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Staff ReportsFebruary 28, 2018

The Florida Legislative Black Caucus announced Wednesday evening it will “hold a press conference to announce (its) opposition to legislation moving through the Florida House and Senate that would provide incentives to arm schoolteachers in Florida.” The news conference is 11:30 a.m. Thursday, on the 4th floor rotunda of the Capitol. In a statement, Democratic […]

Staff ReportsFebruary 28, 2018

Medical providers and law enforcement leaders came out fighting on Wednesday, urging the Florida House to restore funding for opioid addiction treatment. The House budget eliminates funding for 52 community providers under the state courts system, 45 programs under the Department of Children and Families (DCF) program, and 10 programs run by sheriffs and law […]

Staff ReportsFebruary 28, 2018

The Florida Senate’s budget proposes “harmful proviso language and a $19 million funding cut” to Florida Healthy Start, the program said Monday. If passed, it “will devastate the program’s ability to provide essential services that support healthy pregnancies and outcomes for Florida’s most vulnerable families.” Since Healthy Start was created in 1991, Florida has seen a […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 27, 2018

Sixty Days — A prime-time look at the 2018 Legislative Session The Last 24 Good Tuesday evening. We have allocations, the big blocks of dough needed to start budget conference, and a House member is getting sued for blocking a constituent on social media. Don’t worry: Sixty Days still follows you. Here’s your nightly rundown. […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 26, 2018

A House panel on Monday cleared the chamber’s gambling legislation for 2018, making it available for the floor. But the bill (HB 7067) still is far from the Senate position. And it continues to bother Democrats by devoting money from gambling to the “Schools of Hope” backed by Speaker Richard Corcoran, which the minority party sees as […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 26, 2018

Sixty Days — A prime-time look at the 2018 Legislative Session The Last 24 Good Monday evening. An angry Jimmy Patronis blistered the League of Cities over PTSD benefits for first responders, and — miracle of miracles — the House gaming bill is again on the move. Will the Legislature pass a gambling measure this […]

Staff ReportsFebruary 26, 2018

Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, also the state’s fire marshal, called the Florida League of Cities “disgraceful” for “attempting to derail” legislation that would allow first responders with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) access to mental health benefits. Patronis issued a news release Monday. “Florida League of Cities lobbyists have, at every step of the legislative committee process, vehemently […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 26, 2018

While you were sleeping—or watching LobbyTools for other stuff—language was put in the House’s annual tax package to, among other things, void all 58 existing puppy mill sale bans and prevent any future bans. Now that’s pre-emption. Over the past decade, 58 municipalities have passed these ordinances in the state, according to the Animal Defense […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 26, 2018

Updated 5:45 p.m. Sunday — One gaming lobbyist still isn’t convinced the Legislature will pass comprehensive legislation this year, texting in response to our story, “Zombie bill of the session.” — The House’s gambling bill for 2018 on Sunday was added to the Commerce Committee‘s agenda for Monday. The legislation (HB 7067) was added minutes before […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 24, 2018

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With less than two weeks before the end of the 2018 Legislative Session, the pot of money lawmakers must work with in order to craft a state budget is shrinking rapidly. At work are two factors: one is a revised estimate for state tax and revenue collections, the second is the estimated cost of the […]

Tag: 2018 Legislative Session

Black lawmakers plan presser to oppose arming teachers

Substance abuse treatment advocates fight for funding

Florida Healthy Start program decries budget cuts

Sixty Days for 2.27.18 — A prime-time look at the 2018 Legislative Session

All or nothing: House gambling bill moves to floor

Sixty Days for 2.26.18 — A prime-time look at the 2018 Legislative Session

Jimmy Patronis: League of Cities’ opposition to benefits for first responders is ‘disgraceful’

Could language in tax package pre-empt local bans on puppy mill sales?

It lives: House gambling bill back for Monday

As lawmakers tiptoe to budget negotiating starting line, state revenue estimate is cut by $167 million