Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterDecember 19, 2016

A Villages Republican has filed legislation that would require motorcyclists to wear helmets. Rep. Don Hahnfeldt filed a bill (HB 6009) Monday to require all riders to wear helmets when operating a motorcycle. The bill strikes the section of the law that current allows riders to operate a motorcycle without a helmet. Under current law, […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterDecember 12, 2016

State lawmakers will once again try to strengthen the state’s texting while driving during the 2017 Legislative Session. Two bills have already been filed in the Florida House aimed at beefing up the state’s texting while driving ban. The first — House Bill 47, sponsored by Reps. Richard Stark and Emily Slosberg — removes language from […]

Michael MolineDecember 7, 2016

The first blow landed Wednesday in an anticipated legislative battle over workers’ compensation, when state House member Cord Byrd of Neptune Beach filed legislation to make participation in the system optional. The bill also would take on attorney fees, a major bone of contention for business leaders in the state. It would allow lawyers to […]

Michael MolineDecember 7, 2016

The Florida Supreme Court has declined to hear former Florida House member David Rivera’s appeal of a recommendation he pay nearly $60,000 in penalties for alleged ethical violations. Chief Justice Jorge Larbarga and justices Barbara Pariente, Peggy Quince and James E.C. Perry signed an order dated Tuesday declining to hear the case. Justice Fred Lewis voted […]

Michael MolineDecember 6, 2016

The Florida House is 76 percent male, 66 percent white, and has an awful lot of newcomers this year, according to data released by the Majority Office. The Republican caucus is 82 percent male and overwhelmingly white, also at 82 percent, with 17 percent Hispanic and 1 percent African-American. That last would be Rep. Byron […]

Michael MolineDecember 6, 2016

Florida House freshmen attended an introductory course to writing a state budget Tuesday. They learned that the process gives them sweeping authority, but within the limits of fiscal reality. At present, Florida government is running a $3 billion reserve within a total budget of around $83.5 billion. But if spending continues at existing levels, that […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterNovember 29, 2016

A push for mandatory play time at Florida’s elementary schools will once again be on the agenda during the 2017 legislative session. Sen. Anitere Flores filed legislation Tuesday that would require school to provide “at least 100 minutes of supervised, safe, and unstructured free play recess” each week. The mandatory recess would apply to students […]

Michael MolineNovember 28, 2016

The Capitol Press Corps got its first scolding, albeit a gentle one, from Richard Corcoran last week. The new House Speaker was repeatedly asked during a news conference about how Senate President Joe Negron‘s priorities during the coming legislative session might conflict with his own. “You people are so conditioned and trained. But so are we — I don’t […]

Michael MolineNovember 22, 2016

Richard Corcoran assumed the speakership of the Florida House during its organizational session Tuesday, promising a new era of good government enforced by unprecedentedly stringent ethics rules and controls on lobbyists. “Good government isn’t a process; it’s a struggle for its leaders to do the right thing,” Corcoran said. “We have to put aside the rhetorical devices […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterNovember 21, 2016

Former state Rep. Dave Murzin has joined Liberty Partners of Tallahassee as the firm’s Northwest Florida Director. “We are honored to have Dave join forces with the Liberty Partners team.” said firm owner and President Jennifer Green in a statement. “This strategic partnership gives us the opportunity to continue to work with a longtime friend and […]

Tag: Florida House

Helmets would be required for motorcyclists under proposed bill

Emily Slosberg files bill to strengthen texting while driving law

House freshman’s workers’ comp bill would render system voluntary

Supreme Court won’t hear David Rivera’s appeal in ethics case

This is your Florida House — men, whites, youth have the numbers

House freshmen get educated on how state budgetary ‘sausage’ is made

Anitere Flores to push for mandatory recess during 2017 session

Richard Corcoran: In the House, “We are very, very conservative”

Richard Corcoran installed as House speaker promising ‘struggle’ to do right

Personnel note: Dave Murzin joins Liberty Partners of Tallahassee as NW Florida director