Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Drew WilsonMay 24, 2018

Holland & Knight reeled in up to $740,000 in lobbying fees during the first three months of the year, which included 2018 Legislative Session. Newly filed compensation reports show the firm earned between $250,000 and $490,000 lobbying the Legislature and another $100,000 to $250,000 lobbying the Governor and Cabinet. Using the median number reported for […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 31, 2018

A trio of alcoholic beverage-related bills moved through a House panel Tuesday: — Beer advertisements in theme parks would be allowed under a bill approved by the Careers and Competition Subcommittee. That measure (HB 669) was approved 13-2, with chair Halsey Beshears, a Monticello Republican, and Rep. Larry Ahern, a Seminole Republican, casting ‘no’ votes. […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 18, 2017

Tuesday afternoon, the Florida Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government was the latest successful stop for Sen. Dana Young‘s craft beer bill, bringing small-batch brewers one step closer to self-distribution. SB 554 allows craft breweries producing under 7,000 kegs a year to distribute kegs (not bottles or cans) to other Florida craft breweries. That applies as long as […]

Jim RosicaApril 3, 2017

Free stuff is good, right? Surprisingly, not everyone agrees when it comes to beer glasses. Bills are moving in the Legislature to allow beer distributors to give away glasses from brewers imprinted with product names and logos to bars and restaurants. Now, they have to be sold. The House bill (HB 853) was first OK’d […]

Mitch PerryMay 16, 2015

Although craft beer enthusiasts are happy to be able to finally live in a state that can now offer them 64-ounce growlers, the legislation was always about more than the selling of a half-gallon sized jug. One could say the half-gallon growler had become the political pawn in what had led to a fierce battle […]

Peter SchorschMarch 9, 2015

Today’s installment of the “4th Floor Files” talks with Joshua Aubuchon of the Tallahassee office Holland & Knight. Josh’s specialties include advocacy for alcoholic beverages, property and automobile insurance, tort reform, and healthcare. Clients include Florida Chamber of Commerce, State Farm Florida, Shands HealthCare and the Florida Brewers Guild, which puts Josh in the thick […]

Peter SchorschMarch 9, 2015

Today’s installment of the “4th Floor Files” talks with Joshua Aubuchon of the Tallahassee office Holland & Knight. Josh’s specialties include advocacy for alcoholic beverages, property and automobile insurance, tort reform, and healthcare. Clients include Florida Chamber of Commerce, State Farm Florida, Shands HealthCare and the Florida Brewers Guild, which puts Josh in the thick […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 28, 2015

A state regulatory agency says it will release specific information tomorrow about an upcoming workshop that the Florida Retail Federation says will provide “clarity” regarding a 50-year exception in alcohol beverage law in Florida. That exception has allowed the craft brewing industry to thrive over the past decade. Earlier this month the Florida Retail Federation and the […]

Ryan RayJanuary 22, 2015

It was a boozy afternoon in Wednesday’s House Business & Professions Subcommittee meeting, led by Apalachicola Republican state Rep. Halsey Beshears and a cavalcade of stakeholders offering public testimony about the current state of affairs within Florida’s alcohol rules and regulations regime. The two hottest issues were by far and away proposed changes regarding 64-ounce […]

Mitch PerryDecember 16, 2014

For the average Floridian, much if not most of what takes place in Tallahassee isn’t something that usually captures their imagination – until months or perhaps years later when the true effects of some law hits them in their wallet. But the battle between Big Beer and the craft brewing industry during last year’s legislative […]

Tag: Florida Brewers Guild
Image via AP.

Holland & Knight lands up to $740K in Q1 pay

Bottoms up: Booze bills moving in House

Dana Young craft beer bill clears Senate subcommittee

Beer glass bills coming to a head

Compromises led to passage this year of growler bill

4th Floor Files talks to Joshua Aubuchon about “the game,” Makers’ Mark and freeing growlers

4th Floor Files talks to Joshua Aubuchon about "the game," Makers' Mark and freeing growlers

State agency to rule on craft brewery tasting rooms exception

Lawmakers drink in grocery store spirits, growlers in legislative hearing

Jack Latvala & craft brew community hope 2015 is the year that 64-ounce growlers become the law