Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaMay 5, 2017

Lawmakers on Friday passed a bill requiring lottery ticket warning labels after removing a requirement that warnings also be displayed at counters where tickets are sold. The Senate approved the measure (HB 937) on a 23-15 vote, sending it back to the House. The House then OK’d that version 114-3. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Jennifer Sullivan, a Mount […]

Michael MolineMay 4, 2017

It was better late than never Thursday for five member projects inserted at the very last minute into the compromise $83 billion state budget. The House and Senate each had items to stuff into the budget during the last conference committee meeting of the evening. Actually, one of the items won funding earlier in the […]

Michael MolineMay 4, 2017

House and Senate budget negotiators traded final offers Thursday and pronounced their work done, bar some last-minute tidying up. “The budget is closed,” Senate Appropriations Chairman Jack Lavala said. “We’ve got a couple of question marks, but this is not an opportunity to entertain any new issues. We’re going to resolve one or two issues, […]

Michael MolineMay 4, 2017

When Lee Jacobson heard that that an insurance omnibus bill had been pulled from the Rules Committee onto the Senate floor Wednesday, he hightailed it to Tallahassee. The Orlando insurance and personal-injury attorney, active in the Florida Justice Association, was watching his daughter play soccer at the time. “I ran home, threw two suits in […]

Michael MolineMay 3, 2017

The sponsor of the Senate workers’ compensation bill has edged toward the House position regarding the maximum attorney fees payable in claims litigation. Sen. Rob Bradley filed an amendment to his bill Wednesday trimming the maximum hourly fee to $200 — down from $250 in his original bill, but more than the $150 contemplated in […]

Michael MolineMay 3, 2017

Faced with the prospect of a gubernatorial budget veto, Senate President Joe Negron said Wednesday that he hopes it doesn’t come to that. “I hope the governor doesn’t veto the budget, because I think it’s a strong budget. He certainly has every right to look at particular items,” Negron told reporters following the day’s Senate […]

Michael MolineMay 3, 2017

It’s not the big banana, but a small piece of workers’ compensation reform is on its way to Gov. Rick Scott’s desk. The bill is CS/CS/HB 1107, shielding personally identifying information about workers’ comp claimants under Florida’s public records laws. It passed the House on a 120-0 vote Wednesday, having cleared the Senate, 37-0, on […]

Michael MolineMay 3, 2017

The House and Senate were tantalizingly close Wednesday to completing negotiations on an $83 billion state budget. It appeared only a question of firming up some details and completing the paperwork. “There’s a tremendous amount of work that goes into preparing the document and getting it distributed and printed and whatever. But the major points […]

Jim RosicaMay 3, 2017

A Tallahassee judge has agreed to hear arguments on why he should reconsider his ruling that stand-alone consoles known as “pre-reveal” games are not illegal slot machines. Judge John Cooper set a hearing for June 19 in the Leon County Courthouse, court dockets show, after the Seminole Tribe of Florida asked to intervene. The move also puts a […]

Michael MolineMay 3, 2017

The Senate approved legislation Wednesday increasing penalties for trafficking in synthetic opioids including fentanyl and carfentanil, The vote was 37-0 to send the measure back to the House. HB 477 targets fentanyl and related substances that, when administered by themselves or in combination with other drugs, can prove deadly, for tougher sentencing. For example, it would […]

Tag: 2017 Legislative Session

Legislature passes Florida Lottery warning bill

Member projects make it into state budget at the last possible moment

Appropriations chiefs declare budget talks ‘closed’ — but with an asterisk

Insurance bill sponsor insists it won’t become a train for AOB, PIP

Amendment would move Senate workers’ comp fix closer to House language

Against criticism by governor, Joe Negron makes the case for budget deal

One element of the workers’ compensation fix headed to the governor

Final $83 billion budget bill awaits only fine tuning, conferees report

Jackpot? Judge could reconsider ‘pre-reveal’ slot machine ruling

Senate sends amended version of opioid crackdown bill back to House