Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterDecember 20, 2016

Sen. Anitere Flores has filed a bill to decriminalize youthful transgressions, a top priority for Senate President Joe Negron. Flores, a Miami Republican and the Senate President Pro Tempore, filed Senate Bill 196 on Tuesday. The measure allows law enforcement officers to issue juveniles who admit to committing a first-time misdemeanor a civil citation or […]

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, […]

Scott PowersDecember 14, 2016

Turnover of staff at Florida’s prisons is so high that a substantial majority of guards in some prisons have less than two years experience, Corrections Secretary Julie Jones said Wednesday before the Senate Criminal Justice Appropriations Subcommittee. Jones was at the subcommittee’s introductory meeting to push hers’ and Gov. Rick Scott administration’s priorities. They start with […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 13, 2016

With the opioid epidemic unceasing in the Sunshine State, a bill in the Florida Senate would tighten penalties against trafficking in fentanyl and synthetic drugs. Senate Bill 150, introduced by GOP Sen. Greg Steube from Sarasota, would also impose penalties related to selling, manufacturing, or delivering fentanyl and synthetic drugs “performed within a dwelling.” This would […]

Peter SchorschDecember 9, 2016

It will come as no surprise that trial lawyers are looking to shoot the moon this Legislative Session. They already made a power play during the 2016 election cycle. The Florida Justice Association, through its political committee Florida Justice PAC, spent $4.5 million since the beginning of 2015, much of which went to candidates or […]

Scott PowersDecember 9, 2016

With his potentially-groundbreaking appointment to chair the Florida Senate Criminal Justice Committee, state Sen. Randolph Bracy is pledging to take an aggressive approach to criminal justice reform in Florida. The Orlando-area Democrat’s chairmanship, announced last week by Republican Senate President Joe Negron, is highly unusual for three reasons: because Bracy is a Democrat, a freshman […]

Michael MolineDecember 8, 2016

Sen. Rob Bradley reintroduced legislation Thursday clarifying that prosecutors have the burden of proving that shootings are unjustified under Florida’s Stand Your Ground law. The Republican from Fleming Island said the measure would overturn the Florida Supreme Court ruling in Bretherick v. Florida. In that 2015 opinion, a 5-2 court said people charged in shootings must […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterDecember 5, 2016

Florida lawmakers could once again consider whether computer coding classes should be counted as a foreign language credit. Sen. Jeff Brandes filed legislation Monday to allow Florida high schools to offer computer coding classes that “along with the earning of a related industry certification satisfies two credits of sequential foreign language instruction.” Senate Bill 104 […]

Jim RosicaDecember 1, 2016

An aide to then-Florida state Sen. Maria Lorts Sachs has sued his former employer, saying she “exposed (him) to unwelcome sexual conduct” by frequently undressing in front of him. Matthew Damsky sued the Florida Senate in Leon County Circuit Civil court this week on gender discrimination and retaliation charges. The 68-year-old Sachs, elected to the […]

Anne LindbergNovember 29, 2016

When the dust cleared in Tallahassee on Tuesday, one thing was clear: Pinellas was on top when it comes to the state’s funds. Republican Sens. Jack Latvala and Jeff Brandes, who represent parts of Pinellas, landed some plum appointments. Latvala will be the chair of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee and alt. chair of the Joint […]

Tag: Florida Senate

Anitere Flores files bill aimed at decriminalizing youth

Helmets would be required for motorcyclists under proposed bill

Julie Jones says prisons need higher pay to stop ‘churn in the hiring’

Senate bill would strengthen fentanyl trafficking penalties

Trial lawyers must be very happy with Florida Senate committee assignments

Randolph Bracy intends to be aggressive toward reform as Senate Criminal Justice Committee chair

Rob Bradley revives bill shifting Stand Your Ground burden to prosecutors

Jeff Brandes files computer coding as foreign language bill

Former Maria Sachs aide sues for discrimination, retaliation

Jack Latvala, Jeff Brandes will help control the purse strings in Tallahassee next year