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Associated PressMarch 7, 2016

Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed into law a major overhaul of Florida’s death penalty on Monday in response to a U.S. Supreme Court decision declaring the previous system unconstitutional. The new law requires at least 10 out of 12 jurors recommend execution for it to be carried out. Florida previously required that a majority of […]

Jim RosicaMarch 7, 2016

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House members on Monday began looking at a bill to provide money for a “proper burial” for those who died at a shuttered, but still notorious, boys’ reform school in the Florida Panhandle. The bill (SB 708) also authorizes the Department of State to “preserve historical resources, records, archives, and artifacts” related to the Arthur G. Dozier […]

Peter SchorschMarch 7, 2016

Multiple outlets reported over the weekend that budget conferees effectively killed a line item to “refresh” the state’s inventory of law enforcement radios furnished by the Brevard County vendor Harris Corp. The issue has been the subject of what Senate budget chief Tom Lee called a “vendor fist fight” between Harris – which holds a lucrative 20-year state […]

Jim RosicaMarch 7, 2016

One of several bills aimed at overhauling the state’s oversight body for high school athletics was passed by the Florida House of Representatives on Monday. The House passed the measure (HB 31) by state Rep. Ross Spano, a Dover Republican, on a 109-0 vote. Its main provision is that it would allow private schools to join the Florida High School Athletic […]

Drew WilsonMarch 6, 2016

Lady Lake Republican Rep. Marlene O’Toole has filed to run for the newly redrawn Senate District 12 seat, setting up a primary battle between her and fellow Republican Rep. Dennis Baxley. O’Toole currently represents District 33 in the Florida House and, like Baxley, is finishing up her last term as a Representative, though her Lake […]

Ryan RayMarch 6, 2016

A key legislative budget committee met for the second time Sunday and hashed out previously unresolved conflicts on state education funding, including some $700 million in cash and bonding for construction for K-12 and higher education institutions. The inclusion of money from bonds is something Gov. Rick Scott – a budget hawk who loathes debt – opposes. […]

Ryan RayMarch 6, 2016

Senior legislative budget writers met Sunday afternoon to continue hammering out differences in Florida House and Senate appropriations proposals, still hundreds of millions of dollars apart. In keeping with their recent meetings since committee sub-chairs “bumped up” remaining budget issues to the at-large budget conference, Chairman Rep. Richard Corcoran and Vice Chairman Sen. Tom Lee – their respective chambers’ […]

Ryan RayMarch 4, 2016

Legislative budget writers met Friday evening to take up another pair of unreconciled budget areas – Transportation & Economic Development and Civil & Criminal Justice – and came to a final agreement, closing out millions in funding items in a multibillion dollar move when the House and Senate accepted each others’ offers. Among the most […]

Peter SchorschMarch 4, 2016

As the Legislature’s “big chairs” meet this weekend to try to take the 2016-17 state budget in for a landing, there are few issues more pressing and in the public eye than fixing Florida’s ailing Department of Corrections and prison system in general. The department has gained a reputation for cutting corners in a way that […]

Ryan RayMarch 3, 2016

In a swift 15-minute meeting Thursday night, the full bicameral Budget Conference Committee closed out all remaining differences in the chambers’ massive health care and general government budget silos, swapping tens of millions of dollars and making significant progress towards reconciling their respective $80-plus billion proposals. “We could go huddle up for 30 seconds and […]

Tag: 2016 Legislative Session
Donald Trump talks to press outside his New York trial. Image via AP.

Rick Scott signs into law overhaul of Florida death penalty

Dozier School bill moves to House

Funds for police radios nixed in budget conference? Not so fast

House passes high-school sports bill

Marlene O’Toole files for SD 12 race, setting up primary battle with Dennis Baxley

State budget writers settle up on school construction funding

Budget conferees agree on general government, prison funding issues; bump state radios funds

Budget writers close out TED, justice budget silos

Don’t cut corners on Dept. of Corrections health funding

House and Senate close out health care, general gov’t budget silos