Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaJanuary 4, 2017

A bill to exempt fantasy sports play from state gambling regulation has again been filed in the Florida Legislature. State Rep. Jason Brodeur, a Sanford Republican, filed a measure (HB 149) on Wednesday. The bill would clarify that fantasy contests “reflect the relative knowledge and skill of the participants” and are not games of chance […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 3, 2017

On Tuesday, Sen. Rob Bradley introduced Senate Bill 234, which is intended to change the appropriations formula of 2014’s Water and Land Constitutional Amendment. Specifically, Bradley wants to ensure that the St. Johns River Water Management District gets its share. And as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Environment and Natural Resources, the Clay County […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 2, 2017

Ballard Partners will continue its representation of daily fantasy sports (DFS) companies into 2017, according to lobbying registration records reviewed Monday. Brian Ballard and the lobbyists who work for him, including former state Rep. Chris Dorworth, have begun registering their representation for the 2017 Legislative Session, some effective as early as this week. Chief among those interests are DraftKings and FanDuel, the DFS giants who announced […]

Jim RosicaDecember 30, 2016

From algebra to Zika, 2016 brought a plethora of material to the Capitol Press Corps. Trying to pick the top state government stories is a subjective pursuit, to say the least, but here are the FloridaPolitics.com picks for the passing year. In (kind of) chronological order: — Kevin McCarty ousted as state Insurance Commissioner, replaced by […]

Staff ReportsDecember 29, 2016

It’s now up to his new colleagues whether Bobby Powell gets to stay a state senator. Powell, a Riviera Beach Democrat, was elected to Senate District 30 this year after serving four years in the House. But his opponent, Republican candidate Ron Berman, challenged the results with a “notice of contest,” according to reports. Because the Senate […]

Joe HendersonDecember 23, 2016

Let’s say you’re a teenager and you do something stupid. I know, hard to believe, right? Maybe you get caught with a small amount of pot, or you’re in the wrong place when a fight breaks out. Maybe you’re out with the guys and ended up someplace you shouldn’t, or you committed a petty theft. […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterDecember 20, 2016

Sen. Anitere Flores has filed a bill to decriminalize youthful transgressions, a top priority for Senate President Joe Negron. Flores, a Miami Republican and the Senate President Pro Tempore, filed Senate Bill 196 on Tuesday. The measure allows law enforcement officers to issue juveniles who admit to committing a first-time misdemeanor a civil citation or […]

Mitch PerryDecember 20, 2016

At a town-hall meeting in Tampa’s Ybor City, newly-elected Senate District 19 Democrat Darryl Rouson said he feels that, finally, a serious attempt at criminal justice reform is going to take place in the Florida Legislature in 2017. “It’s my intention to change the Black Caucus this year so that all 28 members … really stand up […]

Jim RosicaDecember 19, 2016

As expected, Florida’s 29 Republican members of the Electoral College on Monday cast their vote for Donald Trump for president and Mike Pence for vice president. The electors are among Florida’s most loyal Republicans. They were chosen by the state GOP and approved by Gov. Rick Scott. The votes were cast as dozens of protesters […]

Joe HendersonDecember 19, 2016

Last April, in a news release by his office after signing HB-7099, Gov. Rick Scott bragged, “Over the past two years, Florida has cut more than $1 billion in taxes.” What a happy day that must have been for the governor. He has never met a tax he wouldn’t cut or gut, and that bill […]

Tag: Joe Negron
Image via AP.

Fantasy sports bill filed again in Legislature

Rob Bradley seeks Amendment 1 money for St. Johns River

Ballard Partners will continue repping daily fantasy sports sites

Jim Rosica’s review of top state government stories in 2016

Senate will determine whether Bobby Powell stays or goes

Push is on to decriminalize minor youth offenses

Anitere Flores files bill aimed at decriminalizing youth

At town hall in Ybor City, Darryl Rouson says climate is good for “true” criminal justice reform

Donald Trump wins all votes of Florida’s Electoral College

Rick Scott wants it both ways: cut taxes, fund services. Can it be done?