Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Ana CeballosNovember 29, 2017

All opioid prescription containers sold at pharmacies would need red warning labels stating the addictive nature of the drug under a bill sponsored by state Rep. Joseph Geller. “With such a large portion of our citizens exposed to these prescriptions, adding these common sense protections for those receiving opioids is a small step we can […]

Jim RosicaNovember 29, 2017

Screen-Shot-2016-02-18-at-6.01.08-PM-1024x1024.png

Candidates for legislative office would have to live in their districts when they qualify to run under a constitutional change cleared Wednesday. The Constitution Revision Commission‘s Legislative Committee OK’d the proposal (P50), filed by Commissioner and former state Rep. Jose Felix Diaz, unanimously and without debate. Diaz also chairs the committee. The constitution now says a […]

Jim RosicaNovember 29, 2017

The main backer of a proposed constitutional amendment that would automatically restore some felons’ voting rights after they complete their sentences told Florida Politics his effort now has collected over 900,000 signatures. “Knowing that we set the goal of collecting 1 million, the fact that we are less than 100,000 petitions away from our goal […]

Ana CeballosNovember 28, 2017

A review panel is flirting with the idea of implementing a vexed employment verification system into the state constitution to weed out undocumented immigrants before they enter the workforce. The proposal (P29) cleared the Constitution Revision Commission’s General Provisions Committee on Tuesday, following a long stretch of public comment with clashing viewpoints on the federal […]

Jim RosicaNovember 28, 2017

Business interests brought out a panoply of former state officials, judges and others Tuesday to heap criticism on a proposed state constitutional amendment to expand the right to bring environmental-related lawsuits. But one environmental advocate countered there was no potential for a “parade of horribles” to come out of the amendment. The Florida Chamber of […]

Jim RosicaNovember 28, 2017

A review panel has killed a proposed constitutional amendment that would have added financial oversight duties to the state’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO). The proposal (P68), filed by Commissioner Tom Lee, died on a tie vote in the Constitution Revision Commission‘s Executive Committee on Tuesday as some panel members raised fiscal and legal questions. A parliamentary […]

Ana CeballosNovember 28, 2017

As Uber faces regulatory scrutiny over a massive data breach that impacted the information of 57 million people worldwide, it maintains one of the largest lobbying footprints in Florida. Along with its two in-house lobbyists, Stephanie Smith and Cesar Fernandez, the company retains six firms and spent up to $392,993 in the first two quarters of this […]

Drew WilsonNovember 27, 2017

Lake Placid Republican Sen. Denise Grimsley filed a bill Monday that would give the surviving spouses of disabled veterans a break on their property tax bills. “A few years ago, we provided property tax relief to disabled military veterans,” said Grimsley. “But once they pass away, we’re seeing a number of their widows being reassessed […]

Ana CeballosNovember 27, 2017

Nancy Ann Texeira has been tapped to oversee next year’s fundraising efforts for the main committee supporting GOP state Senate campaigns. Senate President-designate Bill Galvano on Monday announced that Texeira, a “trusted and proven member” of his team since 2013, would lead the Florida Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee. “Nancy has consulted on both sides of the […]

Jim RosicaNovember 27, 2017

Legislation that critics said would allow theme parks to “extort” advertising dollars from beer companies has been re-filed for the 2018 Legislative Session. The bills (HB 775, SB 822), filed by Republicans Rep. Mike La Rosa of St. Cloud and Sen. Travis Hutson of Elkton, generally would allow “cooperative” advertising in theme parks. Hutson, chair of […]

Influence

Warning labels for prescription opioids proposed under bill

Constitutional change on candidate residency OK’d by panel

Voting restoration amendment has 900,000 signatures

Mandating E-Verify in state constitution eyed by commissioners

Business interests lambaste environmental amendment

Tom Lee’s proposal to augment CFO duties dies in committee

Under the national spotlight, a look at Uber’s Florida lobbying team

Denise Grimsley wants tax relief for spouses of late disabled veterans

Nancy Ann Texeira to lead Senate GOP fundraising team

Drinking, advertising—and ‘extortion’? Beer bill back for 2018