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

Jim RosicaJanuary 4, 2016

A new year brings two new laws to Florida’s statute books. Bills passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor often go into effect immediately or on July 1, the start of the state’s fiscal year. Some, however, go into effect the first day of the next calendar year. This year, only two measures meet […]

Jim RosicaDecember 31, 2015

The north Florida city of Gretna is siding with the operators of a racetrack there, arguing that the facility is “entitled to a license to operate slot machines.” The city filed a friend-of-the-court brief Thursday to the Florida Supreme Court in a challenge to a 1st District Court of Appeal decision that said various Florida dog and horse tracks […]

Jim RosicaDecember 30, 2015

From palace intrigues to pot, 2015 brought a plethora of material to the Capitol Press Corps. Trying to pick the top 10 state government stories is a subjective pursuit, to say the least, but here are the FloridaPolitics.com picks for the passing year: No. 1: The “firing” of Gerald Bailey Gov. Rick Scott actually forced […]

Jim RosicaDecember 30, 2015

Julie Jones: The head of the embattled state Department of Corrections has been making headlines since her appointment this January, and 2016 promises a no less busy year. Reports of inmate deaths and abuses and criminal activity behind bars have been unfortunate staples of prisons coverage. Earlier this year, Republican state Sen. Greg Evers grew so concerned […]

Jim RosicaDecember 30, 2015

Two Republican lawmakers have filed legislation allowing for private companies to invest in the state’s social services and other programs with the opportunity to make a profit “only if there are proven results.” State Rep. Chris Sprowls of Palm Harbor and state Sen. Aaron Bean of Fernandina Beach filed bills (HB 1049/SB 1200) in their respective chambers. The […]

Jim RosicaDecember 30, 2015

Supporters of a proposed constitutional amendment on solar power now say they have 1 million signatures, further ensuring the question will be on the 2016 ballot. “More than 1 million Florida voters have gone on record in support of our Smart Solar amendment,” Consumers for Smart Solar co-chair Dick Batchelor said in a prepared statement released Wednesday. “We are […]

Jim RosicaDecember 30, 2015

An open-government advocate is suing the Florida Department of Health, saying the agency is wrongfully withholding public records related to the state’s awarding of licenses to grow medical marijuana in the state. The case is about applications for the licenses, most pages of which — despite being posted on the department’s public website — have been blacked […]

Jim RosicaDecember 29, 2015

As if we didn’t have enough grifts to be on guard for, now the scammers are using phony “tech support” calls, according to a Tuesday consumer alert from the Florida Office of Financial Regulation. The con goes like this, according to OFR spokeswoman Jamie Mongiovi: The mark gets a call from someone “posing as technical support staff […]

Jim RosicaDecember 29, 2015

The head of the Florida House of Representatives’ Democrats has filed legislation to protect the state’s black bears in the wake of a contentious state hunt. State Rep. Mark Pafford of West Palm Beach submitted the bill (HB 1055) on Tuesday. Pafford leads the chamber’s 39 Democrats. His bill, the “Florida Black Bear Habitat Restoration Act,” would find […]

Jim RosicaDecember 29, 2015

A proposed constitutional amendment has crossed the 500,000 signatures line on its way to being approved for voter consideration on the 2016 ballot. The utility-backed Consumers for Smart Solar is sponsoring the amendment titled “Rights of Electricity Consumers Regarding Solar Energy Choice.” As of Tuesday morning, it had reported 513,375 valid signatures, according to the state Division of […]

Jim Rosica

Two new laws added to state’s books

City of Gretna files brief in slots case, sides with local track

Jim Rosica’s top 10 stories of 2015 in state government

Jim Rosica’s 5 people to watch in state government in 2016

Legislation would allow for private capital in state’s social services

Solar amendment backers say they have 1 million signatures

Health Department sued over medical marijuana records

State regulators warn of phony phone calls from “tech support”

Mark Pafford files black bear legislation

Solar amendment now at 75 percent of needed signatures