Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 9, 2015

State Senator Jeff Brandes filed legislation Monday that would put into place a series of protections for students enrolled in private Florida colleges, vocational schools or any other private post-secondary institution. The bill aims to address small private pop-up colleges that notoriously charge high fees on top of a relatively small general tuition leading students […]

Ryan RayNovember 4, 2015

In a quick 20-minute hearing Wednesday morning, the Senate Regulated Industries Committee passed bills to allow lottery tickets to be sold in machines and to require cosmetics makers to register with the state. The Senate panel, led by Chairman Sen. Rob Bradley, an Orange Park Republican and former prosecutor, passed both bills without much debate. Sen. Jeff Brandes said […]

Matthew IsbellNovember 3, 2015

A good deal has happened with the ongoing redistricting saga during the past several days. The state Senate passed its proposed districts with a controversial amendment attached. The House redistricting committee passed their own amended version of the map, and the coalition plaintiffs now have put forward three proposals. We’ll now look over each development. […]

Ryan RayNovember 3, 2015

A pair of bills to allow businesses to write off the costs of installing solar panels on commercial properties got the green light Tuesday from a Senate panel. “Occasionally a bill comes along both the Baptists and the bootleggers can agree on, and this is one of those proposals,” said St. Petersburg Sen. Jeff Brandes. The […]

Peter SchorschNovember 2, 2015

When Jack Latvala isn’t pulling in a six-figure monthly haul for his political committee, it would appears he’s hard at work pulling in a six-figure monthly haul for his re-election campaign. Latvala’s campaign has pulled in $172,752 in the first 19 days it was in operation, and only spent $6,090, leaving his campaign account with $166,662 cash […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorOctober 27, 2015

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The Florida Department of Children and Families announced two key appointments Tuesday. Michael Wickersheim will be the agency’s legislative affairs director. Tim Parson, the employee who formerly held that post, will now be the executive staff director for Florida’s Drug Policy Advisory Council. “We are excited to bring Michael on board as we head into […]

Jim RosicaOctober 22, 2015

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Making the Tampa Bay region look like a game of Twister, Senate Rules Chairman David Simmons late Thursday filed his own proposed map redrawing the state’s Senate districts. For instance, Simmons’ map creates a 16th District that takes in about the same area currently represented by GOP Sen. Jack Latvala of Clearwater, not by jumping the bay, […]

Phil AmmannOctober 20, 2015

State Sen. Jeff Brandes is looking to help Florida communities address the effects of coastal flooding. On Tuesday, the St. Petersburg Republican filed SB 584, a bill to create a statewide flood mitigation and assistance program, providing up to $50 million per year in matching grant money. The money would help reduce the risk and severity […]

Jim RosicaOctober 15, 2015

Two Tampa Bay-area lawmakers have filed legislation in both chambers to boost the state’s research and development, or R&D, tax credit. State Sen. Jeff Brandes, a St. Petersburg Republican, and state Rep. Ed Narain, a Tampa Democrat, filed the identical bills (SB 508/HB 311) earlier this week. The bill is a priority of the Florida Chamber of […]

Jim RosicaOctober 14, 2015

The Florida Legislature on Wednesday released six proposed new maps for state Senate districts before the start of a three-week Special Session on redistricting. All of the staff-drawn maps, however, contain districts that cross Tampa Bay. That runs afoul of direction the Florida Supreme Court gave in a similar case involving congressional districts to “avoid crossing Tampa Bay.” […]

Tag: Jeff Brandes
Aerial photo courtesy Jesse Biter.

Jeff Brandes files bill aimed at protecting private college students

Regulated Industries panel clears automated lotto tickets, cosmetics bills

Matthew Isbell: New coalition maps, DLP’S amendment, Oliva’s plan, and where things now stand in redistricting

Bills to encourage solar panel installations OK’d by Senate panel

Jack Latvala raises more than $172K in first 19 days of re-election campaign

Former Jeff Brandes staff member appointed to DCF role

David Simmons files map for Senate redistricting

Jeff Brandes files bill creating state flood mitigation program

Lawmakers move to increase R & D tax credit

New maps for state Senate include districts crossing Tampa Bay