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Staff ReportsFebruary 28, 2018

Dana Young, a Tampa Republican, says she won’t be pursuing the presidency of the Florida Senate. “As I’m completing my second session in the Senate, I’ve realized the commitment of pursuing and ultimately serving as presiding officer requires more time than I am willing to spend away from my family and my constituents,” she said […]

Drew WilsonFebruary 26, 2018

Sarasota Republican Sen. Greg Steube announced Monday that he will run for Florida’s 17th Congressional District. “I’m running because Washington is broken; it needs to serve the people it was intended to serve, Floridians; rather than special interests in DC,” Steube said in an email. “My entire adult life has been about service, I enlisted […]

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 […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 23, 2018

In the aftermath of the shooting massacre in Parkland last week, Florida Democrats (and some Republicans) have talked about reducing the ability for some individuals to acquire firearms. Meanwhile, state Rep. Ross Spano, a candidate for Attorney General, is going in the opposite direction. Spano and Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd released their own sets of proposals Friday to […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 20, 2018

House Speaker-designate José Oliva on Tuesday didn’t quite put the nail in the coffin for a gambling bill this Session—but he’s holding the hammer. The reason: Lawmakers, overrun by events, are running out of time. With less than three weeks left in the 2018 Legislative Session, the House and Senate are scrambling to come up with […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 20, 2018

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A controversial omnibus education bill made its first appearance Tuesday in the Florida Senate, where Port Orange Republican Dorothy Hukill unveiled a strike-all amendment to the legislation before the Education Committee. The bill (HB 7055) ultimately was approved, although without a provision that organized labor said was designed to gut the state’s “right to work” laws. The Senate bill […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 20, 2018

When Democrat Heather Kenyon Stahl entered the House District 47 race last month, seeking the seat currently held by Republican Jamie Grant, her emphasis was on education, transportation and health care. While those issues remain at the forefront of her campaign, another subject emerged — gun control — which few Democrats hoping to make it to the Legislature […]

Ana CeballosFebruary 20, 2018

Students who survived the Marjory Stoneman Douglas mass shooting are traveling to Tallahassee on Tuesday in search of legislative action that can prevent a future massacre like the one they experienced. Meetings with Attorney General Pam Bondi, House Speaker Richard Corcoran, Senate President Joe Negron and other legislative leaders have been set up for Wednesday, […]

Ana CeballosFebruary 15, 2018

As the country grapples with the aftermath of a high school mass shooting in Broward County, Senate President Joe Negron said Thursday the upper chamber will be focused on boosting funding for mental health and campus security — not gun control. “I think that the key for me — and what I am focusing on […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 14, 2018

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A proposal that would provide $25 million both to the Tampa Bay area and Miami-Dade County for alternative transportation projects advanced in a Senate committee Wednesday, but not before there was considerable debate and criticism from Democrats who considered it unfair that their communities were being left out. Tampa Republican Dana Young‘s bill (SB 1200) […]

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Image via AP.

Dana Young withdraws from race for Senate President

Greg Steube is running for Congress; seeks seat being vacated by Tom Rooney

All or nothing: House gambling bill moves to floor

Ross Spano, Grady Judd call for allowing guns in schools, churches

José Oliva’s hopes for gambling resolution plummet

Senate panel clears contentious omnibus education bill

For Democrat Heather Stahl, gun control is now top issue in HD 64 race

Parkland students begin trip to Tallahassee in search of legislative action

In wake of Parkland shooting, Senate focuses on mental health funding

Proposal on alternative transportation advances in Legislature