate spokeswoman on Tuesday said the chamber’s legislative package on gambling should be ready for hearing later this month. A meeting of the Regulated Industries Committee, which oversees gambling policy, had been set for this Thursday but was cancelled. “Based on conservations with Sen. (Bill) Galvano, President (Joe) Negron anticipates having a bill ready to […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 4, 2017

A bill to exempt fantasy sports play from state gambling regulation has again been filed in the Florida Legislature. State Rep. Jason Brodeur, a Sanford Republican, filed a measure (HB 149) on Wednesday. The bill would clarify that fantasy contests “reflect the relative knowledge and skill of the participants” and are not games of chance […]

Tag: Joe Negron

Capitol Reax: Tax cuts, certificates of need, whiskey and Wheaties, fracking

Lake Okeechobee reservoir bill filed in Florida Senate

Proposed plan to buy farmland south of Lake Okeechobee off to slow start in Florida Senate

Carlos Guillermo Smith’s ‘Restore Our Bright Futures’ act aims to help more students go to college

Jeff Brandes bill would legalize delivery drones

Group of north Florida pols takes on Joe Negron over Lake Okeechobee plan

Floridians head to D.C. for Donald Trump inauguration

Bill Galvano files two key elements of Florida Excellence in Higher Education Act

Senate readies this year’s gambling bill

Fantasy sports bill filed again in Legislature