Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Associated PressNovember 17, 2015

A push to change Florida’s contentious “stand your ground” law may be dead for the coming year. A Florida House panel on Tuesday narrowly voted against a measure sponsored by Rep. Dennis Baxley that would change the law. The Ocala Republican wanted to require that prosecutors prove a defendant was not acting in self-defense when […]

Ryan RayNovember 17, 2015

A bill to allow dying patients to use medical marijuana as a palliative treatment passed its first hurdle in the House Tuesday morning. The House Criminal Justice Subcommittee approved House Bill 307 by Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz and Democratic prime co-sponsor Rep. Katie Edwards by a vote of 9-4. Panel chair Rep. Carlos Trujillo was among the four Republicans voting ‘No.’ The […]

Ryan RayOctober 21, 2015

Rep. Julio Gonzalez filed his first bill of the 2016 legislative year on Wednesday, and it was a doozy: a proposal to give immunity to certain businesses that don’t want to render certain services on grounds of “religious freedom,” including private child-placement agencies. Specifically, the bill amends the “Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1998” to read that […]

Phil AmmannOctober 8, 2015

Republican candidate Neal Dunn nabbed the endorsement today of three state GOP lawmakers in his bid for Florida’s 2nd Congressional District. Florida House Reps. Dennis Baxley of Ocala, Jay Trumbull from Panama City and Elizabeth Porter of Lake City announced their support of the Dunn for Congress campaign. Dunn, a Panama City urologist, faces Mary […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 25, 2015

St. Petersburg House Democrat Darryl Rouson has filed legislation (HB 243) that would ban the display of Confederate flags and symbols on publicly owned or leased property. It will serve as a companion to Orlando Democrat Geraldine Thompson’s bill in the state Senate. “I can understand people wanting to honor the legacy of their Southern History, but when history and symbolism to […]

Ryan RaySeptember 23, 2015

Sen. Rob Bradley stepped forward on Wednesday and sponsored the Senate companion bill to a proposal by Rep. Dennis Baxley, father of the state’s controversial “Stand Your Ground” law. Bradley – an Orange Park Republican and former state prosecutor – lent his name to Baxley’s push to boost the legal standing of defendants who claim they acted […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 17, 2015

Did you know that it’s technically illegal in the Sunshine State to live with a member of the opposite sex in Florida? Not that it’s being actively enforced, but yes, there has been a prohibition on cohabitation in the Sunshine State since 1968. (Michigan and Mississippi are the only other states with such a law). Which […]

Ryan RaySeptember 15, 2015

Rep. Dennis Baxley – father of Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law – filed a bill Tuesday that would tweak the state’s self-defense statutes. Baxley’s newly-filed HB 169 is designed to enhance the legal standing of defendants who claim they acted in self-defense while using or threatening to use deadly force in a dispute. The bill would shift the legal burden […]

Drew WilsonSeptember 10, 2015

Ocala Republican Rep. Dennis Baxley raised $13,829 in August, further increasing his fundraising lead over fellow Republican Rep. Jimmie Smith in the Senate District 5 race. The campaign finance show Baxley’s August haul included seven $1,000 checks, the maximum donation for a state senate seat, with most of the rest of the month’s campaign cash […]

Mitch PerryAugust 24, 2015

In two Florida counties, the Confederate flag continues to fly proudly. That would no longer be allowed under proposed legislation introduced last week by Orlando Democratic state Sen. Geraldine Thompson. Her bill would ban the display of Confederate flags on state and local government property in Florida. “Public buildings are supported by taxpayers, and taxpayers come […]

Tag: Dennis Baxley
Mark NeJame, via NeJame Law.

House panel votes down revision to ‘stand your ground’ law

Expanded medical marijuana regime bill passes House panel

“Religious freedom” bill to prevent gay adoptions refiled for 2016

Neal Dunn nabs endorsement of three state GOP lawmakers

Darryl Rouson files legislation to ban Confederate flag on public property in Florida

Self-defense enhancement bill gets Senate companion

Rena Frazier blasts Ross Spano for opposing repealer on shacking up law

Dennis Baxley files bill to aid self-defense claimants

Dennis Baxley further increases fundraising lead over Jimmie Smith in SD 5 race

Geraldine Thompson wants state to ban Confederate flags on government property