Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaFebruary 4, 2016

A bill aimed at effectively ending permanent alimony is heading to the House floor after clearing its final committee of reference on Thursday. The Judiciary Committee approved the measure (HB 455), sponsored by Republican state Rep. Colleen Burton of Lakeland, by a 14-3 vote. Chiefly, the measure limits judges’ discretion in awarding alimony by providing guidelines for how much an ex-spouse should get and […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 4, 2016

The House bill aimed at overhauling the state’s alimony rules is coming before its last committee before possibly heading to the floor. The Judiciary Committee will consider the bill (HB 455), sponsored by Republican state Rep. Colleen Burton of Lakeland, on Thursday. Among other things, Burton’s bill “effectively end(s) permanent alimony” by limiting judges’ discretion in awarding alimony after a […]

Ryan RayJanuary 13, 2016

A bill to “streamline” the process for minors to expunge their criminal records bill passed unanimously in the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. A pair of Tampa Bay area Republicans – Rep. Chris Latvala of Clearwater and prime co-sponsor Rep. Chris Sprowls – filed the bill (HB 147) in September. The bill would cut a break to […]

Ryan RayAugust 19, 2015

After a tense summer for relations between the state’s judicial and legislative branches, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles McBurney says he will allow his panel to take up proposals to reform the Florida Supreme Court. As first reported by Jessica Bakeman of Politico Florida, McBurney said his committee should consider a broad range of possible reforms, though […]

Guest AuthorJuly 12, 2015

Florida is not an early adapter. Most of the time, our state takes a “wait-and-see” attitude regarding nearly any health policy, social program or economic strategy that has been attempted by another state’s legislature. In some cases, no amount of positive data on a successful program is enough to convince our leadership to move in […]

Ryan RayJune 30, 2015

For the second time this month, Rep. Kathleen Passidomo received plaudits from the Florida Bar. The Trial Lawyers Section gave the Naples Republican its “Legislator of the Year” award on Tuesday, honoring the third-term representative for her work in revising the state’s guardianship laws to protect Florida’s elders from financial exploitation. “I am humbled by this honor […]

Guest AuthorMay 13, 2014

Here’s a quick quiz: the Charlotte’s Web bill that the Legislature passed in the last days of the session is: a) An avalanche b) A “Pandora’s box” c) The first step to legalizing recreational marijuana in Florida d) A harbinger of a vast industry that will let thousands of starry-eyed investors make a ton of […]

Tag: House Judiciary Committee

House alimony reform clears final panel

Alimony bill back before House lawmakers

House bill to expunge juvenile records OK’d unanimously by Judiciary panel

House judiciary panel will take up reforms to state high court

Gary Stein: Needle exchange is the one-buck no-brainer

Trial Lawyers Bar honors Kathleen Passidomo as top legislator

Gary Stein: Do you understand the Charlotte’s Web bill? Take this quiz