Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Janelle Irwin TaylorApril 29, 2015

A compassionate bill aimed at patients suffering from terminal illnesses is on its way to the governor’s desk. The Right to Try Act by St. Petersburg state Sen. Jeff Brandes earned broad support in the committee stops and has been approved by both chambers. Gov. Rick Scott is expected to sign the bill into law. The law would allow […]

Ryan RayApril 27, 2015

Advocates for ride-sharing firms Lyft and Uber evidently did not reach an agreement this weekend with traditional taxi cab and limousine stakeholders, as a ride sharing policy bill sponsored by Rep. Matt Gaetz was temporarily postponed Monday for the second time in as many appearances on the House floor. HB 817 is generally considered a pro-Uber piece of legislation, but it recently took on […]

Ryan RayApril 24, 2015

A pair of Pinellas County Republicans passed legislation this week that would create a new insurance product designed to keep down rising flood insurance rates, a crucial issue in the Tampa Bay Area they represent. SB 1094 by Sen. Jeff Brandes of St. Petersburg was approved on the House floor today by a vote of […]

James CallApril 21, 2015

Word had been spreading through the Capitol this week that the attempt to broaden Florida’s medicinal marijuana law had hit a roadblock. Monday when the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee considered a Right to Try Act, allowing terminally ill patients to use experimental drugs and procedures, no attempt was made to include marijuana in the proposal. […]

James CallApril 19, 2015

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Florida is poised to take a significant step in making medicinal cannabis available to people who need it. This week, decisions by lawmakers at the Florida Capitol and an administrative court judge could determine when and how. Frustrated by legal challenges preventing implementation of the Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act of 2014 lawmakers are pursuing a legislative fix allowing […]

James CallApril 16, 2015

Growers may want to start planning to plant cannabis seeds. Whether the authorization will come under the Compassionate Medicinal Cannabis Act of 2014, or SPB 7066, which is moving in the Senate or under an amended bill is still unclear. Rep. Matt Gaetz, however, said Thursday that Florida “is on the back 9” in clearing […]

James CallApril 15, 2015

As the House met in full session Wednesday morning, patient advocates were abuzz about a new amendment allowing terminally ill patients to use medicinal marijuana. Rep. Matt Gaetz tried to attach it to the bill that would create the Right to Try Act, which would allow patients to use experimental drugs and devices that have completed […]

Mitch PerryApril 15, 2015

Although David Jolly has now publicly stated that he won’t make an official decision about leaving his congressional seat to run for the U.S. Senate until the Fourth of July holiday, you can bet he and his advisers are weighing the pros and cons of such a decision right now. One of his calculations simply has to […]

James CallApril 14, 2015

Efforts to put the brakes on the use of red-light cameras by municipalities stalled in the Florida Senate on Tuesday, but is continuing to cruise in the House. Sen. Jeff Brandes and Rep. Brian Avila say the money the cameras raise in fines should be used for public safety programs. An OPPAGA report found that most of the […]

James CallApril 14, 2015

A significant rewrite is coming to the Charlotte’s Web glitch bill, according to a variety of sources. Tuesday morning, SPB 7066 sponsor Sen. Rob Bradley pulled the proposal from the Senate floor after lawmakers filed seven amendments late Monday. Lawmakers and stakeholders say the move gives them more time to continue to work on refining the Bradley […]

Tag: Jeff Brandes
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Jeff Brandes’ Right to Try Act heads to governor

Legislature’s Uber regulation efforts stuck in neutral

Flood insurance reform bill passes both legislative chambers

Jeff Brandes on higher levels of THC: Wait until next year

Important week ahead for medical marijuana advocates

Five minutes with Matt Gaetz, talking FDA lies and being on the back 9 with medicinal marijuana

House joins medical marijuana debate this session

How CD 13 race might shake out if David Jolly runs for U.S. Senate

Red-light camera crackdown stalls in Senate, gets green light in House

Charlotte’s Web glitch bill pulled from Senate floor, rewrite is underway