Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryMarch 28, 2017

Momentum remains strong in Tallahassee for the first bill in Florida to regulate ridesharing companies Uber and Lyft. On Tuesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed the proposal (SB 340) unanimously without debate. The bill, sponsored by St. Petersburg Republican Jeff Brandes, would require ride-sharing companies to carry $100,000 of insurance for bodily injury or death and $25,000 for property […]

Mitch PerryMarch 28, 2017

9e02e247-4c24-49b9-a969-0bd4ae706bee.c10.jpg

A bill to repeal all local ordinances and regulations on vacation rental homes, rolling them back to 2011 levels, advanced Tuesday in the House Careers and Competition Subcommittee. The proposal, by St. Cloud Republican Mike LaRosa (HB 425), would require local governments in Florida to treat vacation rental homes like any other home in any given neighborhood. […]

Mitch PerryMarch 22, 2017

A proposal to allow people with concealed-weapons licenses to store firearms with security officers at courthouses advanced in the Florida Senate Wednesday. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Greg Steube (SB 616), is one of 10 firearms-related pieces of legislation the Sarasota Republican has introduced in the current Session. Unlike many of those proposals, however, opposition to this bill isn’t as fevered in […]

Peter SchorschMarch 21, 2017

Republican Rep. Greg Steube was called out in an op-ed in his hometown paper, the Sarasota Herald Tribune, for his sponsorship of a bill that would preempt local governments when it comes to vacation rentals. Steube’s bill, SB 188, would prohibit local laws enacted after a certain June 1, 2011, from barring or regulating vacation rentals, such as those […]

Scott PowersMarch 21, 2017

The move to strip cities and counties of their authority to explicitly regulate vacation rental homes got approval of another Florida Senate committee Tuesday despite impassioned pleas from several local government representatives that the bill could expand what they see as emerging community chaos. Sen. Greg Steube, sponsor of Senate Bill 188, defended the measure […]

William PatrickMarch 16, 2017

It’s Sunshine Week in the Sunshine State, and not just because it’s Spring Break. Since 2005, open government and freedom of information advocates have designated March 13-19 as a time to celebrate public transparency and raise awareness about the critical importance of access to government records. Sunshine Week is timed to coincide with the birthday […]

Drew WilsonMarch 16, 2017

The House Health and Human Services Committee sent bills that would allow direct primary care agreements and overnight stays in ambulatory surgery centers to the House floor Thursday HB 161 would allow patients and their physicians to enter into direct primary care agreements, an alternative to traditional health care plans. Under such agreements, patients pay […]

Drew WilsonMarch 14, 2017

A bill allowing patients to stay overnight in ambulatory surgery centers cleared its first Senate committee Tuesday with a 4-1 vote. SB 222 by Sarasota Republican Rep. Greg Steube would allow patients to stay up to 24 hours at ASCs, a type of medical facility dedicated to less complicated, generally elective surgeries. ASCs don’t provide […]

Jim RosicaMarch 9, 2017

Screen-Shot-2017-03-09-at-11.12.28-AM-e1489075996677.png

A Senate bill that would allow plaintiffs to recover prejudgment interest on noneconomic claims, including pain and suffering, was suddenly postponed during its final review panel Thursday. Sen. Rob Bradley, a Fleming Island Republican, moved to yank the bill (SB 334) from consideration during its public comment period before the Rules Committee. When done during […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 6, 2017

A bill giving judges some discretion over whether to award attorney’s fees in public records cases cleared its second committee hearing Monday, but not before being amended in an attempt to alleviate opponents concerns. The bill (SB 80), sponsored by Sen. Greg Steube, aims to give judges discretion in whether they should award fees to […]

Tag: Greg Steube

Senate Judiciary Committee gives big win for ridesharing regulation

Bill to deregulate vacation rentals advances in House Committee

With little debate, Senate advances Greg Steube’s courthouse carry gun bill

Greg Steube called out by hometown paper for vacation rental bill

Vacation rentals de-reg bill gets nod despite pleas from cities, counties

Sunshine Week: First Amendment Foundation goes to bat for Florida’s right to know

Bills allowing overnight stays in ambulatory surgery centers, direct primary care agreements ready for House floor

Bill allowing overnight ambulatory surgery stay clears Senate committee

Senate Rules panel temporarily postpones prejudgment interest bill

Controversial public records bill clears second Senate panel