Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Ana CeballosFebruary 13, 2018

A House proposal that would change the way law enforcement officers get their hands on data from a person’s cellphone was pushed on Tuesday to its last committee assignment. Republican state Rep. Jamie Grant said his bill (HB 1249) would require police to “reflect constitutional due process” when they search a person’s phone-location records as […]

Ana CeballosFebruary 8, 2018

The Florida House and Senate on Thursday passed their spending plans differing by only about $100 million — a tenth of a percent of the roughly $87 billion proposed by each chamber. The starting point for final budget negotiations on what is the largest proposed budget in state history is more than a week ahead […]

Ana CeballosFebruary 8, 2018

A House bill that would do away with the “most commonly performed” method of abortion in Florida was advanced on Wednesday, with some Republicans welcoming challenges in court if it is deemed unconstitutional upon passage. The chances of the bill passing this Session, however, are unlikely. The companion bill in the Senate has yet to hold […]

Scott PowersFebruary 7, 2018

Most Floridians want the right to rent out a bedroom, or their whole home, or their rental property, as short-term lodging for vacationers. A new survey conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy and released Tuesday finds that 73 percent of Floridians believe they and their neighbors should have the right to rent out their primary […]

Ana CeballosFebruary 6, 2018

Law enforcement officers in Florida could soon need probable cause and warrants to access a suspect’s mobile location tracking device. Those potential new restrictions are provided in a Senate bill (SB 1256) that cleared its first committee stop on Tuesday. The proposal, sponsored by St. Petersburg Republican Sen. Jeff Brandes, would also make it a crime to […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 17, 2018

A House panel on Wednesday adopted a “strike-all” amendment to a bill that would change regulatory requirements governing the payday-lending industry, which consumer advocates criticize for creating “debt traps” for poor Floridians. The proposal would comply with new federal rules set last year by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau last year meant to ensure lenders […]

Scott PowersJanuary 17, 2018

Now that four people have been killed after somehow walking or bicycling into Brightline railroad trains’ paths, the state senator who has been pushing for Florida to regulate safety for the state’s new high-speed, private passenger rail service decried whether there have been enough tragedies for the state to start considering train safety. “How many […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 17, 2018

Wouldn’t you want to know if your taxpayer dollars were being used to lie to women about their health? That’s exactly what is happening here in Florida. Each year, the Florida Legislature funnels taxpayer dollars to “crisis pregnancy centers,” (CPCs) anti-abortion organizations posing as legitimate health care clinics. Under the guise of providing reproductive health services and pregnancy-related information, these fake clinics shame […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 17, 2018

A pair of measures that would reform the state campaign finance system, including barring Gov. Rick Scott and Cabinet members from raising money during Session, cleared a House panel on Wednesday with bipartisan support. State Rep. Evan Jenne said his proposal, HB 707, is a “common sense rule” and not “an indictment or finger pointing” […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 4, 2018

This week I asked to join litigation against the Palm Beach County School Board. As a working mother of two young sons, this is not a battle I wanted to fight. But I have little choice. The school board is mistreating charter school students, including my younger son. Board members have filed a lawsuit against […]

Tag: Florida Legislature

House panel advances bill adding protections to cellphone searches

Florida’s biggest spending plan ever ready for final negotiations

Republicans advance bill banning certain abortions, welcome court challenges

Survey finds Floridians want right to rent out their homes to vacationers

Bill criminalizing unpermitted access to electronic devices moves forward

Payday lending bill moves ahead in House

With four Brightline pedestrian deaths, Debbie Mayfield imploring need for state safety regulation

Dr. Nicole Fanarjian, Sarah Lipton-Lubet: Florida lawmakers are subsidizing anti-abortion lies

Campaign finance reforms advance with bipartisan support

Marleny Olivo: Palm Beach School Board should stop attacking charter school students