Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Associated PressNovember 7, 2016

Six years ago, Florida voters approved constitutional amendments with the catchy title of “Fair Districts” that promised to end the political games that surrounded drawing legislative and congressional districts. Due to expensive court battles and standoffs in the Florida Legislature, this year’s election will mark the first time the full effort to end gerrymandering will […]

Michael MolineOctober 26, 2016

Cracking down on shady contractors and attorneys is the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation’s top priority for the 2017 legislative session, but officials made clear Wednesday they intend to protect consumers’ rights in drafting their proposals. “It’s our No. 1 priority, but we would like to fix it in a surgical way,” Caitlin Murray, the […]

Jim RosicaOctober 26, 2016

A pivotal hearing in a lawsuit over the state’s environmental funding is coming up in December. Lawyers for the Legislature and environmental advocacy groups are set to argue over a summary judgment motion Dec. 5 before Circuit Judge Charles W. Dodson in Tallahassee. Granting such motions allows parties to win a case without a trial. Florida Wildlife […]

Jim RosicaOctober 24, 2016

The state’s Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) will ask lawmakers next session to consider legislation to “allow law enforcement to use drones for traffic crash management.” The proposed bill is part of a “legislative concepts” package Executive Director Terry Rhodes plans to present at Tuesday’s Florida Cabinet meeting. The state law governing drones, the Freedom […]

Michael MolineOctober 24, 2016

An insurance lobbyist hopes at least to win legislation next year allowing the state to negotiate drug prices for Medicaid patients, and requiring drug companies to disclose more information about their pricing, as a means to control pharmaceutical costs. Price controls, said Paul Sanford of the Florida Insurance Council, would be a much bigger lift, […]

Michael MolineOctober 17, 2016

A state panel struggled Monday to figure out a price tag for the proposed Florida Voter Restoration Amendment, which would automatically restore voting rights to felons who have completed their sentences. The Financial Impact Estimating Conference heard testimony from a variety of state criminal justice agencies indicating it might be hard to nail down what the […]

Associated PressOctober 14, 2016

The fate of convicted killers on Florida’s death row – as well as the fate of people awaiting trial for murder – was put in limbo Friday after the Florida Supreme Court ruled that death sentences require a unanimous jury. By a 5-2 vote the court struck down a newly enacted law allowing a defendant […]

Bob SparksOctober 13, 2016

Floridians now have an extra week to register to vote. The State of Florida, according to a federal judge, has set up “unconstitutional” firm deadlines for voter registration, which must be remedied. The offending statute is 97.055 Florida Statutes that says voter registration “must be closed on the 29th day before each election and must remain […]

Michael MolineOctober 11, 2016

State regulators approved a 5.5 percent increase in water rates Tuesday for residents of a Pasco County retirement community. But Utilities Inc. of Florida can apply the new rates only after it switches from its own discolored, malodorous and nasty-tasting supply to cleaner county water. The new rates will amount to $48,235 per year — […]

Staff ReportsSeptember 30, 2016

Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater is the state’s “Consumer Champion” for 2016, an insurance industry watchdog organization announced this week, citing his support for legislative crackdowns on health and life insurers. The Florida Association for Insurance Reform bestowed the accolade Thursday night during its annual awards ceremony. The awards “recognize insurance and policy leaders whose […]

Tag: Florida Legislature

Will ‘fair districts’ in Florida lead to a fairer outcome?

Insurance regulators provide additional details of legislative priorities

December hearing set for environmental Amendment 1 lawsuit

State’s DHSMV seeking permission to use drones

Insurers hope for drug price transparency legislation — at a minimum

Panel finds no easy answers on costs of voter rights restoration

Florida Court: Jury must unanimously agree on death penalty

Bob Sparks: The unconstitutional burden of voter registration deadlines

Water rate hike approved for Pasco community, but with big string attached

FAIR names Jeff Atwater Florida’s ‘Consumer Champion’