Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaFebruary 7, 2017

A bill that would give judges discretion to award attorney fees in public records lawsuits squeaked out of its first review panel Tuesday. The Senate’s Governmental Oversight and Accountability cleared the bill (SB 80) by a 4-3 vote. It goes next to the Community Affairs Committee. The measure changes the word “shall” to “may” regarding courts awarding legal […]

Scott PowersJanuary 6, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott‘s proposal to spend $5.8 billion to beef up state counterterrorism drew a joint endorsement Thursday from the Florida League of Cities and the Florida Police Chiefs Association. The two groups’ leaders signed a statement applauding Scott’s proposal and urging the Florida Legislature to approve it. On Wednesday during stops in Orlando and […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 4, 2017

A House bill would require judges to make specific findings before they can award attorney fees in public records lawsuits. State Rep. Danny Burgess, a Zephyrhills Republican and lawyer, filed the measure (HB 163) on Wednesday. It would require a judge to determine that a public agency “unlawfully refused to permit a public record to be […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 6, 2016

The city of Jacksonville spends over $200,000 a year for association memberships, such as the Florida League of Cities, Florida Association of Counties, National Association of Counties and U.S. Conference of Mayors. But some council members contend that the money isn’t being optimally spent, because restricted travel budgets don’t allow Jacksonville to represent its own […]

Bob SparksDecember 6, 2016

Tallahassee City Commissioner Scott Maddox lives in the City of Tallahassee. While that should not come as man-bites-dog news, it’s not that simple in Florida’s capital. The residency of the former Tallahassee Mayor and Florida Democratic Party Chair was challenged in court by Dr. Erwin Jackson, a frequent city government and Maddox critic. Maddox maintains two […]

Staff ReportsNovember 30, 2016

A bill that would give judges the discretion to award attorney fees in public records lawsuits was refiled Wednesday in the Florida Legislature. New state Sen. Greg Steube, a Sarasota Republican and lawyer, is again behind the legislation (SB 80). He backed a version of the bill last session as a state representative. It passed the […]

Staff ReportsAugust 22, 2016

A former Boca Raton city employee who rose to become its mayor also has become president of the Florida League of Cities. Susan Haynie, a 44-year resident of the city, was installed Monday at the organization’s yearly conference in Hollywood. “We all recognize that the best government is the one closest to the people,” she said in a […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 29, 2016

The fight over juvenile detention costs may be over. Gov. Rick Scott on Tuesday signed a bill (SB 1322) intended to end the battle between the state and several Florida counties over juvenile detention costs. The measure was sponsored by state Sen. Jack Latvala and state Rep. Chris Latvala, and is meant to ends a […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 17, 2016

Florida Building Codes are in for a host of changes under a bill approved Wednesday by the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government. SB 704, sponsored by Elkton Republican state Sen. Travis Hutson, passed with a 5-1 vote. If enacted, the bill would make more than two dozen adjustments to Florida Building Codes. According to […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 16, 2016

A series of rewrites to Florida’s economic-incentive programs, a chief priority of Gov. Rick Scott, passed its first House panel Tuesday afternoon. Lobby Tools reports that HB 1325, from Bradenton Republican Rep. Jim Boyd, seeks to establish a new Florida Enterprise Fund, as well as changes in the process of administering economic incentives for businesses […]

Tag: Florida League of Cities

Public records bill barely gets out of first committee

Rick Scott’s counterterrorism proposal gets cities’, police chiefs’ backing

House bill would affect public records lawsuits

Jacksonville council members hammer out travel budget details

Tallahassee residency case becomes statewide issue

Bill again targets attorney fees in public records cases

Personnel note: Susan Haynie elected president of Florida League of Cities

Rick Scott signs juvenile detention cost-sharing bill

Senate panel passes over 2 dozen changes to Florida Building Codes

House committee OK’s rewrite of state economic incentive program

Florida politics had 11 questions before federal qualifying week. Here are the answers.