Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Ryan RayFebruary 29, 2016

The bicameral panel budget charged with writing the state’s budget for courts and law enforcement met for the last time during budget year 2016-17 on Monday. House and Senate leaders said they worked to compromise on “99 percent” of the budget, leaving aside just a handful unresolved of line items and proviso language. Conference Committee […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 29, 2016

A 122-page “proposed committee substitute” that dropped Sunday night on the House’s 2016 gambling legislation would keep intact the guts of the proposed Seminole Compact, while allowing for expanded gambling opportunities throughout the state. The measure, set for consideration in the House Finance and Tax Committee Monday, makes proposed revisions to the new gambling deal (HB […]

Ryan RayFebruary 28, 2016

House and Senate justice budget writers appear within striking range of a deal to reconcile their proposals, which sat at $3.5 million apart after two meetings on Saturday, one-10th of 1 percent over the overall budget. As of Sunday afternoon the gap was narrowed to about $441,939 in general revenue, though the way the money […]

Ryan RayFebruary 27, 2016

Legislative budget writers moved the needle during their second conference meeting Saturday night, narrowing the discrepancies between House and Senate proposals to just $3.5 million dollars, about 0.1 percent of the $4.1 billion proposed criminal and civil justice budget. This time it was the Senate’s turn to make an offer, and committee Vice Chairman Sen. Joe […]

Ryan RayFebruary 27, 2016

The conference committee on the state justice budget appeared Saturday afternoon to be going smoothly, with the House accepting the Senate position on more than two dozen line items, but making different offers on many others. In all the differences totaled nearly $10 million, about $5 million of that in recurring general revenue dollars and some $5 million […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 24, 2016

A bill that bans the state of Florida from doing business with any company that boycotts the nation of Israel has passed through both houses of the Legislature, and will soon go to Governor Rick Scott’s desk. The legislation is a shot at at the growing international movement to boycott, divest and sanction (BDS) the Israeli […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 17, 2016

The proposed $3 billion gambling deal with the Seminole Tribe of Florida got a boost Wednesday when a key Senate panel approved it and another related gambling measure. The Senate Regulated Industries Committee, which oversees gambling in Florida, approved both measures (SB 7072, SB 7074) with four senators opposed: Republicans Aaron Bean of Fernandina Beach, […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 17, 2016

Slot machines could be expanded to six Florida counties that already OK’d them in local referendums under a new measure pushed by Senate President-designate Joe Negron. The Stuart Republican filed his proposal as an amendment to gambling legislation (SB 7072, SB 7074) set to be reviewed Wednesday by his chamber’s Regulated Industries Committee, chaired by state […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 16, 2016

A Senate panel on Tuesday OK’d a measure that would ban the practice of “balance billing,” when insurance companies often unexpectedly slam a customer with a high bill for using an out-of-network health care provider. The measure (SB 1442), carried by GOP state Sen. Rene Garcia of Hialeah, now moves from the Banking and Insurance […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 11, 2016

Legislation that would reform Florida’s civil forfeiture laws advanced in a Senate committee on Thursday. The bill (SB 1044) sponsored by St. Petersburg Republican Jeff Brandes, eliminates civil forfeiture in the state of Florida. Under the proposal, a seizure of assets or property may only take place after the arrest of a property owner, and the final […]

Tag: Joe Negron

Justice budget writers wrap up conference talks, agree on “99%” of priorities

Lawmakers file 122 pages of changes to Seminole Compact

Budget writers nearing deal on courts, legal funding

Justice budget writers closing out differences; House, Senate $3.5 million apart

Justice budgets growing closer together, though $10 million in differences remain

Florida Legislature bans state from doing business with any company that boycotts Israel

Senate panel OKs Seminole Compact, gambling bill

Joe Negron may have votes to advance Compact plan that expands slot machines to 6 counties

Balance billing measure clears 2nd Senate panel

Jeff Brandes’ civil forfeiture reform bill moves in Senate