Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaOctober 29, 2016

A type of wildly popular poker-type card game is now banned as it is currently played in Jacksonville, according to a final decision issued this week by the state’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), which regulates gambling. The department’s order, issued Wednesday and filed Friday with the Division of Administrative Hearings, specifically finds against designated-player games offered at […]

Jim RosicaMay 31, 2016

A plethora of high-profile matters is scheduled for argument before the Florida Supreme Court next week. The state’s justices will consider questions related to gambling, guns, capital punishment and medical malpractice. Another case involves claim bills, passed by lawmakers to pay people for injuries suffered at the hands of government or a public entity. Still two others involve attorneys […]

Staff ReportsMay 13, 2016

Outpaced and outfoxed, the Seminole Tribe of Florida dropped its bid to block the disclosure of financial information about its casinos. The tribe made the move Friday, shortly after POLITICO printed details of the deposition of casino executive Jim Allen. He runs the tribe’s gambling concerns. The political news website reported that Allen said the Seminoles made $2.4 billion last […]

Gary FineoutMay 13, 2016

The Seminole Tribe of Florida, owner of Florida’s largest casinos, is trying to get a federal judge to block the publication of information related to a trial that could upend their businesses and to seal a key deposition until it can be redacted. Tribal attorneys this week filed an emergency motion seeking to seal a […]

Jim RosicaApril 13, 2016

State regulators say they will no longer tax do-it-yourself cigar wrappers, or “blunt wraps,” a tobacco product perhaps better known as one used to smoke marijuana. That cost – a combination of an excise tax and surcharge that comes to a whopping 85 percent – was only paid by wholesalers, but the cost was passed to consumers. The decision by the […]

Jim RosicaApril 7, 2016

Jennifer Tschetter, an attorney who was most recently Chief Operating Officer of the Florida Department of Health, is joining Tallahassee’s Hopping Green & Sams law firm to specialize in “health care law matters,” the firm announced in a press release. Tschetter leaves the department after state Surgeon General John Armstrong was forced out of his job. The Florida Senate […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 25, 2016

Lawyers for the state of Florida filed their response to a lawsuit filed by the Seminole Tribe of Florida nearly three weeks after a federal judge shot down their request to toss the case out. Among highlights of the filing: The state denies that the lawsuit was properly filed in Tallahassee and says “nothing in the […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 22, 2016

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Travis Keels says he’s leaving the James Madison Institute for the press secretary gig at the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. Keels, who’s been JMI’s Director of Public Affairs for the past two years, announced the move Friday. The organization is a “free-market think tank” based in Tallahassee. His time there “allowed me the opportunity to grow […]

Phil AmmannOctober 30, 2015

Florida firm Greenspoon Marder Law announced Friday the addition of attorney Michael Martinez as Senior Counsel for its growing Alcohol Beverage Group. Martinez brings more than 15 years’ experience in state government in the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). He will be based out of Greenspoon Marder’s newly opened Tallahassee office, joining its […]

Jim RosicaOctober 30, 2015

State agencies on Friday presented their financial needs for next fiscal year in a series of public hearings at the Capitol. Executive-branch departments and others send in legislative budget requests, or LBRs, in advance of the regular session, when lawmakers draw up the budget for the next fiscal year. The 2016 Legislative Session begins Jan. 12. Here are […]

Tag: Department of Business and Professional Regulation
TALLAHASSEE, FLA. 4/18/25-Candles and remembrances are left near the Unconquered statue a few hours after the Florida State University Gathering of Unity Vigil held Friday to honor victims of the recent mass shooting. COLIN HACKLEY PHOTO

State rules against certain poker-type card games

Bevy of big cases awaits state Supreme Court

Seminole Tribe ends court fight after casino finances revealed

Seminole Tribe trying to stop publication of financial info

Florida will no longer charge 85% tax on “blunt wraps”

Jennifer Tschetter leaves Health Department for Hopping Green

State responds to Seminole Tribe federal lawsuit

Personnel note: Travis Keels to DBPR from JMI

Personnel note: Former DBPR attorney Michael Martinez joins Greenspoon Marder alcohol beverage group

Agencies present budget requests for next year