Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschMarch 6, 2017

House Speaker Richard Corcoran announced that Sen. Darryl Rouson, Rep. Chris Sprowls, and Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco will be among his nine picks for the Constitution Revision Commission. The Land O’Lakes Republican’s selections will round out the 37-member review panel, which meets every 20 years to look over and suggest changes to the Florida Constitution. The panel must be […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 22, 2017

Floridians can vote and enlist in the military when they’re 18, but a new Senate bill would have them wait until they’re 21 to go to Marlboro Country. SB 1138, filed Wednesday by Democrat Darryl Rouson, would raise the smoking age from 18 to 21. Rouson’s bill would amend Florida Statute 569.008, which currently restricts the […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 21, 2017

On Tuesday, the Florida Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee heard from the Agency for State Technology. The AST, legislated into existence in 2014, appears on the outside to be in flux. A recent audit of the AST hammered it for a lack of internal controls. Meanwhile, CIO Jason Allison is on his way out the […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 14, 2017

For the third straight session, bills in the Florida House and Florida Senate have been filed to ban the constituent elements of Kratom. The bills, filed by Democrats Kristin Jacobs in the House and Darryl Rouson in the Senate, would add Mitragynine and Hydroxymitragynine, constituents of Kratom, to the schedule of controlled substances, offering an exception for any FDA approved […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 7, 2017

On Tuesday, the Senate Transportation Committee unanimously passed legislation to reduce the number of driver’s licenses suspended annually in Florida. The bipartisan bill (SB 302), sponsored by St. Petersburg Republican Jeff Brandes and Democrat Darryl Rouson, would end the suspension of licenses for non-driving-related offenses. If passed, it could dramatically reduce a large number of suspensions taking place […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 6, 2017

Barclay Harless nabbed the first union endorsement in his bid for St. Petersburg City Council. The 31-year-old St. Petersburg banking executive, received support Monday of the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 123. Harless is running for the District 2 seat, which covers most of Northeast St. Petersburg and is now held by term-limited […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 1, 2017

Tampa Bay’s Legislative Delegation, with state lawmakers representing the area’s eight counties, spent two hours Wednesday in Clearwater discussing how to begin addressing the region’s myriad transportation issues. According to a new white paper prepared by the D.C.-based Enos Center for Transportation for the Tampa Bay Partnership, a regional structure for transportation planning, operations and decision-making is […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 31, 2017

Barclay Harless is enjoying a strong start to his bid for St. Petersburg City Council. In the first week since announcing, the local banker and community leader has received more than 100 individual contributors to his campaign for District 2, which represents most of northern St. Pete and the Gandy area. “We are running a […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 23, 2017

One of the more controversial bills filed in the Florida House this session, a proposed ban of constituent elements for kratom, saw a Florida Senate companion emerge Monday. Senate Bill 424, filed by Democrat Darryl Rouson, mirrors the House bill. Both bills would add Mitragynine and Hydroxymitragynine, constituents of Kratom, to the schedule of controlled substances, offering an exception […]

William PatrickJanuary 23, 2017

It’s a vicious circle: Poor people who can’t afford their court-related costs and penalties incur escalating costs for not paying, further indebting them to the state. “It’s a circle that some people get stuck in and they can’t get out,” Christopher Torres, a Tallahassee defense attorney and former Florida assistant attorney general, told Watchdog.org. Compounding the problem is […]

Tag: Darryl Rouson
Helene, early Sept. 27. Image via NOAA via AP.

Richard Corcoran selects Darryl Rouson, Tom Lee to constitution panel

Darryl Rouson wants to raise the smoking age to 21

Agency for State Technology gets softballs in Senate committee

In face of prohibition efforts, Kratom lobbies up

Drivers license suspension bill sponsored by St. Pete’s Darryl Rouson and Jeff Brandes advances in state Senate

Barclay Harless nabs first union endorsement in St. Pete City Council bid

Tampa Bay Legislative Delegation attempts to find answers for regional transportation fix

Barclay Harless starts off strong in St. Pete City Council bid

Senate companion filed for controversial kratom ban bill

Proposed legislation could break the cycle of debt for many caught in Florida’s legal system