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

Jim RosicaMarch 9, 2018

The House’s turn to deal in talks toward an omnibus gambling bill produced an proposal for five new “limited gaming” licenses for either 500 slots or designated player games—but not both. And designated player games, a hybrid of poker and blackjack that’s proved lucrative to pari-mutuel cardrooms, would be banned everywhere else. And no new pari-mutuel, […]

Jim RosicaMarch 9, 2018

The maneuvering toward comprehensive gambling legislation continues, with the Senate seeing the House offer to create three new slot machine licenses, and raising them three more. The Conference Committee on Gaming met again Friday morning. Out of the mix so far is expressly allowing fantasy sports play in the state, and allowing continued play of designated player games, […]

Jim RosicaMarch 9, 2018

The House’s first stab on comprehensive gambling legislation this year includes a spartan offer to the Senate of only three new slot machine licenses for pari-mutuels in counties that OK’d slots in local referendums. The Conference Committee on Gaming met for the first time Thursday evening; Rep. Mike La Rosa was elected chair. The proposal […]

Jim RosicaMarch 8, 2018

Updated 12:10 p.m. — On a voice vote, the House approved going to conference on the gaming bill, with Mike La Rosa named chair of the House contingent. He chairs the Tourism & Gaming Control Subcommittee. As of 2 p.m., a conference had not been noticed. Updated 6:45 p.m. — The conference committee picked La Rosa as chair, […]

Jim RosicaMarch 7, 2018

After the Florida House passed contentious legislation Wednesday that would arms school personnel and create unprecedented gun restrictions in the state, members took a moment to applaud Andrew Pollack, the father of a girl shot dead at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. The hastily crafted bill, HB 7026, passed the Republican-controlled House on a 67-50 […]

Jim RosicaMarch 7, 2018

The Florida Senate on Wednesday passed the latest version of comprehensive gambling legislation for 2018, and asked the House to go into conference to bang out a compromise. Bill sponsor Travis Hutson offered an amendment to the House bill (HB 7067) that already passed off the floor. The chamber OK’d it 22-10, sending it back. Hutson—a St. Augustine […]

Jim RosicaMarch 7, 2018

A consortium of pari-mutuel owners is working on a proposal to increase the money they give to the state if lawmakers agree to grant slot machines in counties that OK’d them in local referendums, industry sources told Florida Politics early Wednesday. The play is to match or beat the revenue share—estimated at $200 million-$300 million […]

Jim RosicaMarch 7, 2018

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Gov. Rick Scott said he will sign a measure to expand workers’ compensation benefits to first responders who suffer job-related post-traumatic stress disorder. Scott made the announcement early Wednesday at a “Ringing of the Bell” ceremony for Florida’s fallen firefighters at The Capitol. The legislation (SB 376) is a priority of Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, also the state’s Fire […]

Jim RosicaMarch 7, 2018

The House began debate Wednesday on the Legislature’s school safety bill, hastily crafted in response to the Valentine’s Day shooting at Broward County’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that claimed 17 lives. The day before, the Republican-controlled chamber beat down a slew of amendments on the measure (SB 7026), including one aimed at deleting a ‘guardian program’ […]

Jim RosicaMarch 6, 2018

The House spent three hours just on questions on a contentious $400 million school safety proposal passed by the Senate on Monday. House members took up the bill (SB 7026) Tuesday, with Democrats peppering Speaker-designate José Oliva with questions, many of them duplicative. “Asked and answered,” Speaker pro tempore Jeanette Nuñez said several times. She was in […]

Jim Rosica

House strikes back on gambling: Five ‘limited gaming’ licenses

Senate raises gambling offer to six slots licenses

House makes modest offer toward gambling compromise

Lawmakers going to conference on gaming

On 67-50 vote, House sends contentious gun, school safety bill to governor

Senate passes gambling bill, requests conference

As Session creeps to close, blockbuster gambling deal emerges

Rick Scott says he’ll sign first responders’ benefits bill

School safety bill up for vote in House

House begins deliberations on post-Parkland measure