Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJanuary 30, 2017

Sen. Jeff Brandes has filed a bill aimed at providing standardized visitation plans for unmarried parents. The St. Petersburg Republican filed legislation (SB 590) Monday, which would create a standard visitation schedule for unmarried parents. If adopted, the proposal would encourage contact between non-custodial parents and their children. “Spending time with our children is the […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 26, 2017

House Speaker Richard Corcoran is saving the profanities—for now. At a Thursday press availability, Corcoran was asked about comments by a lobbyist involved in this year’s gambling legislation, which the Senate has taken the lead on with an omnibus bill (SB 8). The person was overheard in a Capitol corridor saying he had spoken with the […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 25, 2017

The Florida Senate has seemingly fast-tracked the chamber’s gambling overhaul for this year, as its first panel gave unanimous thumbs up to the measure one hour into a meeting that had been scheduled to last four. The bill (SB 8) was cleared Wednesday by the Regulated Industries committee, which oversees gambling policy. It has only one […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 24, 2017

FanDuel, the national fantasy sports website, has sent a “call to action” email to its Florida users, asking them to contact lawmakers in support of their hobby. “With the Big Game just around the corner, we have an important message to share with every Florida fantasy sports player,” the email says. “A new bill has […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJanuary 23, 2017

Drug Free America is urging Florida lawmakers to “proceed with caution” as they begin crafting legislation to implement the state’s newest medical marijuana law. “While we were opposed to Amendment 2 for a number of specific reasons, we recognize Florida voters have spoken,” said Calvina Fay, the executive director of Drug Free America, in a statement. “We also […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 20, 2017

Update: State Sen. Kathleen Passidomo, a Naples Republican, on Friday filed the Senate companion to the House bill, which she says is identical save for “a few punctuation differences.” State Rep. Colleen Burton will try again to overhaul the state’s alimony law, filing a bill on Wednesday. The Lakeland Republican still aims to toughen the standards by which alimony is […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 20, 2017

A bill filed Thursday in the Florida House would force the state Supreme Court to produce a yearly report on how many cases it’s finishing with opinions. It seems to go against the court’s official Latin motto, “Sat Cito Si Recte,” translated as “Soon enough if done correctly,” or even “Justice takes time.” “The phrase […]

Michael MolineJanuary 13, 2017

The Campaign to Keep Guns off Campus has added Jacob Elpern, the former chief of its Florida State University chapter, to its lobbying team in Tallahassee. Elpern, who graduated this year, joins the organization’s staff full time, state affairs director Kathryn Grant said. His registration took effect on Dec. 14. Grant also lobbies for the […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 10, 2017

Sis-boom-bah: state Sen. Greg Steube has filed legislation to legalize consumer fireworks in Florida. Steube, the Sarasota Republican who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, filed his bill (SB 324) Tuesday. The legislation appears to be identical to a bill (HB 4005) filed for the 2014 Legislative Session by then-state Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Fort Walton Beach […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJanuary 5, 2017

A pair of controversial gun bills in the Florida Senate will not be discussed during committee meetings next week According to the Senate calendar, a Judiciary Committee meeting scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday has been cancelled. The committee, which is chaired by Sen. Greg Steube, was set to take up two gun bills during the […]

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

Jeff Brandes files bill to standardize visitation plans

Richard Corcoran already vexed by Senate gambling plan

Senate panel OKs gambling overhaul bill, including Seminole provisions

FanDuel calls on Florida fans to support fantasy sports

Drug Free America urges caution as lawmakers discuss Amendment 2 implementation

Alimony reform bill filed for 2017

Bill would force case reporting requirements on Supreme Court

Campaign against guns on campus adds lobbyist

Greg Steube files fireworks legalization bill

Hearing on gun bills postponed after Senate cancels Judiciary Committee meeting