Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 3, 2017

The state’s sandy shores have a powerful ally in the Florida Legislature. Senate Appropriations Chairman Jack Latvala announced Friday he filed legislation aimed at saving the state’s beaches from continued erosion. The proposal (SB 1590) would, among other things, dedicate a minimum of $50 million a year to beach nourishment and inlet management restoration projects […]

Michael MolineMarch 3, 2017

The Senate released its version of a workers’ compensation fix Friday, and the measure would lift limits on attorney fees in some cases and require insurance companies to file their own rates, rather than let a ratings agency do the job for them. The House released a draft, labeled “for discussion at a workshop March 7,” that also would […]

Peter SchorschMarch 2, 2017

Screen-Shot-2016-08-03-at-4.54.44-PM.png

Associated Industries of Florida (AIF) on Thursday released its “2017 Session Priorities” publication, outlining its legislative agenda on behalf of its members for the 2017 Legislative Session. “As the collective voice of businesses from the Panhandle to the Keys, …we are proud to continue the fight to protect Florida’s job creators,” AIF President and CEO […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 22, 2017

The sponsor of the Senate’s 2017 gambling bill has filed a 134-page strike-all amendment, a day before the bill is scheduled to be heard by the Appropriations Committee and a House version to be heard by its first panel. Bill Galvano, the Bradenton Republican expected to be Senate President in 2018-20, filed the amendment early Wednesday. On a first […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 15, 2017

A bill requiring a unanimous jury recommendation for a death sentence was unanimously cleared by a House panel Wednesday. The Criminal Justice Subcommittee OK’d the bill (HB 527) by Rep. Chris Sprowls, a Palm Harbor Republican. But the approval was after several public comments that the legislation didn’t go far enough to truly overhaul the state’s capital […]

Michael MolineFebruary 14, 2017

Associated Industries of Florida released its fix for rising workers’ compensation rates Tuesday. The lobby’s proposed legislation would make injured employees responsible for their own attorney fees. The draft bill stipulates that “a claimant is responsible for payment of her or his own attorney fees” for litigation arising from a claim. “A judge of compensation […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 13, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott met with Lee County community and business leaders, holding the first in a series of round table discussions across the state meant to rally support for Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida funding. “Right now, I’m going to fight every day to make sure we keep this funding because it’s good for your […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 9, 2017

Industry advocates said a Senate proposal filed this week could change the way nursing homes that accept Medicaid are paid without severely impacting high-quality nursing homes. Sponsored by Sen. Aaron Bean, the bill (SB 712) transitions nursing homes that accept Medicaid payments to a prospective payment system. But LeadingAge Florida CEO Steve Bahmer said Bean’s […]

Staff ReportsFebruary 9, 2017

A House bill (HB 6011) that would repeal the cap on the amount of money tobacco companies have to put up as appellate bonds was “temporarily postponed” Thursday. With its Senate companion (SB 100) also indefinitely put off, the proposal’s fate is uncertain for the 2017 Legislative Session. The House version was slated to be heard in the Civil […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 7, 2017

A bill creating a “chief data officer” position in the Agency for State Technology easily cleared its first Senate panel. The Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee OK’d the legislation (SB 362) unanimously on Tuesday. It also establishes a “Geographic Information Office” within the agency. “GIS activities are fragmented across the state with duplication of data collection and storage,” a […]

Tag: 2017 Legislative Session
Golf ball and golf club in bag on green grass

Jack Latvala, Kathleen Peters file beach renourishment bill

House, Senate release details of their workers’ compensation legislation

AIF announces 2017 Legislative Session priorities

Senate adds bingo, doping, ADW to its 2017 gambling bill

Unanimous jury bill unanimously OK’d in House

AIF workers’ comp fix would make employees pay their own attorney fees

Rick Scott talks Enterprise Florida, Visit Florida with SWFL business, community leaders

Aaron Bean files bill focused on nursing home Medicaid reimbursement rates

Tobacco bond repealer is again postponed, this time in House

Senate panel OKs bill to create chief data officer