Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Phil AmmannJanuary 28, 2016

Florida’s House Education Appropriations Subcommittee released a preliminary budget plan Thursday, two days after the Senate released its version. LobbyTools reports the House is endorsing a higher education budget of $7.26 billion; the Senate spending plan for higher education is slightly less, coming in at $7.25 billion. The House offers $1.205 billion for Florida colleges; the Senate is […]

Scott PowersJanuary 27, 2016

Before the end of this session, the Florida Senate will pass a reform of death penalty laws, Criminal Justice Committee Chairman Greg Evers vowed Wednesday after hearing legal experts say Florida’s system needs reform even without the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down part of it two weeks ago. Evers also declared, “the state of […]

Scott PowersJanuary 27, 2016

Before the end of this Session, the Florida Senate will pass a reform of death penalty laws, Criminal Justice Committee Chairman Greg Evers vowed Wednesday after hearing legal experts say Florida’s system needs reform even without the recent U.S. Supreme Court two weeks ago ruling that struck down part of it. Evers also declared, “the state of […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJanuary 27, 2016

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The Florida League of Cities and the Florida Association of Counties have withdrawn their opposition to a bill prohibiting local governments from banning hydraulic fracturing. Rebecca O’Hara, a lobbyist with the Florida League of Cities, said the decision to drop its opposition came after working with sponsors of the bill (HB 191/SB 318) to reach […]

Drew WilsonJanuary 21, 2016

A bill that would cut $10 off the cost of a concealed weapon license was unanimously OK’d Thursday by the Senate Subcommittee on General Government Appropriations. The measure (SB 772) would drop the cost of new concealed weapons permits from $70 to $60, and renewals would go from $60 to $50. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Garrett […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJanuary 21, 2016

The state’s appropriations process is expected begin next week. Budget subcommittees will meet Jan. 28 to review their portions of the budget, with the complete draft budget scheduled to be published on Jan. 29, reported Tia Mitchell with The Florida Times-Union. The full committee is set to vote on the budget Feb. 3, before a […]

Associated PressJanuary 20, 2016

Leaders of Florida’s Republican-controlled state Senate have decided they won’t fight a judge’s ruling that could signal the end of GOP domination in the Legislature. Senate leaders announced Wednesday that they will accept a new map for Florida’s 40 state senate districts approved last month by a circuit judge. Judge George Reynolds, in a widely […]

Associated PressJanuary 15, 2016

In what Senate President Andy Gardiner called the last of a “trifecta” of first-week bills, a measure to help people with disabilities get jobs is heading to Gov. Rick Scott. The Florida Senate unanimously approved the bill (HB 7003) on Friday. Gardiner, an Orlando Republican, has a son with Down syndrome and has pushed several bills this year […]

Associated PressJanuary 15, 2016

The Florida Senate is going to change its official seal one more time. The Senate last year voted to remove the Confederate battle flag from the official seal but did not make a final decision on what the new seal should look like. A temporary version without the battle flag was placed in the Senate […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 13, 2016

The sausage-making began in earnest Wednesday morning, as the Florida Senate teed up nine bills for final approval and passed a sweeping $95 million educational policy bill and a water protection measure desired by House Speaker Steve Crisafulli. The education bill (SB 672) was sponsored by GOP state Sen. Don Gaetz of Niceville, a former schools superintendent. Among other […]

Tag: Florida Senate
Family members appear behind a pile of debris outside their home in Steinhatchee, Fla., Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, after Hurricane Helene slammed Florida's Big Bend as a Category 4 storm Thursday night. (Ashleigh Lucas/WUFT News)

House, Senate release education budget proposals for 2016-2017

Greg Evers vows Florida Senate will reform Florida’s death penalty law

Greg Evers vows state Senate will reform Florida’s death penalty law

Florida Association of Counties and Florida League of Cities drop opposition to fracking bill

Bill would cut cost for concealed weapon license

Report: State lawmakers expected to unveil budget next week

Legal battle over state Senate districts coming to an end

Legislature passes measure to aid disabled

New Florida Senate seal limited to U.S. and Florida flags

Senate passes education, water bills