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Ryan RayMarch 11, 2016

A compromise between Republican lawmakers and ride-hailing firms like Uber was on thin ice Friday afternoon as Session raced to a close, until finally, the bill hit a brick wall. Sen. David Simmons, the Senate Rules Chair, had worked on the bill (SB 1118) for months. It would have mandated minimum commercial insurance requirements for drivers with Uber and […]

Drew WilsonMarch 11, 2016

Florida CFO Jeff Atwater praised his colleagues in the Legislature Friday for passing HB 221, which curbs “balance billing” by Florida health insurance providers. “The Florida Legislature was tasked with striking a finely tuned and balanced solution to a multifaceted problem,” Atwater said. “While all sides of this health care community presented valid perspectives and […]

Ryan RayMarch 11, 2016

After passage of a tax package and budget that snubs Gov. Rick Scott, Senate Democratic Leader Arthenia Joyner said Friday afternoon lawmakers had “declared their independence” from an overbearing executive branch. “The 2016 Legislative Session may well go down in the history books as the year Florida lawmakers formally declared their independence from Governor Scott,” said Joyner, who […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorMarch 11, 2016

As the Florida Legislature wrapped up its 2016 session Friday by passing the 2016-17 budget, some education officials are feeling left out. In an email, Florida Education Association President Joanne McCall lamented that the budget fails to adequately fund education and ignores increasing resistance toward what many see is chronic over-testing in schools. “Legislators may […]

Drew WilsonMarch 11, 2016

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The Personal Insurance Federation of Florida said it “laments” insurance regulations for ride-hailing apps not making it past lawmakers in the 2016 Legislative Session. “With Uber, Lyft and other app-based ride-hailing services becoming popular modes of transportation by both residents and visitors to our state, its unfortunate lawmakers could not come to a consensus on […]

Brendan FarringtonMarch 11, 2016

The Legislature was getting ready to wrap up its 60-day legislative session Friday absent the drama that marked last year’s lawmaking process. The most important thing left for lawmakers on the final day was passing the $82.3 billion budget, a vote that couldn’t take place before 2:53 p.m. because of a requirement that lawmakers wait […]

Drew WilsonMarch 11, 2016

The Florida Hospital Association patted the Legislature on the back in a Friday email celebrating the passage of their preferred healthcare transparency bill. “The Legislature has demonstrated responsible leadership by passing House Bill 1175 to increase the availability and usefulness of information about health care prices and quality of care,” FHA President Bruce Rueben said. “This bill will help […]

Drew WilsonMarch 11, 2016

In a last-day-of-session email blast, the Florida branch of the Service Employees International Union told state legislators that their actions “will cost them at the ballot box.” The labor union was pushing for an increase in the minimum wage to $15 an hour, and said it will come after lawmakers who didn’t pay attention by “throwing its 55,000-member […]

Ryan RayMarch 11, 2016

Aiming to protect children’s dental insurance under Medicaid, GOP lawmakers held a news conference on Day 60 of the 2016 Legislative Session. They sought support for the bill, which separates kids’ Medicaid dental insurance from other medical coverage, and to avert a possible veto from Gov. Rick Scott. Senate President-designate Joe Negron and Rep. Jose Felix Diaz spoke to […]

Peter SchorschMarch 10, 2016

State Rep. Chris Sprowls, a freshman Republican from Pinellas County, appears to have sewn up the race for Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives with Thursday’s support from fellow freshman Paul Renner. Renner, a Palm Coast Republican, pledged his commitment to Sprowls, of Palm Harbor, in a memo obtained first by FloridaPolitics.com. The move decisively ends the contentious race to […]

Tag: 2016 Legislative Session

Uber legislation finally flames out

Jeff Atwater praises Legislature for curbing “balance billing”

Top Democrat says lawmakers “declared independence” from Rick Scott by rebuffing priorities

Email insights: Florida Education Association calls on Rick Scott to veto budget

Insurance group vows to push for ride-sharing next Session

Almost there: Sine die is nigh

Email Insights: Florida Hospital Association thanks lawmakers for transparency bill

Email Insights: SEIU says lawmakers will pay in 2016 for failure to raise minimum wage

Lawmakers make case for dental carve-out bill at Session’s end

Chris Sprowls clinches House Speakership for 2021-22