Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaMarch 30, 2017

Good news for opponents of this year’s alimony overhaul, and bad news for its supporters: The bills are dead for the year. Sen. Kathleen Passidomo, the Naples Republican who’s carrying the Senate version (SB 412), on Wednesday said the chair of its first committee of reference has refused to hear the bill. Rene Garcia chairs the Committee on […]

Jim RosicaMarch 5, 2017

Get ready for a rumble: Lawmakers will again tackle the sticky issue of alimony in the 2017 Legislative Session. Companion bills filed in the House and Senate aim to overhaul state alimony law to toughen the standards by which alimony is granted and changed. That’s despite unsuccessful tries in the last few years. Neither bill […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 20, 2017

Update: State Sen. Kathleen Passidomo, a Naples Republican, on Friday filed the Senate companion to the House bill, which she says is identical save for “a few punctuation differences.” State Rep. Colleen Burton will try again to overhaul the state’s alimony law, filing a bill on Wednesday. The Lakeland Republican still aims to toughen the standards by which alimony is […]

Jim RosicaApril 19, 2016

Alimony overhaul supporters may need to take a break next legislative session, state Sen. Kelli Stargel says. “I don’t know that I’m willing to take this on again next year,” she told FloridaPolitics.com on Tuesday. “Then again, a lot can happen between now and the next legislative session. But we need to discuss the merits of […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterApril 15, 2016

Florida Gov. Rick Scott has vetoed a controversial alimony reform bill, saying in his veto letter the legislation had the potential to put the “wants of a parent before the child’s best interest.” The bill was the last one sent to the governor, and is the final bill of the 2016 legislative session he needed […]

Jim RosicaApril 12, 2016

As more than 100 of them crammed the waiting room and hallway of Gov. Rick Scott‘s office on Tuesday, advocates and opponents of this year’s alimony overhaul bill had a hollering battle over the contentious legislation. The opponents, led by Florida National Organization for Women lobbyist Barbara DeVane, scheduled a meeting with Scott’s staff at 11 a.m. to […]

Jim RosicaApril 11, 2016

Supporters and opponents of this year’s alimony overhaul bill will make their case at the Capitol on Tuesday. As Gov. Rick Scott reviews the legislation (SB 668), representatives of the Florida National Organization for Women, the League of Women Voters of Florida and other groups plan to meet with his staff at 11 a.m., according to FL-NOW lobbyist Barbara […]

Melissa RossApril 8, 2016

A coalition of women’s groups including the National Organization for Women, the League of Women Voters, Breastfeeding Coalition, National Council of Jewish Women and UniteWomen FL will all rally in Tallahassee on Tuesday against Senate Bill 668, a family law measure awaiting Governor Rick Scott‘s signature. The new statute would give judges a formula to use […]

Jim RosicaApril 6, 2016

Gov. Rick Scott has approved a repeal of a 148-year-law that criminalizes an unmarried couple living together. The measure legalizing “cohabitation” (SB 498) was one of 20 bills signed into law by the governor on Wednesday. The change is largely a reflection of the times: Though Florida was among a few states that still criminalized cohabitation, its prohibition […]

Julie DelegalApril 6, 2016

The world runs on the unpaid and underpaid work of women. Churches, schools, nonprofits, and many business offices would collapse without it. Something else, however, has been collapsing and crumbling in our society for the past 60 years: the American family. For all the rhetoric about the “breakdown of the traditional family,” our leaders give […]

Tag: alimony

Alimony legislation dead for 2017, sponsor says

2017 Legislative Session preview: Alimony rears its head

Alimony reform bill filed for 2017

Kelli Stargel says alimony reform may have to wait until 2018 session

Rick Scott vetoes contentious alimony bill

Alimony bill supporters and opponents square off in Florida Capitol

Both sides of alimony reform putting pressure on Rick Scott

Women’s rights groups to rally in Tally against alimony bill

With Rick Scott’s blessing, “shacking up” now legal in Florida

Julie Delegal: Rick Scott should veto alimony “reform” bill