Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaJuly 20, 2017

A medical marijuana nursery is asking a Tallahassee judge to allow it to step in on a case over the state’s new law governing the drug. Canadian-based DFMMJ Investments, which inked a deal to take over operations of Chestnut Hill Tree Farm, filed a “motion to intervene” earlier this week with Circuit Judge Karen Gievers. Sarasota’s TropiFlora is […]

Jim RosicaJune 20, 2017

In the wake of the Special Session’s implementing bill, the Florida Department of Health is gearing up to make rules governing the use of medical marijuana. The department published a “notice of proposed regulation” in the Florida Administrative Register last Friday. But the state still could face a lawsuit from personal-injury attorney John Morgan, who backed […]

Jim RosicaJune 8, 2017

A change to the Special Session’s medical marijuana legislation that would have allowed patients to smoke it was handily defeated Thursday. The amendment offered by Rep. Evan Jenne, a Dania Beach Democrat, was killed on the House floor by a vote of 37-71. “If a doctor and a patient determine that (smoking) is the best way to […]

Jim RosicaJune 5, 2017

Legislative leaders working behind the scenes are getting closer to putting medical cannabis implementation into the call of this week’s Special Session. For instance, one senator, speaking on condition of anonymity, said “some progress” had been made but there was “no deal” as of Monday afternoon. When this week’s Wednesday-Friday Special Session was announced last Friday, […]

Jim RosicaMay 19, 2017

A unanimous Florida Supreme Court has ruled against a North Florida racetrack seeking to add slot machines. The 20-page decision, released Thursday, means that gambling facilities in Gadsden County’s Gretna and in seven other counties that passed local referendums allowing slots also will not be able to offer them. In doing so, the court upheld […]

Jim RosicaMay 1, 2017

The fate of this year’s gambling bill is being held hostage to passage of a homestead exemption increase, sources told FloridaPolitics.com Sunday night. Publicly, lawmakers have been saying that progress on omnibus gambling legislation was taking a backseat to the 2017-18 state budget talks. The Conference Committee on Gaming hasn’t met since last Thursday. The Senate is […]

Associated PressMarch 6, 2017

The Florida Supreme Court is being asked to approve the wording of a proposed amendment that could allow convicted criminals to vote. Backers of the amendment went before the high court on Monday. Justices must decide whether the amendment is misleading. Florida’s constitution bars people convicted of felonies from being able to vote after they […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 13, 2017

State Sen. Greg Steube wants to add prosecutors and public defenders to the list of officials that the House of Representatives can impeach. The Sarasota Republican’s measure (SJR 904), filed Monday, would require a constitutional amendment that has to be passed by 60 percent of voters statewide. The state constitution now authorizes the House to impeach the […]

Staff ReportsNovember 29, 2016

State Sen. Tom Lee has filed a proposed constitutional amendment to keep “dramatic increases in annual property tax assessments” in check on vacation homes and other properties. Lee, a Brandon Republican, filed SJR 76 on Monday. “Failure to pass this joint resolution will result in one of the largest tax increases in the history of our state,” […]

Jim RosicaOctober 26, 2016

A pivotal hearing in a lawsuit over the state’s environmental funding is coming up in December. Lawyers for the Legislature and environmental advocacy groups are set to argue over a summary judgment motion Dec. 5 before Circuit Judge Charles W. Dodson in Tallahassee. Granting such motions allows parties to win a case without a trial. Florida Wildlife […]

Tag: constitutional amendment

Medical marijuana grower wants in on challenge to pot law

Health Department getting started on medical marijuana rulemaking

House beats back effort to allow smoking of medical marijuana

‘Progress’ on getting marijuana in Special Session but ‘no deal’ yet

Florida Supreme Court rules against Gretna track, slots expansion

House to Senate: No homestead exemption increase, no gambling bill

Florida Supreme Court considers voting rights amendment

Bill would let House impeach prosecutors, public defenders

Tom Lee files constitutional amendment on property taxes

December hearing set for environmental Amendment 1 lawsuit