Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Staff ReportsMarch 15, 2017

The House Insurance and Banking Subcommittee approved an assignment of benefits reform bill Tuesday. The bill links fees to pre-litigation offers of judgment and requires policyholders receive notice if a contractor files suit. “The Consumer Protection Coalition applauds Rep. Jamie Grant and House leadership for taking on the issue of Assignment of Benefits fraud and […]

Mitch PerryMarch 14, 2017

Legislation to provide statewide regulations for transportation network companies (TNC’s) advanced in its latest committee stop in the Florida Senate Tuesday. St. Petersburg Republican Jeff Brandes‘ bill (SB 340) received only two votes in opposition in clearing the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, though there were substantial concerns expressed about funding for paratransit that animated the debate. […]

Jim RosicaMarch 8, 2017

A lawyer for the widow of a Florida man “addict(ed) to cigarettes” asked the state Supreme Court Monday to reinstate her $30 million jury award for punitive damages. Tallahassee attorney John S. Mills, who represents Joan Schoeff, told the court the conduct of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.(RJR)—in selling a product they knew was killing 500,000 people a year—stopped just short […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 7, 2017

The Senate Environmental Preservation & Conservation Committee unanimously approved a bill to ban fracking Tuesday, marking a reversal from previous legislative actions on the issue. “Florida has such a unique geological make up and one-of-a-kind environment that we should not be putting it at risk by allowing fracking in the State of Florida,” said Sen. […]

Scott PowersFebruary 28, 2017

With Florida’s 2011 law forbidding doctors from talking to patients about guns struck down in federal appeals court, state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith and state Sen. Gary Farmer are seeking to repeal it. The law, introduced in 2011 by Republican state Rep. Jason Brodeur of Sanford as the “Firearm Owners’ Privacy Act” has been derided […]

Scott PowersFebruary 14, 2017

Two South Florida lawmakers are hoping to get Florida to make some amends for one of the darkest moments of the racist Jim Crow days, with bills seeking exoneration for the so called “Groveland Four,” young black men and teenagers killed or imprisoned over false 1949 rape charges. State Rep. Bobby DuBose and state Sen. […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJanuary 30, 2017

The list of incumbents eyeing re-election just keeps getting longer. State elections records show dozens of members of the state House and Senate have filed to run for re-election in 2018, and several more are looking ahead to 2020. Sen. Gary Farmer is one of those lawmakers thinking about his next race. He filed to […]

Scott PowersJanuary 23, 2017

Two bills that would increase Bright Future scholarship benefits and rework how colleges and universities measure progress and deal with top professors sailed through the Florida Senate Education Committee Monday. Senate Bills 2 and 4, both introduced by Sen. Bill Galvano, drew some concerns about how they might affect non-traditional and working students but little […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 20, 2017

Tampa Republican state Senator Dana Young will announce her legislation to ban fracking next week, her office said on Friday. During her successful campaign to win the Senate District 18 seat last fall, Young promised that she would introduce such a ban, after she was accused of actually supporting the controversial practice of extracting natural gas and oil during the […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 11, 2017

A large protest is being planned this weekend at the Suwannee River State Park against the construction of the Sabal Trail Pipeline. Activists fear that the $3.2 billion, 515-mile natural gas pipeline that is intended to run through North Florida into Central Florida will create a huge environmental calamity and contaminate the state’s drink water supply. Construction […]

Tag: Gary Farmer

Capitol Reax: AOB reform, workers compensation, medical marijuana, gun bills

Bill regulating ride-sharing in Florida advances in Senate Committee

Smoker’s widow fights for multimillion-dollar jury award

Senate committee unanimously approves bill to ban fracking

Carlos Guillermo Smith, Gary Farmer seek to repeal ‘Docs vs. Glocks’

‘Groveland Four’s’ haunting 1949 injustice addressed in resolutions

More legislative hopefuls file to run in 2018, 2020

Bill Galvano’s higher-ed reform bills sail through Senate committee

Dana Young to unveil anti-fracking legislation next week

Nearly 90,000 people have signed Tim Canova’s petition to stop Sabal Trail Pipeline