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

Ana CeballosJanuary 18, 2018

Two years after a state law established a sterile needle and syringe exchange pilot program in Miami-Dade County, lawmakers are trying to expand the single-county program to other parts of the state. In an effort to abate a growing opioid epidemic, state Rep. Shevrin Jones said his bill would act a “liaison” to myriad of […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 18, 2018

Florida would have the strictest lobbying ban in the nation under a proposed constitutional amendment that House Speaker Richard Corcoran is pushing Constitutional Revision Commission appointees to support. Corcoran, who prides himself in running a “House of Reformers,” is seeking to close the revolving door between lobbyists and legislators by implementing a six-year lobbying ban […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 17, 2018

House Speaker Richard Corcoran, a supporter of the Trump administration’s immigration crack down, wants federal prosecutors to “immediately” investigate two Democrat elected officials in Florida for supporting so-called sanctuary cities. “Unfortunately, my state of Florida has two elected mayors — one in Tallahassee and another in St. Petersburg — who’ve publicly stated and continues to […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 17, 2018

A House panel on Wednesday adopted a “strike-all” amendment to a bill that would change regulatory requirements governing the payday-lending industry, which consumer advocates criticize for creating “debt traps” for poor Floridians. The proposal would comply with new federal rules set last year by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau last year meant to ensure lenders […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 17, 2018

A pair of measures that would reform the state campaign finance system, including barring Gov. Rick Scott and Cabinet members from raising money during Session, cleared a House panel on Wednesday with bipartisan support. State Rep. Evan Jenne said his proposal, HB 707, is a “common sense rule” and not “an indictment or finger pointing” […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 16, 2018

Lawmakers are trying to put into statute a Scott administration resolution that has blocked state funds from flowing into companies that do business with the Nicolas Maduro regime. The House bill has rocketed through its committee assignments and is ready for a floor vote and a similar bill in the Senate is now starting its […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 16, 2018

Two measures that would preempt local regulations on vacation rentals featured on sites like Airbnb are facing backlash from the bed and breakfast industry which claims short-term rentals are a “serious risk” to tourists. “We urge our lawmakers not to put Florida’s world-class lodging reputation at risk for illegal commercial operators,” said Carol Dover, the […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 16, 2018

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Former Sen. Jack Latvala sent sexually explicit text messages and groped a Senate legislative aide with whom he had a 20-year relationship with, according to a Miami Herald report published Tuesday. Laura McLeod, an aide to Sen. Lauren Book, is the latest to publicly accuse Latvala of sexual misconduct. Her interactions with the Republican is […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 15, 2018

First responders diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder could be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits even if they don’t have physical injuries under proposed legislation that will be considered Tuesday by a Senate panel. Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, the head of the state agency that ensures businesses have workers’ compensation coverage for employees, said his […]

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 Ceballos

Lawmakers want to expand University of Miami needle exchange program

Richard Corcoran pushes constitutional panel to support 6-year lobbying ban

Richard Corcoran to DHS: ‘Immediately’ investigate Andrew Gillum, Rick Kriseman

Payday lending bill moves ahead in House

Campaign finance reforms advance with bipartisan support

Venezuela divestment bills moving ahead in Legislature

Lawmakers want to toss ‘patchwork’ of local vacation rental regulations

Jack Latvala’s latest accuser remembers thinking: ‘I’m trapped again’

Jimmy Patronis backs expanding PTSD benefits for first responders

Senate panel to consider juvenile ‘Fight Club’ reforms