Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaSeptember 13, 2018

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A Canadian mining concern this week said it had finalized a deal to merge with Trulieve, a Florida medical marijuana provider. Toronto-based Schyan Exploration Inc. will combine with Trulieve Inc. to become Trulieve Cannabis Corp. It will trade stock publicly in Canada. The agreement was announced Tuesday. The closing date for the transaction is expected […]

Peter SchorschJune 23, 2018

A noon Friday deadline to make the ballot for a state legislative seat has come and gone, and 25 incumbent lawmakers (and two fresh faces) have already punched their tickets to Tallahassee. Of the 27 races that are now officially over, Republicans won a half-dozen. Most notable among that crowd is incoming House Speaker Jose […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 25, 2018

A group supporting a wave of first-time candidates for elected office took out a full-page ad in the Sunday edition of the Sun-Sentinel calling on Floridians to run against NRA-backed state lawmakers in 2018. The Run for Something ad states “The NRA is killing our kids” at the top and then includes an sheet with […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 31, 2018

A trio of alcoholic beverage-related bills moved through a House panel Tuesday: — Beer advertisements in theme parks would be allowed under a bill approved by the Careers and Competition Subcommittee. That measure (HB 669) was approved 13-2, with chair Halsey Beshears, a Monticello Republican, and Rep. Larry Ahern, a Seminole Republican, casting ‘no’ votes. […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 29, 2018

I’m just back from the Capital City and word is that a broad group of community leaders are heavily recruiting Bill Montford to run for Tallahassee Mayor. With a cloud hanging over some members of the Commission (both Andrew Gillum and Scott Maddox have been repeatedly mentioned in conjunction with an ongoing FBI investigation) and […]

Phil AmmannDecember 19, 2017

With a tip of the hat to LobbyTools, here are the latest movements – both on and off – of the legislative merry-go-round. Off and on: Lily Tysinger, a legislative analyst for the Senate Majority Office, now serves as a program specialist in the Office of the Senate Secretary. Off: Josie Tomkow is no longer an […]

Phil AmmannNovember 7, 2017

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With a tip of the hat to LobbyTools, here are the latest movements – both on and off – of the legislative merry-go-round. On: Aisha Bien-Aime is the new legislative assistant for Ocoee Democratic Sen. Randolph Bracy. On: Amelia Johnson Smith is district secretary for Melbourne Republican Sen. Debbie Mayfield. On and off: Staz Guntek has replaced Joseph […]

Peter SchorschOctober 16, 2017

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Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis on Monday announced that the Department of Financial Services’ long-time legislative affairs director, Elizabeth Boyd, has been promoted to Deputy Chief Financial Officer. In this new role, Elizabeth will oversee the Department’s legislative affairs, research and planning, cabinet and communications offices, as well as the Division of Consumer Services and […]

Drew WilsonOctober 9, 2017

Conservative group Americans for Prosperity Florida praised a House proposal that would relax regulations and fees levied on some professional licenses and nix certain requirements for registering new ventures with the state. “People want jobs, not roadblocks. Let’s free entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams and build better lives for themselves and their families by getting […]

Scott PowersApril 3, 2017

If anyone has ever tried to insert a passive integration transponder tag into a lionfish, they may have an idea of how seriously the Florida House Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee is viewing control of invasive species. Under House Bill 587, lionfish become one of three invasive species animals, along with python snakes and tegu […]

Tag: Halsey Beshears

More marijuana dealmaking: Trulieve merging with Canadian company

25 state lawmakers re-elected without opposition

Run for Something ad highlights unopposed Florida lawmakers with NRA ties

Bottoms up: Booze bills moving in House

Bill Montford stepping down after Session … to run for Tallahassee Mayor?

Latest on the legislative staffing merry-go-round

Latest on the legislative staffing merry-go-round

Personnel note: Elizabeth Boyd named state’s Deputy CFO

AFP-FL lauds House bill to slash occupational license regulations

Lionfish tagging, hunting pythons, designating reefs: bills pass House committee