Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiApril 20, 2017

A bill seeking to expand what optometrists could do — namely, performing surgery and prescribing opiates — was an agenda item in the Florida House Health and Human Services Committee Thursday. However, the bill at the center of Florida’s Eyeball Wars went unheard. HB 1037, sponsored by Rep. Manny Diaz, barely cleared Health and Human Services […]

Mitch PerryApril 3, 2017

A bill that would automatically expunge a youth’s arrest record after a diversion program is completed passed through a House committee on Monday, but goes in a different direction than its Senate companion. The House bill sponsored by Seminole Republican Larry Ahern and Deltona Republican David Santiago (HB 205) would allow police officers the discretion to decide when offering a first time juvenile […]

Scott PowersMarch 10, 2017

Republican candidate David Smith has started his run for Florida House District 28 with a personal $25,000 loan to his campaign. Smith, of Winter Springs, is running to replace state Rep. Jason Brodeur, who is term-limited out in 2018, in a district that covers east Seminole County. The former Marine colonel and modeling and simulation […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 16, 2017

A bill that would remove Florida from the federal refugee resettlement advanced in the Florida House after a party-line vote Thursday. The legislation sponsored by Deltona Republican David Santiago would direct the state’s refugee coordinator to provide notice to the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement by June 30 that it intends to withdraw from the federal program by […]

Scott PowersFebruary 15, 2017

With all but an OMG! reference, House Democratic Leader Pro-Tempore Bobby DuBose has challenged House Speaker Richard Corcoran to share anything he has to back up claims that terrorists have likely infiltrated Muslim refugees in Florida. DuBose sent a letter Tuesday to Corcoran and copied several key Republican lawmakers urging the speaker to “share with […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 14, 2017

A House panel OK’d a proposed committee bill Tuesday aimed at tweaking the state-employee health insurance program. The House Health & Human Services Committee approved the bill (PCB HHS 17-01), which, among other things, would lead to the state plan offering four different levels by 2020. The idea, said Rep. Jason Brodeur, is similar to […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJanuary 30, 2017

The list of incumbents eyeing re-election just keeps getting longer. State elections records show dozens of members of the state House and Senate have filed to run for re-election in 2018, and several more are looking ahead to 2020. Sen. Gary Farmer is one of those lawmakers thinking about his next race. He filed to […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 26, 2017

Members of the Florida House Subcommittee on Children, Families and Seniors heard from five different speakers on Thursday regarding the process by which refugees are resettled in Florida. However, Democrats on the committee only heard from four, as they walked out en masse in disapproval to hear from Mark Krekorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration […]

Scott PowersDecember 12, 2016

While no one from Central Florida will be chairing full committees in the Florida House of Representatives this spring, several local representatives will be chairing key subcommittees, Health Care Appropriations, Tourism & Gaming Control, and Local, Federal & Veterans Affairs. The committee appointments came down Monday from House Speaker Richard Corcoran. State Rep. Mike La […]

Peter SchorschAugust 28, 2016

The final campaign finance reports before Florida’s Aug. 30 Primary Election are in and Victor Torres, Randolph Bracy, and Mike Clelland have held on to their leads in Central Florida’s Senate seats. Clelland is facing fellow former Rep. Linda Stewart and Rick Roach in the Democratic Primary for Senate District 13, and he was able to raise another $83,775 across his campaign and […]

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Mike Johnson. Image via AP.

‘Eyeball Wars’ bill, slated for House committee, goes unheard Thursday

Bill to automatically expunge juvenile arrest records passes, but critics say it doesn’t go far enough

David Smith starts Florida House run with $25K loan; David Santiago, Mike La Rosa raise $21K

House advances bill pulling Florida out of refugee assistance program

Bobby DuBose challenges Richard Corcoran’s ‘terrorists’ comments

House panel approves changes to state employee health insurance program

More legislative hopefuls file to run in 2018, 2020

Florida Democrats walk out of committee discussing refugees resettlement

Central Florida reps pleased with tourism, health care subcommittee chairs

Central Florida legislative fundraising leaders stay ahead in days before primary