Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Phil AmmannApril 23, 2017

Florida’s business rent tax is one of the outstanding issues at play as lawmakers crawl toward sine die of the 2017 Legislative Session, set for May 5. As the only state-sanctioned sales tax on commercial leases in the entire nation, a pair of bills now making way through the Florida Capitol that attempt to lighten […]

Bruce RitchieMay 1, 2015

Another legislative session dubbed the “year of water” failed to deliver in 2015 as the House went home early over a health care spending dispute with the Senate. HB 7003, a water bill that was a legislative priority of House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, passed the House by a 106-9 vote on the second day of […]

Bruce RitchieApril 29, 2015

The Senate on Wednesday voted to strip off amendments it passed to a bill involving Duke Energy Florida and financing for its Crystal River nuclear plant and sent the bill to the governor. HB 7109 would allow Duke Energy to issue bonds to cover $1.4 billion in operating costs prior to the shutdown of its Crystal […]

Bruce RitchieApril 29, 2015

A House bill establishing comprehensive water policy was amended and passed by the Senate on Wednesday, but was dead because the House had adjourned on Tuesday. House bills dealing with hydraulic fracturing were not voted on in the Senate because their Senate sponsor said they lacked the two-thirds vote needed. The 2015 Legislative Session continued […]

Bruce RitchieApril 27, 2015

A bill that would allow Duke Energy Florida to issue bonds for the shutdown of its Crystal River nuclear plant isn’t necessarily doomed in the House because of bill changes made by the Senate on Friday, a leading House supporter said. HB 7109 allows Duke Energy Florida to issue bonds for the $1.4 billion nuclear […]

Bruce RitchieApril 23, 2015

A Senate bill amendment to bar legislators from being on the Public Service Commission within two years of leaving office was withdrawn Thursday. Sen. John Legg, a Republican from Lutz, had filed the amendment to SB 288, a PSC bill that was brought up on second reading Thursday. The amendment was withdrawn because of a […]

Bruce RitchieApril 22, 2015

Sen. John Legg says he considers former Rep. Jimmy Patronis to be a friend and a fine man, but he doesn’t think he should have gone so quickly from the Legislature to the Public Service Commission. So Legg has filed a bill amendment he said is aimed at preventing that from happening in the future. Patronis, […]

Bruce RitchieApril 21, 2015

The Florida House on Tuesday voted down bill amendments that would have repealed or scaled back a 2006 state law that allows utilities to charge in advance for nuclear power plants that may never be built. HB 7109 is a bill that establishes term limits for Public Service Commission members and provides for Duke Energy […]

Bruce RitchieApril 20, 2015

Democrats have filed at least 16 amendments to a House bill involving the shutdown of the Crystal River nuclear plant to include eliminating the advanced cost recovery fee for nuclear power plants. HB 7109 was amended in its final committee stop on April 9 to include a deal allowing Duke Energy Florida to seek Public […]

Bruce RitchieApril 16, 2015

Sen. Jack Latvala on Thursday cautioned against any elected state official opposing his bill that would allow Duke Energy Florida to issue bonds for closing its Crystal River nuclear plant. His warning came after a vote on the House version was delayed this week. Duke says the plant closing cost is $1.4 billion. Latvala said […]

Business rent tax cuts still in play in House, Senate

“Year of water” failed along with most environmental bills

Senate passes Duke/PSC bill after House rejected amendments

Water, fracking bills die as Senate meets without House

Duke Energy bill not doomed by Senate changes, key House supporter says

PSC/Duke Energy bill teed up for Senate vote after amendment withdrawn

Amendment filed to stop Legislature-to-PSC pipeline

Democrats’ amendments repealing nuclear fees voted down

House Democrats pile amendments on nuclear plant bill

Jack Latvala warns against opposing his nuke plant financing bill