Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaApril 1, 2016

Gov. Rick Scott on Friday signed into law another 14 bills from the 2016 Legislative Session. He had a Saturday deadline to approve or veto the latest bills, all from the Senate. The latest bills include SB 1044, under which law enforcement will have to charge people with a crime before they can seize their money, cars, homes or other property. State Sen. Jeff […]

Staff ReportsMarch 8, 2016

Police would have to charge people with a crime before they can seize their money, cars, homes or other property under a bill going to Gov. Rick Scott. State Sen. Jeff Brandes‘ bill (SB 1044) was passed by the House 116-0 on Tuesday. The St. Petersburg Republican’s proposal garnered support from both liberals and conservatives. The measure is designed […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorFebruary 25, 2016

An amended bill that would reshape the way civil forfeiture works in Florida passed the House Judiciary Committee Thursday. Under current law, law enforcement can seize a person’s property, including cash, if they suspect it is being used to commit a crime or is the proceed from crime. Under that scenario, no charges have to […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 9, 2016

Second of three parts. Civil forfeiture began as something relatively innocuous. Throughout most of U.S. history, civil forfeiture was primarily used to enforce duties and excise taxes. But this all changed during the 1980s, as law enforcement agencies around the nation began to realize that they could supplement their resources by pursuing civil forfeiture instead […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 8, 2016

First of three parts Floridians consider property rights to be sacrosanct. Indeed, our state constitution extends further than most by expressly declaring the rights to “acquire, possess and protect property” as basic and inalienable. Unfortunately, our actions over the last three decades in one specific area have not lived up to this promise. This area […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 21, 2016

In another “strange bedfellows” moment in the Florida Capitol, an array of conservative and progressive interests stood in the Rotunda to support state Sen. Jeff Brandes‘ bill to rein in what’s known as civil asset forfeiture. “Before your private property can be taken, you must, at least, be charged with a crime,” Brandes, a St. Petersburg Republican, […]

Associated PressDecember 4, 2015

Two Republican lawmakers filed bills Thursday that would require a person be arrested before law enforcement agencies seize cash or property and a conviction before they can keep it – an idea the agencies strongly oppose. The bills are designed to prevent abuses of the current law, which doesn’t require an arrest or a conviction […]

Ryan RayDecember 3, 2015

A pair of Republican lawmakers spoke to reporters Thursday about their proposal to revamp the seizure of assets by police in Florida, amid reports the value of property taken from suspects across the country now exceeds that of property stolen by criminals. St. Petersburg Sen. Jeff Brandes and Lehigh Acres Rep. Matt Caldwell told assembled media some elements of law […]

Tag: civil forfeiture
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Rick Scott signs 14 more bills into law

Lawmakers OK civil forfeiture reform

Lawmakers reach agreement with law enforcement groups over civil forfeiture bill

Justin Pearson: Legislature needs to reform Florida’s civil forfeiture laws

Justin Pearson: Civil forfeiture: Florida’s embarrassing failure to protect property rights

Jeff Brandes draws diverse support for asset forfeiture overhaul

Bills seek to set higher threshold for property seizure

Jeff Brandes, Matt Caldwell want to rein in asset seizure by law enforcement