Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschJanuary 15, 2018

A bill to repeal the state’s tobacco bond cap is moving in the Florida House. Whether it’s fair is another story. The measure (HB 6017), carried by GOP Rep. Cord Byrd of Neptune Beach, cleared its first committee last week by a unanimous 14-0 vote and moves to Appropriations. A companion bill (SB 124) is in the Senate. The […]

Staff ReportsJanuary 12, 2018

Aside from high-profile ‘sanctuary cities’ legislation, the Florida House on Friday also approved a bounty of bills on subjects including red-light cameras and insurance. Here are a few: — Red-light cameras (HB 6001): The bill “prohibits counties and municipalities from implementing red light camera programs by local ordinance,” according to a summary. It passed 83-18. […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 11, 2018

Sixty Days — A prime-time look at the 2018 Legislative Session. The Last 24 Good Thursday evening. An immigration rally roiled the Capitol rotunda, and the House issued subpoenas in a dispute with a video producer that did work for VISIT FLORIDA. It’s already been that kind of week. Seeking sanctuary: Five amendments filed by […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 11, 2018

A GOP House member seemingly is taking a swipe at House Speaker Richard Corcoran, a fellow Republican, with a bill that bans sitting lawmakers and family members, including “siblings,” from working for lobbying firms. Corcoran’s brother Michael is a lobbyist. State Rep. Kathleen Peters of Treasure Island, who filed the bill (HB 1325), had been “ousted […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 11, 2018

A team of House Democrats Thursday rolled out a legislative package to combat the state’s opioid abuse epidemic. The bills included putting addiction warning labels on prescription bottles, charging a new court fee to help smaller counties deal with the problem, and an application to the feds for more money to expand treatment, among other […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 10, 2018

Sixty Days — A prime-time look at the 2018 Legislative Session The Last 24 No oil derricks here: Gov. Rick Scott comes out a winner on offshore drilling, and went to Jacksonville to crow about it. Boo on ‘data breaches’: Lawmakers and Cabinet members advocated for bills that would eliminate credit report freeze fees for […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 10, 2018

A key Senate panel said “beer me” on Wednesday, as it cleared legislation to allow ads for brewskis in Florida theme parks. The bill (SB 822), backed by GOP Sen. Travis Hutson of Elkton, won over the Regulated Industries Committee by a vote of 7-2. Republican Sens. Greg Steube of Sarasota and Dorothy Hukill of Port Orange voted […]

Staff ReportsJanuary 10, 2018

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Americans for Prosperity-Florida—the pro-free market, government spending watchdog—is sending out direct mail to urge support for ending “corporate welfare” for billionaire sports-team owners. Legislation pending in the 2018 Session would “eliminate taxpayer handouts to build stadiums on public lands, and end a program that gives professional sports teams subsidies to expand their stadiums,” the group […]

Phil AmmannJanuary 10, 2018

Tradition abounds in Tallahassee as Florida lawmakers return to begin the people’s business for 2018. The annual 60-day Legislative Session began Tuesday with Rick Scott’s State of the State address — his last as Governor — followed by the custom of opening statements from each chamber’s leader charting past accomplishments and future goals. But among […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 10, 2018

Cape Coral Republican Rep. Dane Eagle detailed a pair of bills he’s sponsoring Tuesday, one of which would provide property tax relief for Floridians whose homes were damaged by Hurricane Irma. “Many Floridians have been unable to live in their primary residences due to the destruction caused by Mother Nature through Hurricane Irma, and adding […]

Tag: 2018 Legislative Session
Jonathan Dickinson State Park. Image via Visit Florida.

Tobacco bond cap bill clears House panel—but is it fair?

Fast and furious: House passes slew of bills

Sixty Days for 1.11.18 — A prime-time look at the 2018 Legislative Session

Shot fired: Kathleen Peters gets in dig at Richard Corcoran

On optimism and legislation: House Democrats push opioid package

Sixty Days for 1.10.18 — A prime-time look at the 2018 Legislative Session

King of … ads? Bill would OK beer promotion in theme parks

AFP mailer: End public financing of private stadiums

Florida TaxWatch turns focus to taxpayers with annual Session event

Dane Eagle rounds out slate of bills for 2018 Legislative Session