Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaJanuary 2, 2019

Sen. Lauren Book wants people to tell her and other lawmakers “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” The Plantation Democrat filed a bill (SB 58), called the “Truth in Government Act,” for the 2019 Legislative Session that would require people at legislative panels to be sworn in before speaking. The bill […]

Drew WilsonDecember 25, 2018

It’s the giving season, and for those in the process it’ll be a long one — with all the lawmakers being tapped for exec positions by Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis there’s sure to be an extensive slate of special elections. That means the Adams Street crowd will need a few more checks to hand out during […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorDecember 21, 2018

State Sen. Jeff Brandes has again filed a bill that would protect individuals’ privacy contained on cell phones and other electronic devices as well as GPS location data. The bill would require a warrant to access electronic information from a person suspected of a crime. A warrant is not currently required to search such electronic data. […]

Ryan NicolDecember 19, 2018

Democratic state Rep. Kristin Jacobs wants to create a $110 million compensation fund for the victims of February’s mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in which 17 were killed. She filed legislation (HB 123) in the Florida House on Wednesday. The fund would be set up within the Department of Education. The department then would be […]

Ryan NicolDecember 18, 2018

Broward Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie lobbied Broward County legislators Tuesday to set up a victims’ compensation fund to pay out money to those affected by February’s shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Runcie and other school board members were confronted by some of those families at another delegation meeting earlier this month. Mitch Dworet, Debbie […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorDecember 17, 2018

Rep. Jackie Toledo filed legislation Monday that would make “distracted driving” a primary offense. The bill (HB 107) would apply to texting while driving and to talking on a cell phone without a hands-free device while driving. Current law bans using a cell phone while driving as a secondary offense, which means law enforcement officers can […]

Ryan NicolDecember 15, 2018

State Rep. Holly Raschein of House District 120 was named Vice Chair of the Agriculture and Resources Subcommittee in committee announcements made Friday evening. And Chuck Clemons of HD 21, a Newberry Republican, will chair that committee when the 2019 Legislative Session begins. Raschein was previously tapped to chair the Appropriations Subcommittee for Agriculture and Resources earlier Friday. […]

Drew WilsonDecember 14, 2018

House Speaker Jose Oliva has selected Republican state Reps. Cord Byrd, Byron Donalds and Ralph Massulo to chair the House education policy subcommittees, according to a list of assignments first obtained by Florida Politics. Byrd, a second-term Republican representing Nassau and Duval counties, will chair the House Higher Education & Career Readiness Subcommittee. Massulo, a second-term lawmaker representing Citrus and […]

Jim RosicaDecember 12, 2018

A healthy but also fragile economy led the Senate’s budget chief to tell fellow lawmakers they need to be “very, very conservative” in writing the state’s next yearly budget. Indeed, with chief legislative economist Amy Baker saying the state needs roughly $6 billion in new money over the next three years just to keep up, Sen. Rob […]

Scott PowersDecember 11, 2018

Republican state Rep. Thad Altman filed a bill Tuesday to require employers to check the citizenship and immigration status of potential employees through E-Verify before hiring them, with the prospect that the state could then investigate complaints. Altman introduced HB 89, the Verification of Employment Eligibility Bill, saying it is intended to prevent the hiring of […]

Tag: 2019 legislative session

Lauren Book proposes ‘swearing in’ legislative speakers

The 12 Days of Christmas, as brought to you by these Florida lobbyists and politicos

Jeff Brandes files cell phone privacy bill

Kristin Jacobs files bill to create compensation fund for Parkland victims

Robert Runcie urges compensation fund for Parkland victims’ families

Jackie Toledo bill would make texting while driving a ’primary offense‘

Holly Raschein earns leadership spots on House subcommittees

Jose Oliva names ed policy subcommittee chairs

Rob Bradley says next budget needs to be ‘very, very conservative’

Thad Altman files E-Verify bill