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Staff ReportsOctober 25, 2017

Sen. Dorothy Hukill has filed a bill to “support the over 800,000 full- and part-time students of Florida’s nationally-recognized college system,” she said in a Wednesday press release. Her legislation (SB 540), known as the “Community College Competitiveness Act of 2018,” would “expand credit transfer options … , requir(e) student and faculty representation on the new […]

Danny McAuliffeOctober 25, 2017

The Florida Department of Corrections on Wednesday requested over $19 million to treat inmates who have the Hepatitis C virus, even as the state prisons agency is embroiled in a class-action lawsuit over that treatment. The request was made before the House Justice Appropriations Subcommittee, as part of each state agency’s annual legislative budget request. Treatment for Hep […]

Peter SchorschOctober 24, 2017

Sixty Days — A prime-time read of what’s going down for Florida’s 2018 Legislative Session. The Last 24 Former lawmaker and current candidate David Rivera showed up at Bill Galvano’s designation ceremony—despite being sought by U.S. marshals so they can serve him with a Federal Election Commission lawsuit tied to a campaign finance conspiracy. Texting […]

Jim RosicaOctober 24, 2017

In a vote made for a ceremony, Florida’s Senate Republicans formally made fellow Sen. Bill Galvano the next Senate President for 2018-20. Since the GOP still controls 24 seats in the 40-member chamber, the move ensures the Bradenton lawyer’s future leadership position. Sen. Dorothy Hukill of Port Orange gave the invocation and Sens. Tom Lee […]

Danny McAuliffeOctober 23, 2017

House Appropriations Chairman Carlos Trujillo is looking to take a breather on education-related new construction and rehabs. The Public Education Capital Outlay Trust Fund, or PECO, is used for maintaining, restoring and repairing existing state education facilities. It includes Florida colleges, universities and K-12 schools. Funded by gross receipts taxes, or charges on utilities and […]

Peter SchorschOctober 23, 2017

Sixty Days — A prime-time read of what’s going down for Florida’s 2018 Legislative Session. The Last 24 Gov. Rick Scott, expected to challenge Bill Nelson next year for his U.S. Senate seat, announced he was proposing $1.7 billion in environmental funding for 2018-19. Advocates supporting civil citations instead of juvenile arrests hailed a report […]

Peter SchorschOctober 23, 2017

Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto and Rep. Jim Boyd, both Republicans representing southwest Florida, will file bills today to combat opioid abuse in the Sunshine State by limiting first-time painkiller prescriptions to a three-day supply. The proposal mirrors one Gov. Rick Scott made earlier this year and is also similar to a proposal backed by a drug manufacturers […]

Jim RosicaOctober 20, 2017

Dana Young wants to hang a ‘do not disturb’ sign for automated sales voicemails. The Republican state senator from Tampa has filed a bill to define such voicemails as “telephonic sales calls” that Floridians could ask not to receive. Her legislation (SB 568) would include voicemails “made by or on behalf of (a) seller whose […]

Jim RosicaOctober 18, 2017

Tobacco companies are hoping next year’s try at a bond cap repeal doesn’t go up in smoke. Legislation that would do away with the limit on the amount of money tobacco companies have to put up as appellate bonds has again been filed, this time for the 2018 Legislative Session. The one-line bill (SB 124) simply repeals the section […]

Mitch PerryOctober 17, 2017

Self-driving cars would be able to legally cruise Sunshine State highways under a bill filed by Jacksonville House Republican Jason Fischer. His legislation (HB 353) would allow for the safe and legal operation of “autonomous vehicles.” The bill also calls for updating sections of Florida’s motor vehicle laws that “require or presume” there’s a human […]

Tag: 2018 Legislative Session

Dorothy Hukill files ‘college competitiveness’ bill

DOC seeks funds for inmate ‘Hep C’ treatment

Sixty Days for 10.24.17 — A prime-time look at the 2018 Legislative Session

It’s official: Bill Galvano is next Senate President

Carlos Trujillo: ‘Let’s take a year off’ new PECO projects

Sixty Days for 10.23.17 — A prime-time look at the 2018 Legislative Session

To fight opioid abuse, limit Rxs to 3 days, lawmakers say

‘Do not call’ Dana Young with unwanted sales voicemails

Tobacco bond cap repeal teed up again in Legislature

Jason Fischer, Jeff Brandes introduce self-driving cars bill