Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterApril 4, 2017

Recess scored a big win the Senate, but the proposal faces an uphill climb in the House. The Senate voted 36-0 to approve a bill (SB 78) that would require school districts provide students in kindergarten through fifth grade with 20 minutes of recess each day. The vote marks a big milestone in the Senate, […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterApril 3, 2017

A Senate panel is poised to approve legislation this week that could add five more medical marijuana treatment centers in Florida by October and lower the threshold for adding additional treatment centers in the future. The Senate Health Policy Committee is scheduled to discuss and vote on a bill (SB 406), sponsored by Sen. Rob […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 31, 2017

A new survey from the Florida Hospital Association shows strong support among Florida voters to keep — or in many increase — state funding for Medicaid programs. The survey, conducted by Public Opinion Strategies from March 1 through March 5, found Floridians have the most favorable opinion of Medicaid that the association has recorded in six years. […]

Associated PressMarch 30, 2017

Children testifying in court in abuse, abandonment and neglect cases would be allowed the help of therapy animals under a bill passed by the Florida House. The bill passed unanimously Thursday and expands a law that already allows therapy animals for victims testifying in sexual offense cases. A legislative analysis of the bill says that […]

Michael MolineMarch 30, 2017

The House approved legislation Thursday that would require the decertification of any public employee union unless at least 50 percent of the eligible workers in a unit pay dues. HB 11 passed on a vote of 75-41, with many Democrats calling it union busting. “It amazes me that we constantly come up with bills that […]

Michael MolineMarch 30, 2017

The House gave final passage Thursday to a raft of government ethics reforms, including a proposed constitutional amendment to bar legislators and statewide elected officials from lobbying before any state government body or agency for six years. CS/HJR 7001, approved on 108-4 vote, would extend the existing two-year ban. “We’re not casting aspersions on any […]

Michael MolineMarch 29, 2017

A proposed constitutional amendment to impose term limits on justices of the Florida Supreme Court and state appellate judges squeaked through the Florida House Wednesday after a majority defeated a series of unfriendly — even sarcastic — amendments. HJR 1, by Eustis Republican Jennifer Sullivan, won 73 “Yes” votes — one more than the three-fifths support […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 28, 2017

The House PreK-12 Innovation Subcommittee passed its version of the public school recess bill, setting lawmakers on two very different paths when it comes to free play. The committee approved a committee substitute for the bill (HB 67) that would allow school boards to include free-play recess for students in kindergarten through third grade as […]

Associated PressMarch 21, 2017

A bill that would require an ignition interlock device on someone’s vehicle after their first drunken driving conviction has passed its first committee in the Florida House of Representatives. The bill (HB 949) passed the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Tuesday. It must go through two more committees before reaching the House floor. The interlock […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 20, 2017

Florida voters appear to support economic incentives and Visit Florida, at least according to a new survey from the Florida Chamber of Commerce. The survey found 78 percent of Floridians support financial incentives to “encourage companies to stay in Florida or move to Florida from another state in exchange for creating jobs and investing in […]

Tag: Florida House
Aerial photo courtesy Jesse Biter.

Senate OKs mandatory recess bill

Senate amendment quickens pace for medical marijuana treatment center growth

Poll: 45% of Florida voters would like to see increase in Medicaid funding

Florida House passes bill to allow therapy animals in courts

Union-decertification bill clears House on a 75-41 vote

Florida House OKs six-year ban on lobbying by former elected officials

Term limits for Supreme Court, appeals judges clear the House, if barely

House panel approves scaled back version of school recess bill

DUI ignition interlock bill passes House committee

Poll: 78% of Floridians support incentives to ‘encourage companies to stay in … or move to Florida’