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

Jim RosicaOctober 30, 2015

Two Republican state senators have filed omnibus education legislation that, among other things, would ease eligibility requirements to play in high school athletics. Sens. Don Gaetz of Niceville and Kelli Stargel of Lakeland filed the 25-page bill (SB 684) on Friday for the 2016 Legislative Session. Lawmakers have filed legislation five years in a row aimed at the Florida […]

Jim RosicaOctober 30, 2015

State Rep. Jose Oliva, chair of the House of Representatives redistricting panel, on Friday filed a plan to redraw the state Senate districts that he said borrows from the plaintiffs’ proposal. That map now will be considered as an amendment to the map sent over by the Senate this Wednesday. Oliva’s Select Committee on Redistricting meets Monday, noon […]

Jim RosicaOctober 30, 2015

State agencies on Friday presented their financial needs for next fiscal year in a series of public hearings at the Capitol. Executive-branch departments and others send in legislative budget requests, or LBRs, in advance of the regular session, when lawmakers draw up the budget for the next fiscal year. The 2016 Legislative Session begins Jan. 12. Here are […]

Jim RosicaOctober 29, 2015

A band of “concerned citizens” – including the Republican Party of Florida’s treasurer – is asking Senate President Andy Gardiner to save the decades-old mural that greets visitors to the chamber’s public gallery. Earlier this month, Senate spokeswoman Katie Betta said the mural will be removed from the wall because it’s showing signs of age, including fading and peeling. […]

Jim RosicaOctober 29, 2015

The games are still on. The Seminole Tribe of Florida will continue to offer blackjack at its casinos despite the end of an agreement with the state allowing it to offer card games, a spokesman said Thursday. “The Tribe believes the games have been authorized for the reasons stated in the complaint, and it is seeking […]

Jim RosicaOctober 29, 2015

A Tampa lawmaker has filed a bill that would shield the identities of “witness(es) to a felony” from being released to the public. State Rep. Ed Narain, a first-term Democrat, submitted his bill (HB 475) on Thursday. The legislation creates an exemption from Florida public records law of witnesses’ “personal identifying information,” prohibiting its disclosure, including to […]

Jim RosicaOctober 29, 2015

The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday upheld a more subjective legal test for one type of product liability cases brought in the state. The court, in a case against the Union Carbide Corp., reinstated a $6.6 million judgment for a man who said he developed a form of cancer after exposure to asbestos that the company made and […]

Jim RosicaOctober 28, 2015

A bill filed Wednesday would expand the types of identification accepted at polling places in Florida. The legislation (SB 666) was submitted Wednesday by state Sen. John Legg of Trinity. It would add veterans’ health identification cards and concealed weapon licenses to “the list of acceptable forms of identification at a polling place or early voting site.” Pasco County […]

Jim RosicaOctober 28, 2015

For the first time in recent memory, a sitting Florida senator invoked the Senate Rules during a floor session to call out a colleague specifically for impugning his integrity. State Sen. Don Gaetz, a Niceville Republican and previous Senate President, raised a “question of personal privilege” to defend his honor against attacks made in the press […]

Jim RosicaOctober 28, 2015

The Florida Senate on Wednesday passed its redrawn district map by a close vote of 22-18, with all 14 Democrats and four Republicans opposed. It’s now up to the House of Representatives to OK the map as is or change it and send it back as the Special Session clock ticks to an end. “We now have […]

Jim Rosica

Far-reaching high school athletics bill filed in Senate

Fla. House files its own Senate district map

Agencies present budget requests for next year

Concern grows over removal of Senate mural

Seminole Tribe refuses to take down blackjack tables

Bill would protect names of criminal witnesses

State Supreme Court upholds “consumer expectations” test in product liability cases

Bill would expand acceptable ID to register to vote

Don Gaetz strikes back against ‘bully’ Jack Latvala

Senate passes new district map, sends to House

Florida politics had 11 questions before federal qualifying week. Here are the answers.