Ana Ceballos, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Ana CeballosFebruary 2, 2018

On Friday, Gov. Rick Scott appointed Andrew Fay, the special counsel and director of legislative affairs to Attorney General Pam Bondi, to the Florida Public Service Commission. The commission had been looking to fill the empty seat for some weeks after former state Rep. Ritch Workman — a Scott pick — resigned following sexual harassment allegations […]

Ana CeballosFebruary 1, 2018

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A federal judge on Thursday said the system used by the state to vet which ex-felons get to have their voting rights restored is unconstitutional. “Florida’s vote-restoration scheme is crushingly restrictive,” U.S. District Judge Mark Walker wrote in a 43-page ruling. “The scheme crumbles under strict scrutiny because it risks — if not covertly authorizes […]

Ana CeballosFebruary 1, 2018

A proposed change to a House bill that would have made it legal for some adults to have sex with children as young as 14 was tossed on Thursday after it drew criticism from a top senator. But a House panel still pushed forward a proposal that would allow certain minors to wed, moving away […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 31, 2018

The Republican-controlled Florida House on Wednesday passed a measure that would make it easier for individuals suspected in a disorderly conduct case to get their seized guns back. Under state law, a law enforcement officer has to take away the firearm found on a person who is arrested in a disorderly conduct cases, including domestic […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 31, 2018

Florida could soon repeal a requirement that says a write-in candidate must reside in the district they seek to represent at the time they qualify to run. The proposal was unanimously approved by the Florida House on Friday in large because the Florida Supreme Court invalidated the requirement in 2016. The ruling said the mandate […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 31, 2018

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In an effort that would comply with voters’ wishes, the Florida Senate on Wednesday unanimously approved a proposal that would direct $100 million to the Florida Forever land-buying program every year. “This is one of the things we can be proud of not just when we go back home, but for many years to come,” […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 31, 2018

Inspired by the story of a woman who was forced to marry her rapist at 11 years old, the Senate on Wednesday unanimously passed a bill that would ban the marriage of all minors in the state. “It closes a loophole so that children can’t be used and abused by persons who under normal circumstances […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 30, 2018

A proposal that would give judges discretion over drug trafficking mandatory minimum sentences advanced Tuesday after receiving strong pushback from a veteran Tallahassee lobbyist. “I don’t ever want to help a trafficker, no sir, and I don’t want to give a judge not one iota of an opportunity to go less on a trafficking sentence,” […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 30, 2018

Amid tough immigration talk in Florida politics this election year, state senators on Tuesday halted a bid to penalize local officials in so-called “sanctuary cities” who do not fully comply with federal immigration authorities. The Republican sponsor of the measure, Sen. Aaron Bean, requested his bill be temporarily postponed as it did not “yet meet […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 30, 2018

A House panel on Tuesday pushed forward a redraft of a workers’ compensation bill that would extend benefits to first responders suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder if they are diagnosed within two years of the work-related injury. The overhaul of the House proposal was approved at its first committee stop, with no questions or debate, […]

Ana Ceballos

Pam Bondi’s aide appointed to Public Service Commission

Judge rules Florida’s voter-restoration process is unconstitutional

House alters child marriage bill to allow some minors to wed

House votes to make it easier to return guns to certain suspects

Houses pushes repeal of unconstitutional write-in candidate requirement

Senate approves $100 million for Florida Forever land-buying program

Florida Senate unanimously votes to ban child marriages in state

Bill giving judges discretion over drug trafficking sentences moves forward

Senate stalls bill to penalize ‘sanctuary city’ local officials

House redrafts PTSD legislation to include educational component