Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Danny McAuliffeFebruary 22, 2018

A House panel faced a shocking revelation Wednesday — that lawmakers may be soliciting prostitutes in the capital city. Melissa Villar, who did not indicate she represented an organization, dropped a bomb on lawmakers when she said she is familiar with someone living in Tallahassee who operates a “trafficking ring” or “prostitution ring.” That unnamed […]

Ana CeballosFebruary 12, 2018

Legislation that would allow human trafficking victims to sue hotels and other businesses that turned a blind eye to the abuse moved forward in the Senate on Monday. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Lauren Book, intends to give victims more litigation power to recoup economic damages as well as cost for their medical and mental […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 22, 2018

Lawmakers want to put an end to “modern day slavery” by creating a Florida human trafficking hotline under two identical proposals that have yet to gain momentum in the state Legislature. Those advocating for the measures, HB 159 and SB 596, urged lawmakers on Monday to back the proposals and give them hearings in their […]

Ana CeballosNovember 8, 2017

Rep. Ross Spano wants the state to create a trust fund for human trafficking victims, which would be financed by half of the punitive damages traffickers are ordered to pay in court cases. Money from the trust fund would then go to pay for human trafficking prevention programs, medical and mental health examinations and treatments […]

Scott PowersOctober 12, 2017

Eight months after she lit statewide firestorm debates over the death penalty and Florida government separation of powers, and five weeks after she lost those debates in the Florida Supreme Court, Orlando’s State Attorney Aramis Ayala appears at peace. Speaking with a gathering of journalists Thursday morning, the controversial, still-new state attorney for Florida’s 9th […]

Terry RoenOctober 2, 2017

State Attorney General Pam Bondi stressed the importance of global collaboration to end sexual slavery during opening remarks at Florida’s Human Trafficking Summit Monday in Orlando. “If we don’t tackle this worldwide, we’ll never solve the problem,” Bondi said. “This is a transnational crime and a worldwide problem.” Bondi spoke to an audience of more […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 31, 2017

On Monday, a bill designed to expand the city’s human trafficking awareness sign program moved through the first of its two Jacksonville City Council committee stops. Councilman Tommy Hazouri attempts, with this bill (2017-450), to expand the reach of the human trafficking awareness signs that began to be posted in Jacksonville last year after a bill he […]

Guest AuthorJuly 5, 2017

At a time when America faces serious challenges, it is imperative that Washington put aside partisan hostility in favor of common-sense solutions that move our state and nation forward. Some people argue that it’s not possible to reshape the dialogue to a more public-spirited approach, but I believe that Florida can lead by example — […]

Scott PowersJune 1, 2017

Orlando’s reform-pledging yet controversial State Attorney Aramis Ayala defended her anti-death penalty position as “evidence based” and charged that the Florida Legislature’s $1.3 million cut to her budget will hamper anti-human trafficking and domestic violence prosecutions. In a feature published Thursday morning by Orlando-Rising.com, a sister website to FloridaPolitics.com, the rookie state attorney representing Florida’s […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 13, 2017

As we previewed last week, Jacksonville City Councilman Tommy Hazouri is looking to implement the next phase of the city’s response to human trafficking. In 2016, the city began a response, with awareness signs posted in strip clubs and massage parlors. However, Hazouri believes more can be done — and on Monday, the veteran pol met […]

Tag: human trafficking
Jonathan Dickinson State Park. Image via Visit Florida.

Hookers and the House? Woman tells lawmakers their colleagues are ‘johns’

Human trafficking bill allowing victims to sue hotels moves ahead

Bills that would create state trafficking hotline have yet to gain momentum

Lawmakers clash over financing for trafficking victims

Aramis Ayala moving on after losing death penalty battle

Pam Bondi urges collaboration at human trafficking summit

Human trafficking awareness expansion bill clears first Jax Council committee

Vern Buchanan: Fighting our modern-day slavery

Aramis Ayala defends death penalty position, asserts budget cut will hit key programs

Jacksonville leaders move on human trafficking, an ‘industry without borders’