Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJanuary 26, 2016

State lawmakers are taking steps to update Florida’s 2-year-old THC cannabis law during the 2016 Legislative Session. The state passed the Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act in 2014. It allows patients to take a low-THC cannabis with the permission of their doctor. Supporters of the 2014 effort said it could help children with epilepsy and patients […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 26, 2016

The Seminole Tribe of Florida hopes its latest TV ad is “Guaranteed” to win lawmakers over. The ad uses clips from last week’s Senate Regulated Industries Committee, the panel with gambling oversight responsibility, where legislators first started looking at the deal. It “highlights the guaranteed revenue share to the State of Florida under the new gaming compact,” […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 26, 2016

A House education panel unanimously cleared a bill that would create a state mandate for elementary schools to give students at least 100 minutes of recess per week. The K-12 Subcommittee OK’d the measure (HB 833) Tuesday. It must next clear the Education Appropriations Subcommittee and full Education Committee before it can be heard on the House floor. The bill, […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJanuary 25, 2016

$fracking-in-florida-article-1024x1024.jpg$

A proposal to regulate high-pressure well stimulation has cleared a second Senate committee, despite continued objections from environmental activists. The measure (SB 318), sponsored by Naples Republican Sen. Garrett Richter, cleared the Senate’s general government appropriations subcommittee Monday on a 4-2 vote. Sen. Gwen Margolis and Sen. Oscar Braynon, both South Florida Democrats, voted against […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 25, 2016

Lawyers for the state of Florida filed their response to a lawsuit filed by the Seminole Tribe of Florida nearly three weeks after a federal judge shot down their request to toss the case out. Among highlights of the filing: The state denies that the lawsuit was properly filed in Tallahassee and says “nothing in the […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 21, 2016

Have you bought tickets for the 2016 Press Corps Skits yet? The 61st (sometimes) annual Capitol Press Corps Skits will be held Tuesday, Jan. 26. The highlights: Lower ticket prices, free parking, and instead of reserved tables, seating is first come, first served. Capitol Press Corps President Tia Mitchell advises buying tickets sooner rather than later: The event […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJanuary 19, 2016

An effort to add liability language to the state law governing drone aircraft is moving through the state Senate, now without a contentious clause calling for joint and several liability. On Tuesday, the Senate commerce and tourism committee approved a measure (SB 642) related to drones. The proposal, sponsored by Sen. Miguel Diaz de la […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 19, 2016

The day before a Senate panel with gambling oversight responsibility looks at its proposed blackjack agreement, the Seminole Tribe of Florida announced a statewide ad blitz to promote the new deal. In a Tuesday email, the tribe said it bought airtime for two 30-second television ads to run statewide. “’Sovereign” highlights the Seminole Tribe’s commitment to Florida and “Letter” highlights […]

Associated PressJanuary 15, 2016

In what Senate President Andy Gardiner called the last of a “trifecta” of first-week bills, a measure to help people with disabilities get jobs is heading to Gov. Rick Scott. The Florida Senate unanimously approved the bill (HB 7003) on Friday. Gardiner, an Orlando Republican, has a son with Down syndrome and has pushed several bills this year […]

Ryan RayJanuary 14, 2016

A massive gathering of protesters shouting chants of “Enough is enough!” and “Our children are not for sale!” shook the walls of the Old Capitol Thursday as they expressed opposition to new education policy changes coming out of the GOP-led Legislature. Educators bused in from as far away as Miami convened to hear from union […]

Tag: 2016 Legislative Session

Proposal to “clean up” Florida’s medical marijuana law clears House panel

Seminole Tribe to air yet another TV ad

Bill would mandate elementary schools to give recess

Senate fracking proposal moves forward despite some concerns

State responds to Seminole Tribe federal lawsuit

Reminder: Press Corps Skits next Tuesday

Drone legislation advances in Senate

Seminoles launch ad offensive before first Compact hearing

Legislature passes measure to aid disabled

Teachers use their “outside voices” to protest state education changes