Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaOctober 25, 2017

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Despite concerns about its effectiveness, a House panel Wednesday unanimously cleared legislation to tweak state law on making threats online. The House Criminal Justice Subcommittee OK’d the bill (HB 165), backed by Belleview Republican Stan McClain, who said he was prompted by “the explosion of social media in our society.” State law now makes it a […]

Phil AmmannAugust 29, 2017

With a tip of the hat to LobbyTools, here are the latest movements – both on and off – of the legislative merry-go-round. Off: Sean White is no longer listed as a legislative analyst in the Senate Majority Office. On: Angela Herndon became administrative support for the House Government Accountability Committee and its subcommittees (Local, Federal & Veterans Affairs; Natural Resources […]

Phil AmmannJuly 25, 2017

With a tip of the hat to LobbyTools, here are the latest movements – both on and off – of the legislative merry-go-round. On: Amber Moody is a new support analyst for the House Office of Information Technology. Off: Michael Ellis is no longer a journal writer/editor for the Legislative Process Division. Off and on: Natasha Sutherland has […]

Jim RosicaApril 3, 2017

Free stuff is good, right? Surprisingly, not everyone agrees when it comes to beer glasses. Bills are moving in the Legislature to allow beer distributors to give away glasses from brewers imprinted with product names and logos to bars and restaurants. Now, they have to be sold. The House bill (HB 853) was first OK’d […]

Les NeuhausMarch 21, 2017

A litany of bills Tuesday show legislators intend to crack the whip on several social, criminal and commercial problems affecting the state. Each bill passed the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee, covering issues as wide ranging as child predators, domestic violence, addiction recovery homes, skimming devices, the department of corrections, probation, terrorism — and protection of […]

Les NeuhausMarch 6, 2017

As legislators in Tallahassee prepare themselves to convene their 60-day Session Tuesday, expect an assortment of proposed bills to be hashed out over the Department of Children and Families (DCF). Hot-button subjects with bipartisan support in the Senate and House include improvements in mental health and substance abuse treatment programs, working toward identifying and reducing […]

Staff ReportsMarch 5, 2017

Think of it as the last hurrah before the 2017 Legislative Session. Members of the House and Senate can’t raise money while the Legislature is session, putting a 60-day pause on fundraising each year. And while that may be good news for their most loyal contributors’ pocketbooks, it does mean you can expect a mad […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 16, 2017

A bill that would remove Florida from the federal refugee resettlement advanced in the Florida House after a party-line vote Thursday. The legislation sponsored by Deltona Republican David Santiago would direct the state’s refugee coordinator to provide notice to the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement by June 30 that it intends to withdraw from the federal program by […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 15, 2017

Addressing what he called the “obvious elephant in the room,” Florida Chamber President Mark Wilson criticized Florida House members who backed an effort to end economic incentive programs, calling the move political. “I want to be blunt for a few minutes,” said Wilson. “This is not a Legislature trying to seek how to diversify the […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 14, 2017

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The Florida Bar‘s governing board has decided to oppose legislation that would allow state lawmakers to override court decisions they don’t like. The Board of Governors adopted the stance at its Jan. 20 meeting, according to the Bar News on Tuesday. It also disapproved a companion measure aimed at federal judges who interpret state laws. State Rep. […]

Tag: Julio Gonzalez
Image via Palatka Main Street.

‘Online threats’ bill moves despite questions, concerns

Latest on the legislative staffing merry-go-round

Latest on the legislative staffing merry-go-round

Beer glass bills coming to a head

House advances bills ‘cracking the whip’ on domestic abuse, child offenders, recovery centers, terrorism

Range of DCF oversight issues, bills to be debated by Florida lawmakers this Session

Final push for fundraising before 2017 Session kicks off

House advances bill pulling Florida out of refugee assistance program

Mark Wilson calls House push to eliminate Enterprise Florida ‘a political conversation about ideology’

Florida Bar will oppose legislative ‘override’ proposals