Jim Rosica, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaFebruary 5, 2016

The Florida Senate and House of Representatives on Friday filed their gambling legislation for the 2016 Legislative Session, including the $3 billion Seminole Compact, a proposed “voter control of gambling expansion” amendment and two different rewrites of the state’s gambling code. The Senate’s version, posted at 4:29 p.m., is 81 pages and the House’s is 102 pages. There […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 5, 2016

Beginning next Monday, Florida Surgeon General John Armstrong will issue a 2 p.m. daily update on the status of the Zika virus in the state. The weekday updates will include a count of CDC-confirmed Zika cases by county and “information to better keep Floridians prepared,” according to a Department of Health news release issued Friday. Miami-Dade County leads the […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 5, 2016

A version of “Storage Wars” came to the Capitol this week as one bill that would change the law governing self-storage facilities and involve Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater got jammed up in committee. The measure (SB 720) is stalled in the Senate after being postponed in the Regulated Industries Committee. But its House companion (HB 559) could be heard on […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 5, 2016

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Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Jorge Labarga has been re-elected by his colleagues to serve a second two-year term, the first justice to serve two consecutive terms as chief since the end of the Civil War, according to a Friday news release. “It is a privilege to serve the people of Florida,” Labarga said. “My second term will […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 5, 2016

After leaving room for doubt, the state senator in charge of overseeing gambling issues is putting the proposed Seminole Compact up for consideration. On Thursday, the Florida Senate’s website showed two proposed bills from Sen. Rob Bradley, the Fleming Island Republican who chairs the Regulated Industries Committee, set for next Tuesday’s meeting at 1:30 p.m. One (SB […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 5, 2016

Florida Solicitor General Allen Winsor has been tapped to fill a vacancy on the state’s 1st District Court of Appeal bench. Gov. Rick Scott announced the appointment on Thursday. Winsor, 39, will replace Judge Robert T. Benton, who retired last month. As solicitor general, Winsor reports to Attorney General Pam Bondi and essentially acts as the state government’s lawyer […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 4, 2016

The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday struck down as unconstitutional a state law requiring write-in candidates to live in the districts they’re running for when they qualify. The court ruled unanimously in Brinkmann v. Francois (Case No. SC14-1899), though Justices Charles Canady and Ricky Polston “concur(red) in result” only. The case involved a 2014 Broward County […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 4, 2016

Clergy members, ministers and other “religious organization” employees could legally refuse to perform gay marriages under legislation that will be considered by the full House of Representatives. The measure, which some call a “Pastor Protection Act” (HB 43), was OK’d 12-5 by the Judiciary Committee on Thursday, its final review panel. The bill, sponsored by Republican […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 4, 2016

A measure that would impose term limits on Florida’s appellate judges has cleared its last House committee, despite critics’ warnings that it will cause a brain drain on the bench. The bill (HB 197) cleared the Judiciary Committee Thursday by a vote of 11-6, sending it to the full Florida House of Representatives. To take effect, it must […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 4, 2016

A bill aimed at effectively ending permanent alimony is heading to the House floor after clearing its final committee of reference on Thursday. The Judiciary Committee approved the measure (HB 455), sponsored by Republican state Rep. Colleen Burton of Lakeland, by a 14-3 vote. Chiefly, the measure limits judges’ discretion in awarding alimony by providing guidelines for how much an ex-spouse should get and […]

Jim Rosica
Aerial photo courtesy Jesse Biter.

Legislature files gambling bills, including Seminole Compact

Zika virus spurs daily updates from Florida’s top doc

Bill would put Jeff Atwater at center of Capitol’s “Storage Wars”

Jorge Labarga to repeat as state’s chief justice

Senate schedules Seminole Compact for hearing

Rick Scott names 9 new judges, including Allen Winsor

State Supreme Court strikes down write-in residency law

“Pastor protection act” continues moving in Legislature

Judicial term limits OK’d by final House committee

House alimony reform clears final panel