Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Phil AmmannApril 29, 2017

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Budget language filed in the Florida House Saturday morning would OK a controversial state audit of Tampa International Airport. As reported by Matt Dixon of POLITICO Florida, Brandon Republican Sen. Tom Lee unexpectedly filed an amendment last week on the Senate floor, which proposes an audit of TIA’s renovation master plan. Lee’s amendment raised concern […]

Michael MolineApril 29, 2017

The main things separating the House and Senate on civil and criminal justice spending is whittling down Senate member projects and construction costs in the juvenile justice and prison systems. That’s according to Rep. Bill Hager, the lead House negotiator, speaking following a conference subcommittee hearing Saturday morning. “These are really not sticking points. It’s […]

Jim RosicaApril 29, 2017

Don’t expect any movement in the budgets for Enterprise Florida and VISIT FLORIDA at the conference committee level. “I’m authorized to negotiate quite a few things in this budget and there’s a few things I’m not, and those would be among the things I’m not,” said Sen. Jeff Brandes, the St. Petersburg Republican chairing the […]

Michael MolineApril 28, 2017

House and Senate negotiators have agreed on per-student spending in the PreK-12 education budget — and it wouldn’t go up much compared to existing spending. The Senate side on Friday accepted the House call for 1.2 percent increase — to about $7,220. The conferees were still talking about how much to spend on the House’s […]

Michael MolineApril 28, 2017

House negotiators gave ground toward Senate President Joe Negron’s ambitious plan to bolster Florida’s state colleges and universities Friday. They accepted a series of spending amounts for specific programs. “Tuition assistance was real big in our offer,” House negotiator Larry Ahern said. “We’ve moved to a lot of the Senate positions. We concur with a […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterApril 28, 2017

The Florida House began discussions on its medical marijuana implementation bill, teeing it up for a vote early next week. The proposal (HB 1397) was amended Friday to move it closer to the Senate bill (SB 406), but House Majority Leader Ray Rodrigues, the bill’s sponsor, told members the House continues to be negotiations with the […]

Jim RosicaApril 28, 2017

The House on Friday sent back a Senate beer advertising bill, having tacked on language that would also allow beer makers to give free glasses to bars and restaurants. The measure (SB 388) allow advertising and sponsoring of events by beer companies in the state’s theme parks. It passed the House on a 110-9 vote. But the House […]

Michael MolineApril 28, 2017

The Senate debated Friday whether to raise Florida’s homestead exemption to $75,000 on property values of as much as $125,000 — a key to the chamber’s budget compromise with the House, but bitterly opposed by local governments. The increase would be subject to approval by Florida voters, but is a high priority for House leaders, […]

Jim RosicaApril 28, 2017

We’ve been writing about it for years, all the while wondering ‘why,’ but 2017 was the winning session for an overhaul of the estoppel letter process. The House on Friday passed the Senate’s bill (SB 398) on a 117-0 vote, sending it to Gov. Rick Scott. “This legislation will benefit Florida’s homeowners, associations, and taxpayers,” said […]

Scott PowersApril 28, 2017

Local governments that went too far in trying to crack down on or drive out vacation rental homes now face the prospect that they may not be able to do anything to specifically regulate such properties. The Florida House of Representatives approved House Bill 425 Friday 63-56, essentially re-instituting a 2011 ban on cities or counties imposing […]

Influence

House considers contentious Tampa International Airport audit

House, Senate moving closer on civil and criminal justice spending

Top line tourism, economic development money closed out, chair says

PreK-12 conference eyes paltry per-student spending hike, with supplements

House warms to Joe Negron’s ambitious higher education agenda

House prepares medical marijuana bill for vote

Beer bill bounces back to Senate with free glass provision

Homestead exemption boost moves from Rules Committee to full Senate

After years of work, estoppel bill heads to governor

House votes to strip away local regulations of vacation rental homes