Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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 […]

Ryan RayOctober 5, 2015

Hollywood Sen. Eleanor Sobel filed the “Victoria Q. Gaetz Racing Greyhound Protection Act” for the second time in as many years Friday. The bill, whose title honors the animal-loving wife of former Senate president Sen. Don Gaetz, would mandate that greyhound racetrack operators report all injuries to the state’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation. While many tracks […]

Jim RosicaAugust 24, 2015

The state and the Seminole Tribe of Florida are inching closer to a deal that would allow the Tribe to keep blackjack at its casinos. State Sen. Rob Bradley, head of the Senate panel that oversees gambling in Florida, says the dialogue is “heating up.” “We’ve made some great progress in our discussions on coming […]

Peter SchorschDecember 11, 2014

As the official list of 2015 legislative chairs rolls out, the lion’s share of the attention often goes to those slated to lead high profile, influential committees such as Appropriations and Rules. Yet, the upcoming session will likely be highlighted by a broad range of issues – gaming and the new Seminole Compact, growlers, generic […]

Tag: Department of Business and Professional Regulation
Tom Homan has a stern warning for states that are uncooperative with deportation orders.

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

Greyhound injury reporting bill again circulates for 2016 Session

State, Seminole Tribe nearing blackjack deal

Led by Sen. Rob Bradley, Regulated Industries is the committee to watch in 2015