Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Phil AmmannJanuary 28, 2016

Florida environmental agencies will have about $3.6 billion to spend in the 2016-2017 fiscal year, based on recommendations from the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government. Put together by Umatilla Republican Sen. Alan Hays, the Committee released its budget recommendations Thursday, reports LobbyTools. Among other things, Hays’ budget provides $1.5 billion to the Department of Environmental Protection, $1.7 billion […]

Ryan RayJanuary 26, 2016

Voter-approved term limits, perhaps even more than the advent of minority-access districts or the lobbyist gift ban, have radically transformed legislative business in Tallahassee. Their enactment during the Gov. Jeb Bush administration turned future election cycles into rigid leadership game theory boards and, some say, placed a limit on the institutional knowledge of lawmakers, who often become lame […]

Drew WilsonJanuary 25, 2016

A bill that requires gas stations to toughen up security and increases penalties for fuel pump fraudsters cleared its first Senate panel Monday. Senate Bill 912 would require gas stations to secure fuel pump credit card readers to defend against data theft devices, known as “skimmers,” that capture credit and debit card information. The bill also ups the […]

Steve SchaleJanuary 24, 2016

If I had a nickel for every time someone asked me in the last two weeks what the new State Senate maps mean for the partisan balance of the State Senate, I wouldn’t need to play Powerball. There is no question the maps are good news for Democrats. But how much good news? The answer […]

Drew WilsonJanuary 11, 2016

A Democrat who led protests during the black bear hunting season last year has filed to run for Senate District 11 seat according to Florida Division of Elections records. Real estate investor and former League of Women Voters Vice President Chuck O’Neal filed to run for the seat Jan. 8, just two months after announcing […]

Mitch PerryNovember 17, 2015

A bill aimed at removing the statue of a Confederate Army general representing Florida at the U.S. Capitol cleared its first Florida Senate committee Tuesday. The Senate Committee on Government Oversight and Accountability passed SB 310, with only Ocala Republican Alan Hays dissenting. The legislation could ultimately lead to removal of a likeness of Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith […]

Drew WilsonNovember 3, 2015

A trio of bills that would help disabled Floridians find employment and manage their personal finances cleared their Senate committee stops Tuesday, all with unanimous votes. The bills – SB 376, SB 388 and SB 7010 – are collectively known as the “cradle to career pathway” in the upper chamber, an initiative aimed at improving […]

Staff ReportsNovember 3, 2015

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Darrell Smith told a Senate appropriations panel that voluntary standards adopted by the agriculture industry in South Florida – so-called “best management practices,” in Capitol-speak – are helping to clean up the Everglades by reducing water waste and nutrient levels. The practices include new water control structures to help slow the […]

Phil AmmannOctober 20, 2015

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With a tip of the hat to Legislative IQ powered by LobbyTools, here are the latest movements – both on and off – of the legislative merry-go-round. On: Bobbye Iseminger is the new senior administrative assistant for the House Select Committee on Affordable Healthcare Access. On: Jasmine Govan and Ambar Pimentel became legislative assistants for Democratic […]

Staff ReportsSeptember 24, 2015

Associated Industries of Florida, the state’s premier business lobby, will hold its sixth annual Florida Water Forum today. The forum begins 9 a.m. at the Renaissance Orlando at Sea World. “This meeting will provide participants with the most current information from Florida’s policy leaders in the Legislature and state government on issues relating to water […]

Tag: Alan Hays
Gabrielle Russon

Senate recommends $3.6 billion for environmental agencies in 2016-17 budget

Senate panel approves term limits extension resolution

Bill to combat gas pump “skimmers” passes Senate panel

Steve Schale: New state Senate map favors the Democrats

Bear-hunt activist Chuck O’Neal files as Democrat for SD 11

Confederate statue bill clears Florida Senate committee

Senate committee approves 3 “cradle to career” bills

FDACS, DEP say best management practices are working, reducing ‘Glades pollution

Latest on the legislative staffing merry-go-round

Associated Industries of Florida to hold water forum Friday