Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersDecember 19, 2017

Monday’s fatal train derailment in Washington state has Florida state Sen. Debbie Mayfield saying she sees the same fears and the same fights in the Northwest, and the same kind of potential tragedy, that have her pushing for state safety regulations of the Brightline higher-speed passenger train being planned by All Aboard Florida. “I do […]

Michael MolineNovember 14, 2017

House assignment of benefits (AOB) legislation cleared its sole committee Tuesday and appears headed to the floor, despite reservations about its limits on attorney fees and lack of language directly sanctioning insurance fraud. Judiciary Committee members also expressed skepticism about insurers pressing policyholders to accept their preferred vendors before approving the bill (PCB JDC 18-01) […]

Ana CeballosNovember 8, 2017

As lawmakers in both the House and the Senate push for a strict ban on minors getting married, some legislators in the House said Wednesday they would like to keep judicial discretion when older teenagers want to legally wed. “I do not support the part where someone who is pregnant can’t get married just because […]

Michael MolineNovember 7, 2017

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Legislation to repeal Florida’s no-fault auto insurance system handily cleared the House Commerce Committee Tuesday — the only committee slated to consider the measure. The vote was 17-8, and support for the measure was bipartisan — even though some members confessed to qualms about overturning an insurance system that has prevailed since 1971. “I know […]

Scott PowersJune 30, 2017

State Rep. Paul Renner pledged military-unit-like reliance on teamwork and full collaboration after he was elected by his Republican peers to be their leader-designate. The Palm Coast Republican won on a first ballot during a closed-door meeting of Republican members of the freshman class Friday. He beat out J.W. Grant of Tampa, Erin Grall of Vero Beach, […]

Peter SchorschJune 30, 2017

Rep. Paul Renner has won the support of his Republican classmates, grabbing the title of class leader and likely House Speaker beginning in 2022. The GOP freshmen class met in Orlando on Friday to vote on their class leader. The much-anticipated election pitted Renner against Byron Donalds, Erin Grall and Jamie Grant, who was seen as Renner’s […]

Scott PowersJune 30, 2017

The last-ditch politicking has begun behind closed doors at an Orlando airport hotel. Freshman state Reps. Byron Donalds of Naples, Erin Grall of Vero Beach, Jamie Grant of Tampa and Paul Renner of Palm Coast, and most of the other 23 Republicans in the class gathered Friday at the Orlando International Airport Hampton Inn & Suites, […]

Peter SchorschJune 23, 2017

With just one week until freshman House Republicans are scheduled to vote for their leader, it appears lawmakers have agreed upon rules governing the election. According to a copy of the rules obtained by FloridaPolitics.com, members will not be allowed to abstain from the vote; discussion between members between the announcement of the eliminated candidate […]

Peter SchorschJune 18, 2017

Rep. Randy Fine has officially dropped out of the Speaker’s race, telling his colleagues he would rather be a “member of a unified team than the leader of a fractured one.” In a lengthy email to his classmates Friday night, the Brevard County Republican explained why initially got into the Speaker’s race and why — […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJune 16, 2017

Byron Donalds started thinking about running for Speaker early on in his legislative career. He knew he could be a voice for change and offer a different perspective than some of his classmates, but also knew the traditional method for electing a leader meant the Speakership was unlikely for a lesser known freshman. Then the […]

Tag: Erin Grall

Debbie Mayfield warns of parallels between Washington train wreck and Florida concerns

House AOB package clears committee despite some qualms

In child marriage debate, some want flexibility with older teens

House PIP repeal legislation clears its only committee

Paul Renner pledges teamwork, ‘full collaboration’ as speaker

Northeast Florida’s Paul Renner wins vote to put him in line to be House Speaker in 2022-24

Speaker contest underway for 2022 House leadership

Final rules set for House Speaker’s race voting

Epilogue: Randy Fine explains to colleagues why he dropped out of Speaker’s race

Rules changes sparked Byron Donalds to seek Speakership