Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaSeptember 28, 2016

A Christian school in Tampa is suing the state’s high-school athletics oversight body over its ban on pre-game prayer broadcast over loudspeakers. Cambridge Christian School filed its suit Tuesday against the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) in federal court. The lawsuit says the association violated the school’s constitutional right to religious speech. The school says the FHSAA “refused to […]

Jim RosicaApril 15, 2016

Smaller private, charter and Christian schools in Florida say the state’s high-school athletics oversight body is preventing them from competing for state championships despite a new state law approved by Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday. But a spokesman for the organization, the Florida High School Athletics Association, says they’re simply enforcing a policy that’s been on the […]

Jim RosicaMarch 7, 2016

One of several bills aimed at overhauling the state’s oversight body for high school athletics was passed by the Florida House of Representatives on Monday. The House passed the measure (HB 31) by state Rep. Ross Spano, a Dover Republican, on a 109-0 vote. Its main provision is that it would allow private schools to join the Florida High School Athletic […]

Guest AuthorFebruary 19, 2016

Gov. Rick Scott has long positioned Florida as a formidable foe to Texas when it comes to job creation. For years, he has pushed his “jobs, jobs, jobs” agenda by holding up the Lone Star State as a model for Florida to emulate. But a new measure making its way through the Legislature should help […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 14, 2016

Hours after the House moved its own legislation reining in the state’s oversight body for high school athletics, the Senate on Thursday heard its own versions, moving forward two competing reforms. The PreK-12 Education Committee, chaired by GOP state Sen. John Legg, approved both SB 1026 and SB 684, both aimed at changing the way the Florida High School Athletic Association […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 14, 2016

One of several bills that would overhaul the state’s oversight body for high school athletics was approved again by a House panel Thursday. The Education Committee OK’d the measure (HB 31) by state Rep. Ross Spano, a Dover Republican, without objection. It had been cleared earlier by the Education Appropriations Subcommittee in December during a committee week. Its main […]

Jim RosicaDecember 3, 2015

A Florida House panel on Thursday unanimously approved yet another bill aimed at the state’s oversight body for high school athletics. But the bill’s sponsor explained that the legislation (EDC 16-01) would put into state law much of what the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) already has in its internal bylaws. “There’s a lot of agreement here,” […]

Jim RosicaDecember 1, 2015

The state’s oversight body for high school athletics is way down at the half, after the first of two House review panels unanimously OK’d legislation that would overhaul the organization. The House Education Appropriations subcommittee on Tuesday cleared the bill (HB 31) filed by state Rep. Ross Spano, a Dover Republican. It would change the way the Florida High […]

Jim RosicaNovember 25, 2015

One of several bills aimed at overhauling the state’s oversight body for high school athletics will be heard by a House panel next week. The bill (HB 31) is set to be considered by the Education Appropriations subcommittee next Tuesday, records show. State Rep. Ross Spano, a Dover Republican, filed the legislation for the 2016 Legislative Session. […]

Jim RosicaOctober 30, 2015

Two Republican state senators have filed omnibus education legislation that, among other things, would ease eligibility requirements to play in high school athletics. Sens. Don Gaetz of Niceville and Kelli Stargel of Lakeland filed the 25-page bill (SB 684) on Friday for the 2016 Legislative Session. Lawmakers have filed legislation five years in a row aimed at the Florida […]

Tag: high school athletics

Christian school sues over state’s ban on prayer over PA systems

Small detail in big education bill causing major headache in high school athletics

House passes high-school sports bill

William Mattox: Legislators should let high-school athletes attend school of their choice

Competing high-school athletics bills moving in Senate

High school athletics bill moves in House

Another high school athletics bill moves in House

High school athletics bill clears first House committee

High school athletics bill set for hearing

Far-reaching high school athletics bill filed in Senate