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Staff ReportsNovember 10, 2017

The cost to buy worker’s compensation insurance is going down in the Sunshine State. Florida Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier on Thursday issued a final order granting approval to the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) for a statewide overall rate level decrease of 9.5 percent and premium level decrease of 9.8 percent, according to a press release. […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 9, 2017

The Florida Senate is about to tackle gaming issues again. Sen. Travis Hutson‘s latest bill (SB 840) is less ambitious in scope than previous efforts, focusing on four topics: fantasy contests, greyhound and horse racing decoupling, slot machine taxes, and designated player games at pari-mutuel card rooms. “I am excited to take the lead on gaming for […]

Ana CeballosNovember 9, 2017

If you ask Sen. Jack Latvala questions about the sexual harassment allegations against him, he’ll tell you no lies — at least according to a lie-detector test he took Wednesday. Latvala’s attorney, criminal defense attorney, Steve Andrews, told Florida Politics that the Clearwater Republican took and passed a polygraph performed by a former chief examiner for […]

Ana CeballosNovember 9, 2017

As Sen. Jack Latvala faces an investigation into sexual harassment allegations against him, not much is clear, including specifics about a complaint filed with the Senate Rules Committee. This much is known: Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto, the chair of the committee, at first confirmed a complaint had been filed with her committee in a Capitol News Service interview […]

Danny McAuliffeNovember 9, 2017

Darryl Rouson reintroduced the Competitive Workforce Act in the Senate Thursday, a bill that seeks to ban discrimination statewide based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The St. Petersburg Democrat said the legislation makes clear that LGBTQ discrimination will no longer be tolerated in Florida housing, employment, and accommodation decisions. The bill, SB 66, and its House companion, […]

Jim RosicaNovember 9, 2017

A draft of a bill is circulating in the Capitol that would, among other things, expressly legalize steroids and trace amounts of cocaine in racing greyhounds, critics say. One lawmaker made aware of the language on Thursday jokingly asked if it was “written by The Onion.” But an industry representative said the legislation, backed by […]

Jim RosicaNovember 9, 2017

We’re just going to rip this line right from Thursday’s press release: “To get a head start on the next round of reapportionment in 2021, Florida House Democrats have formed a Working Group on Redistricting that will allow them to be fully prepared to present the citizens of our state with the fair maps they […]

Ana CeballosNovember 9, 2017

A rules complaint was filed Wednesday against Sen. Jack Latvala, a Clearwater Republican who is under investigation by the Senate after six unnamed women accused him of sexually harassing and groping them. Because the complaint is initially confidential, the details about what it pertains are unclear. Republican Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto, who chairs the Rules Committee […]

Peter SchorschNovember 8, 2017

House District 39 Rep. Neil Combee has set the date: He will officially leave the Florida House for his new job as the Florida’s State Director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency on Nov. 24. Combee announced the decision in a Wednesday letter House Speaker Richard Corcoran, and called the five years […]

Ana CeballosNovember 8, 2017

Rep. Ross Spano wants the state to create a trust fund for human trafficking victims, which would be financed by half of the punitive damages traffickers are ordered to pay in court cases. Money from the trust fund would then go to pay for human trafficking prevention programs, medical and mental health examinations and treatments […]

Influence

Workers’ comp costs going down

Senate gaming bill promises ‘attainable reform’

Jack Latvala says he passed polygraph over harassment claims

Senate privacy rules shield details on Rules Committee complaint

Darryl Rouson reintroduces LGBTQ anti-discrimination bill

Bill would permit trace cocaine amounts in racing dogs

Talk about working ahead: Dems readying for 2021 redistricting

Complaint filed with Senate Rules Committee against Jack Latvala

Neil Combee praises Richard Corcoran, others in resignation letter

Lawmakers clash over financing for trafficking victims