Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Associated PressDecember 7, 2016

A federal appeals court has ruled that students at a Florida middle school have the right to form a gay-straight alliance club. The decision Tuesday by the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals came after the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida appealed a previous judge’s decision that school officials could deny the club […]

Gary FineoutJune 3, 2016

gay-marriage-Shutterstock-Large-e1451242581438-1024x1024.jpg

Florida taxpayers are going to pay nearly $500,000 for the state’s losing battle to keep intact a voter-approved ban on gay marriage. State officials have now reached settlements with two separate groups of attorneys representing same-sex couples that challenged the state’s ban. Attorney General Pam Bondi‘s office reached a final settlement on Wednesday that brought […]

Jim RosicaMarch 21, 2016

In a first-of-its kind decision, a federal judge in Tallahassee has ordered that local voting districts in nearby Jefferson County be redrawn, saying their boundaries are unconstitutional because of a system critics call “prison gerrymandering.” U.S. District Judge Mark Walker on Friday ruled against the county on a motion for summary judgment, effectively disposing of the case brought […]

Jim RosicaDecember 30, 2015

An open-government advocate is suing the Florida Department of Health, saying the agency is wrongfully withholding public records related to the state’s awarding of licenses to grow medical marijuana in the state. The case is about applications for the licenses, most pages of which — despite being posted on the department’s public website — have been blacked […]

Christine Jordan SextonJune 10, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott has a Wednesday deadline to either act on nearly 60 bills or allow then become law without his signature. The 56 bills awaiting Scott’s signature or veto include a contentious measure that requires a 24-hour waiting period for women seeking abortions and a bill that would allow terminally ill patients to try […]

Associated PressMarch 22, 2015

State legislators across the country are pushing to make it much harder to release police officer body camera videos, undermining their promise as a tool people can use to hold law enforcement accountable. Lawmakers in at least 15 states have introduced bills to exempt video recordings of police encounters with the public from state public […]

Tag: American Civil Liberties Union of Florida

U.S. appeals court favors gay-straight club at Florida school

Florida’s bill for opposing gay marriage? Nearly $500,000

Federal judge rules against North Florida “prison gerrymandering”

Health Department sued over medical marijuana records

56 bills waiting for Rick Scott to sign, veto or become law without signature

State bills would limit access to police body camera videos