Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaFebruary 23, 2016

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Say goodbye to all those yards of fake-wood laminate: The Florida Senate will be shedding the 1970s look of its chamber with a nearly $5 million renovation this year. Senate President Andy Gardiner, in a Jan. 6 memo to fellow senators, said the remodeling will begin this summer. A copy of the memo was provided to FloridaPolitics.com […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 22, 2016

While watching the Florida Legislature debate regulation of services like Uber and Lyft statewide, I couldn’t help but think of a pair of quotes discovered as I was looking up something else. The first quote, from Microsoft founder Bill Gates, came as the House displayed leadership and vision in approving its version of a bill […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 19, 2016

The Florida Senate will consider expanding medical marijuana options to the terminally ill. The Senate is scheduled to discuss Tuesday a bill (SB 460) by Sen. Rob Bradley, a Fleming Island Republican, that adds medical cannabis to the state’s Right to Try Act. Under the proposal, eligible patients and their legal representatives would be able […]

Associated PressFebruary 18, 2016

Florida lawmakers have come up with a way to fix the state’s death penalty and allow the state to resume executions. The Florida House on Thursday voted 93-20 and overwhelmingly passed a death penalty bill that would require at least 10 of 12 jurors to recommend execution for it to be imposed. The Senate is […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 18, 2016

The Florida House wants to give kids a little down time. The House voted 112-2 on Thursday to approve a bill (HB 833) that requires public schools to provide 100 minutes of recess each week in kindergarten through fifth grade. It also applies to sixth-grade students enrolled in schools with one or more elementary grades. […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 18, 2016

The Florida Senate on Thursday began considering a bill creating a legal presumption that parents deserve equal time with their children after a divorce. A vote on the measure (SB 250) could take place next week. In sum, it says starting with the assumption of 50-50 time-sharing at the beginning of custody cases is in […]

Scott PowersFebruary 18, 2016

In an unusual occurrence, four of the state’s best-known university-based political scientists have been brought together to express opposition to House Bill 7059, which aims to unify Florida’s election dates for national, state and local elections. The Florida League of Cities gathered opposition statements from Aubrey Jewett of the University of Central Florida, Susan MacManus from […]

Associated PressFebruary 18, 2016

The heads of 10 Florida state agencies will keep their jobs. The Florida Senate voted Thursday to confirm top officials appointed by Gov. Rick Scott. They also confirmed Rick Swearingen who was appointed the head of Florida’s law-enforcement agency by Scott and members of the Florida Cabinet. The vote was important because state law would […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 18, 2016

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House Speaker Steve Crisafulli on Thursday said the budget conference process won’t begin just yet. The Merritt Island Republican announced the news to members of this chamber in an email: From: Crisafulli, Steve Sent: Thursday, February 18, 2016 9:16 AM Subject: Conference will not begin this weekend Members: There is positive forward progress in the […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 18, 2016

Dozens of state officials whose appointments need Senate approval will be considered Thursday by the Florida Senate, records show. Among Gov. Rick Scott‘s top officials on the docket are Corrections Secretary Julie Jones, Children and Families (DCF) Secretary Mike Carroll, and Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Commissioner Rick Swearingen. Swearingen replaced former Commissioner Gerry Bailey, forced […]

Tag: Florida Senate

No more ’70s paneling: Florida Senate readies for a refresh

The case for why there should be a legislative deal for Uber & Lyft

Medical marijuana expansion bill scheduled to be heard by Florida Senate

Florida comes up with a possible fix to death penalty

Florida House passes bill mandating recess at public schools

Child time-sharing bill goes before full Senate

Top Florida political scientists come out against unified elections

Florida Senate confirms 10 agency heads appointed by Rick Scott

Steve Crisafulli says no budget conference yet

It’s confirmations day in Florida Senate