Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Michael MolineMarch 10, 2017

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Legislation beginning to work its way through the House and Senate would help businesses voluntarily comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act — and possibly avoid “drive-by lawsuits” targeting noncompliance. “The ADA was taken away from Americans with disabilities by a handful of law firms — most out of South Florida — that have filed […]

Michael MolineMarch 9, 2017

A bipartisan coalition of House members and senators endorsed Gov. Rick Scott’s request to increase mental health funding by $25 million, but said even more money is needed to move Florida out of the basement in funding for treatment. “At the end of the day, we’re 49th (in funding among the states), which means we’ve […]

Michael MolineMarch 9, 2017

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The Senate voted Thursday to require unanimous jury verdicts to sentence someone to death, and to advance a measure that would require prosecutors to prove “stand your ground” immunity shouldn’t apply in criminal cases. The death penalty bill, SB 280, which the Senate passed unanimously, was a response to a Florida Supreme Court ruling requiring […]

Jim RosicaMarch 9, 2017

A bill aimed at streamlining the handling of political redistricting court cases cleared its last committee Thursday. The legislation (SB 352) was OK’d by the Senate Rules Committee on a 7-3 party-line vote. It’s now ready for the full Senate. It also “encourages” courts “to follow certain procedures to maintain public oversight when drafting a […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 8, 2017

Call it another small victory for recess. The Senate PreK-12 Education Appropriations Subcommittee unanimously approved a bill (SB 78) requiring school districts to provide at least 100 minutes of supervised, unstructured free play each week — or 20 minutes of free play each week — to students in kindergarten through fifth grade. While the bill received […]

Michael MolineMarch 7, 2017

The House Insurance & Banking Subcommittee opened hearings on a 28-page draft bill on workers’s compensation reform Tuesday, as Chairman Danny Burgess urged members and interest groups to “conduct ourselves in good faith — that we not plant our flags on one side or the other and be absolutely inflexible.” Burgess said the draft represents a […]

Staff ReportsMarch 7, 2017

The 2017 Legislative Session kicked off Tuesday with Gov. Rick Scott’s penultimate “State of the State” address, and speeches from Senate President Joe Negron and House Speaker Richard Corcoran. — “This session represents Florida’s best chance yet for solving an ongoing environmental catastrophe that affects millions of Floridians. For nearly 20 years, scientists have agreed that a […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 7, 2017

State lawmakers aren’t looking out for everyday Floridians, an advocate for one of the state’s largest labor unions said Tuesday. “In 2010, Rick Scott said ‘let’s get to work.’ In 2014, he said ‘let’s keep working,’” said Rich Templin, the legislative and political director for the Florida AFL-CIO. “The problem is, Florida is not working […]

Jim RosicaMarch 7, 2017

Senate President Joe Negron on Tuesday said he was committed to getting $300 million in settlement money from the 2010 BP oil spill to affected communities in northwest Florida. Negron spoke to reporters on the first day of the 2017 Legislative Session. “I don’t believe that we should set up some complicated bureaucracy,” said Negron, a […]

Michael MolineMarch 7, 2017

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Poverty appeared to matter as the Florida Legislature opened its 2017 regular session Tuesday. Gov. Rick Scott, during his State of the State speech, recalled his impoverished youth and the importance of jobs to lift Floridians out of economic despair. Surely, music to Karen Woodall‘s ears? Now at the Florida Center for Economic and Fiscal Policy, she’s […]

Tag: 2017 Legislative Session
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Measures would promote ADA compliance — and, with luck, discourage litigation

Legislative coalition urges leaders to find money for mental health programs

Senate votes to raise bar for death penalty, ‘stand your ground’ prosecutions

Senate redistricting bill clears last review panel

Mandatory recess bill sails through second Senate committee

House chairman seeks ‘good faith’ as hearings open on workers’ comp draft bill

Capitol Reax: Opening Day of the 2017 Legislative Session

Advocates call on Legislature to focus on working Floridians during annual ‘Awake the State’ event

Joe Negron backs Gulf Coast compensation process

Anti-poverty lobbyist skeptical as 2017 legislative session opens in Tallahassee