Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryFebruary 12, 2018

“Concerned, apprehensive, and confused.” That’s the mood on the University of South Florida St. Petersburg campus over the proposed consolidation of the USF System, USF St. Pete student government leaders say. In a letter to GOP lawmakers who are pushing consolidation legislation, student body officials set out their concerns over the proposal to phase out the separate […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 8, 2018

Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Lorde is scheduled to perform in Tampa and Miami this April, but one Republican lawmaker says her shows should be canceled due to her involvement in the BDS movement. BDS stands for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against the Israel government for its treatment of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 7, 2018

Facing of one of the deadliest flu epidemics in the history of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, a Senate committee temporarily postponed a measure which would give Floridians greater access to antiviral medication, critical in the treatment of the flu and strep. SB 524, sponsored by St. Petersburg Republican Jeff Brandes, would allow […]

Ana CeballosFebruary 6, 2018

Pinellas County lawmakers are hoping to implement a pre-arrest diversion program in their county across the state, but on Tuesday some lawmakers in the House opposed the measure because they fear violent offenders may slip through the cracks. “If there’s an Achilles’ heel with the bill it could be the notion that violent offenders could […]

Ana CeballosFebruary 6, 2018

Law enforcement officers in Florida could soon need probable cause and warrants to access a suspect’s mobile location tracking device. Those potential new restrictions are provided in a Senate bill (SB 1256) that cleared its first committee stop on Tuesday. The proposal, sponsored by St. Petersburg Republican Sen. Jeff Brandes, would also make it a crime to […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 6, 2018

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A proposal to expand the number of prisoners on death row who could have their sentences reviewed by a jury was approved by a Senate committee Tuesday. The issue dates back to early 2016 when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Florida’s death penalty was unconstitutional, as it allowed judges to make the final decision […]

Danny McAuliffeFebruary 5, 2018

Hotel advocates are adamantly opposed to a legislative initiative this year that seeks to include public facilities projects in the list of expenditures that can be funded by the tourism development tax, also known as the bed tax. Despite industry woes, the Senate Finance and Tax Appropriations Subcommittee unanimously cleared the proposal on Monday. But […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 30, 2018

A proposal that would give judges discretion over drug trafficking mandatory minimum sentences advanced Tuesday after receiving strong pushback from a veteran Tallahassee lobbyist. “I don’t ever want to help a trafficker, no sir, and I don’t want to give a judge not one iota of an opportunity to go less on a trafficking sentence,” […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 30, 2018

On Tuesday, the Florida Senate Ethics and Elections Committee approved a landmark bill on “Creating the Task Force on the Prevention of Sexual Harassment and Misconduct.” SB 1628, sponsored by Plantation Democrat Lauren Book, mandates that the task force meets every four years. It bars legislators, candidates, agency employees, and lobbyists from sexually harassing anyone, and […]

Staff ReportsJanuary 29, 2018

Two Pinellas County Republicans want reassurance that students at the University of South Florida’s two smaller sister campuses will receive “significant benefits” under a proposed plan to consolidate the three-campus system into a single university. Citing “years of distrust between campuses” in a letter to USF Board of Trustees Chair Brian Lamb, state Rep. Chris […]

Tag: Jeff Brandes
Helene, early Sept. 27. Image via NOAA via AP.

USFSP students ‘apprehensive and confused’ over consolidation

GOP lawmaker wants Lorde’s Florida concerts canceled because of involvement with BDS movement

With hundreds dying from the flu, lawmakers choose inaction

Pre-arrest diversion program bill clears House panel with lingering concerns

Bill criminalizing unpermitted access to electronic devices moves forward

Bill to expand the number of retroactive death penalty cases advances

Expanded use of bed tax revenues gets heat from hotel industry

Bill giving judges discretion over drug trafficking sentences moves forward

Backed by Pam Bondi, Lauren Book’s sexual harassment bill clears Senate panel

Legislative leaders seek reassurance as USF consolidation plan moves ahead