Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 2, 2016

Sen. Don Gaetz is hoping to breathe new life into a proposal that allows concealed weapon permit holders to openly carry their weapons. The Niceville Republican filed an amendment Wednesday evening to a bill (SB 612) sponsored by Sen. Alan Hays that looks to remove slungshots from the state’s concealed weapon law. Hays’ bill allows […]

Phil AmmannMarch 1, 2016

A Senate committee passed a bill seeking to reform assignment-of-benefits for water damage claims on property insurance rates across the state. LobbyTools reports that SB 1248, from Miami Republican Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, takes several steps to reduce abuse of AOB agreements, which allow third parties to claim the insurance benefits resulting from loss, […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 22, 2016

Brandon state Sen. Tom Lee, conspicuously missing on a list last fall of Florida state senators backing Jeb Bush‘s presidential aspirations, said Monday he’s foursquare behind Marco Rubio for the GOP presidential nomination. “Beyond being a good friend, Marco Rubio is a committed conservative leader with a unrivaled record of accomplishment in Florida and Washington,” Lee said […]

Staff ReportsFebruary 17, 2016

The Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee on Wednesday voted 5-3 to approve a bill that targets funding for family planning and women’s health. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Kelli Stargel, says clinics that offer abortion services, like Planned Parenthood, are prohibited from receiving state funding. Laura Goodhue, executive director of the Florida Alliance […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 17, 2016

Hundreds of immigration activists held a rally on the fourth floor of the state Capitol in Tallahassee on Wednesday, blasting state lawmakers for producing a raft of bills this Session that the protesters consider hostile to the immigration community. Those activists received good news this past week, though, when Miami Republican Miguel Diaz de la Portillan, chairman […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorFebruary 17, 2016

The Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday postponed a vote on a measure that would regulate homeowners’ ability to sign over their right to collect insurance benefits to third parties. Logan McFaddin, state government relations manager for the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI), issued this statement: “Assignment of Benefits (AOB) abuse is a critical […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 28, 2016

The woman who was thrown out of a Senate committee meeting Thursday was unapologetic about her outburst, saying lawmakers deserved it. Cynthia Wheeler, a nurse and child-support activist from Palm Beach County, has come to Tallahassee before to speak on family-law related bills. She was in the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday for a bill (SB […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 27, 2016

Although the Senate bill to remove the statue of a Confederate general from one of Florida’s two places in the National Statuary Hall Collection advanced in committee Wednesday, it was hardly smooth sailing. Momentum for such legislation began last summer, after the South Carolina Legislature removed the Confederate battle flag from its statehouse grounds after a racist […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 27, 2016

Although Pasco County Republican John Legg’s bill in the Senate that would remove the statue of Confederate Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith from Florida’s place in the National Statuary Hall Collection in Washington, D.C. advanced in committee on Wednesday, it was hardly smooth sailing. Momentum for such legislation began last summer, in the immediate aftermath of the South Carolina Legislature voted […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 26, 2016

A bill that would extend protection from discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression in Florida was to be debated and voted in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday. However, time considerations precluded that from happening so it will come back before the same committee next week. “We’re going to dedicate up to […]

Tag: Miguel Diaz de la Portilla
Mike Johnson. Image via AP.

Don Gaetz files amendment in attempt to resurrect open carry of guns proposal

Senate committee passes assignment-of-benefits reform in water damage insurance claims

Tom Lee is now backing Marco Rubio for president

Capitol Reax: Abortion, Florida Keys Stewardship Act, certificates of need, guns, balance billing, gaming

Immigration activists descend upon Tallahassee

Assignment of benefits bill postponed; insurers group urges action

Child-support activist ejected from Senate panel vows to return

Proposal to remove Confederate statue passes through Senate panel after debate

Proposal to remove Confederate Statue passes thru Senate Committee, but not without considerable debate

Time runs out before Senate panel can vote on LGBT rights bill