Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Bob SparksApril 21, 2015

In order to adjourn on time, all 160 members of the Florida Legislature must have a budget on their desks sometime on April 28. Florida law requires legislators have at least 72 hours to look over the budget before voting on it just before sine die on May 1. The odds of completing a budget […]

Bruce RitchieApril 14, 2015

A controversial House growth management bill passed its final committee stop on the way to the House floor on Tuesday. HB 933, which originally combined seven separate House growth management bills, includes provisions eliminating the “development of regional impact” review process for larger developments and requiring a property rights element in local government comprehensive land […]

Drew WilsonApril 14, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott signed HB 7069 Tuesday, reducing the number of tests Florida public school students take as well as making changes to teacher evaluations and school year start dates. “This legislation reduces the number of tests our students take, including the 11th grade English Language Arts test that we eliminated this year through an […]

Bruce RitchieApril 8, 2015

A pilot program is a small step — but it is a step forward nonetheless, critics of disposable plastic shopping bags said Wednesday. A Senate committee on Wednesday approved a bill that allows coastal communities to create a 2-1/2-year pilot program to regulate or ban plastic bags. Critics say plastic bags become litter that choke […]

Bruce RitchieApril 6, 2015

Critics of a wide-ranging House growth management bill say that a section would undermine local development planning by requiring approval of agricultural lands that are nearly surrounded by development. HB 933, by Rep. Mike La Rosa, a Republican from St. Cloud, is scheduled to be heard Tuesday by the House Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations […]

Peter SchorschMarch 31, 2015

Continuing this occasional series, we update you on who’s in the Departure Lounge. In the DL today are David Christian and Brad Swanson, formerly two of the top players at the Florida Chamber of Commerce. Christian, previously the Vice President of Government Affairs, has accepted a position with Florida Hospital. After serving seven years with […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 24, 2015

A Senate bill that shifts from utilities to local government the cost of moving power lines and other utilities in easements for roadway expansions passed a Senate committee on Monday despite opposition from local governments. SB 896 by Sen. Jeff Brades, a Republican from St. Petersburg, was prompted by a dispute between the city of Cape […]

Peter SchorschMarch 23, 2015

It’s been an interesting six months for Republican political operative Mike Grissom, someone we’ve described as one of the brightest minds in Florida politics. After inexplicably leaving the Florida Chamber of Commerce, the former Executive Director of the Republican Party of Florida quarterbacked Leslie Dougher’s unsuccessful re-election bid as Chair of the RPOF. Since then, […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 18, 2015

A House bill prompted by a U. S. Supreme Court case involving a Florida landowner is pitting property rights supporters against local governments. The Supreme Court in 2013 overturned a Florida Supreme Court ruling against the late Coy A. Koontz Sr., who sought to build on 3.7 of his 15 acres in Orange County. The […]

James CallMarch 9, 2015

It was a day of testing at the state Capitol. The House Education Committee took about an hour to dispose of an overhaul of Florida’s school accountability system. The measure reducing testing and allowing an earlier start date of the school year sailed through with a few concerns expressed and a unanimous vote. While the […]

Tag: Florida Chamber of Commerce
Aerial photo courtesy Jesse Biter.

Bob Sparks: So far for this Legislature, the FHIX is not in

Growth bill headed to House floor with opposition from cities, counties

Rick Scott signs bill to cut school testing

Bill doesn’t lift prohibition on plastic bag bans but allows pilot programs

Growth bill critics target “constrained” agricultural parcels language

In the Departure Lounge: The Florida Chamber’s David Christian and Brad Swanson

Cities, counties say bill would stick them with costs for moving roadside utilities

The return of Mike Grissom

House bill pits cities and counties vs. property rights supporters

The day that was in Florida Politics — March 9