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Staff ReportsOctober 27, 2017

A bill to ban the use of steroids in racing dogs has again been filed in the Legislature. Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, an Orlando Democrat, is behind the House bill (HB 463), and Sen. Dana Young, a Tampa Republican, has the measure in the Senate (SB 674). The legislation, which died in the Senate in the 2017 […]

Peter SchorschOctober 27, 2017

Could a third woman serve as president of the Florida Senate? That’s one of the intriguing questions at the core of behind-the-scenes maneuvering now fully underway within the Senate’s Republican caucus (currently at 24 members) as the race to succeed Bill Galvano and Wilton Simpson has quietly begun. Galvano was designated Tuesday as the next […]

Drew WilsonOctober 24, 2017

The Senate Committee on Communications, Energy and Public Utilities Tuesday approved a bill by Gainesville Republican Sen. Keith Perry that would institute a statewide ban on texting while driving, but not before they and members of the public labelled it as merely the first step toward a hands-free Florida. SB 90 and its House counterpart, […]

Jim RosicaOctober 20, 2017

Dana Young wants to hang a ‘do not disturb’ sign for automated sales voicemails. The Republican state senator from Tampa has filed a bill to define such voicemails as “telephonic sales calls” that Floridians could ask not to receive. Her legislation (SB 568) would include voicemails “made by or on behalf of (a) seller whose […]

Peter SchorschOctober 16, 2017

Chad Chronister is looking to shed the “interim” tag in front of his title as Hillsborough County Sheriff next year, and a peek at the host committee he’s wrangled for his Oct. 25 campaign kickoff shows his support is both far reaching and bipartisan. Chronister has been with the office since 1992 and was a […]

Jim RosicaOctober 10, 2017

Democrats and Republicans from both sides of the Capitol rotunda came together Tuesday to back Sen. Dana Young‘s latest try to ban fracking in Florida. Also known as hydraulic fracturing, the drilling technique involves shooting water and chemicals deep underground, breaking up rock to get at oil and natural gas that’s unreachable by conventional drilling. “Advocates […]

Peter SchorschOctober 10, 2017

A pair of Tampa Bay Republicans filed bills in the House and Senate over the past week that would slap Florida with a full-on fracking ban come. Fracking, shorthand for hydraulic fracturing, is a method of natural gas extraction that sees drillers inject a concoction of water and various chemicals into fault lines deep underground […]

Peter SchorschOctober 9, 2017

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Chris Spencer, longtime aide to Republican Sen. Jeff Brandes of St. Petersburg, is leaving the Legislature to become a lobbyist at the Tampa office of GrayRobinson, the law firm announced Monday. “Spencer has nearly a decade of experience working with Florida’s legislative and executive branches,” a press release said. “Prior to joining GrayRobinson, he managed […]

Phil AmmannOctober 4, 2017

Ed Hooper, in his bid to return to Tallahassee, picked up a major endorsement Wednesday from Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano. Fasano, a former Republican state lawmaker, has been a longtime political force in West Pasco County. Hooper, who served in the House from 2006 to 2014, is running in Senate District 16, covering […]

Jim RosicaOctober 3, 2017

Rep. Jason Brodeur has again filed legislation to exempt fantasy sports play from state gambling regulation. The Sanford Republican filed his measure (HB 223) Tuesday. It comes less than a week after Sen. Dana Young filed her own fantasy sports bill (SB 374) for the 2018 Legislative Session. Brodeur had filed a similar bill last session. His latest bill says fantasy […]

Tag: Dana Young
Helene, early Sept. 27. Image via NOAA via AP.

Greyhound steroid ban filed for 2018 Session

Race for Senate presidency gets underway, but at stately pace

Senate panel says texting ban isn’t enough, but at least it’s something

‘Do not call’ Dana Young with unwanted sales voicemails

Chad Chronister boasts bipartisan backing in fundraiser invite

Dana Young will try for fracking ban again

Tampa Bay lawmakers file bills that would ban fracking

Personnel note: Chris Spencer heads to GrayRobinson

Ed Hooper nabs Mike Fasano endorsement for SD 16

Jason Brodeur files ‘fantasy sports’ bill for 2018