Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaAugust 29, 2016

A Florida appeals court has ruled state agencies don’t have to give a specific reason when they black out an individual bit of information in a document produced under a public-records request. Specifically, a three-judge panel of the the 1st District Court of Appeal said the state’s “Public Records Act does not require agencies to […]

Jim RosicaJuly 25, 2016

A judge has allowed People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) to intervene in a public records lawsuit involving an animal research lab. Circuit Judge Terry Lewis of Tallahassee issued his order in the case Friday. “…PETA shall be considered for all purposes a party defendant in this action, and all pleadings and papers shall be served upon […]

Associated PressJune 30, 2016

Florida legislators passed 279 bills during this year’s session three months ago, and 162 of them take effect on Friday with the start of the state’s fiscal year, affecting school choice, abortion, tax cuts and many more aspects of life in the Sunshine State. Here’s a roundup of some of the measures taking effect: BUDGET: […]

Scott PowersJune 23, 2016

The City of Orlando and a long list of news media are headed to court to decide whether scores of phone call recordings of the Pulse nightclub massacre should be released to the public. Media companies including the Associated Press, the Orlando Sentinel, several Orlando TV stations, various other newspaper companies, TV networks and online […]

Jim RosicaMay 26, 2016

The state’s Department of Agriculture is asking a court to speed up its handling of a public records lawsuit involving an animal research lab. The department filed its answer Wednesday in Leon County circuit civil court. That filing reveals the case “was triggered by a public records request by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).” It’s not […]

Jim RosicaMay 18, 2016

An animal research lab has filed suit to prevent the release of public records it says contain “trade secrets.” Primate Products, Inc. first wants a temporary injunction to prevent the state’s Department of Agriculture from releasing those records until the case’s final disposition. The company, with offices in Immokalee and Miami, breeds and sells “nonhuman primates for […]

Ryan RayMarch 24, 2016

A day after signing nine bills into law on Wednesday, Gov. Rick Scott gave final approval to 33 bills passed during the 2016 Legislative Session late Thursday morning. The raft of newly enacted legislation includes HB 93 by Democratic Rep. Shevrin Jones, which requires Florida law enforcement agencies to “establish policies and procedures regarding the use” of police body cameras. […]

Associated PressMarch 16, 2016

When the editor of a gay-oriented newspaper in Florida requested records that he thought should be public, he cast a wide net, asking that the email of every employee of the Broward County Sheriff’s Office be searched for specific gay slurs over a five-month period. The sheriff’s office initially told Jason Parsley that his request […]

William MarchMarch 14, 2016

When Florida state House Minority Leader Mark Pafford puts a 6 a.m. workout before his legislative meetings on his daily schedule, it’s a public record. When concerned parent Kimberly Jones of Plantation emails House Speaker Steve Crisafulli saying she has two children going to Florida State University and wants him to oppose a bill allowing […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 20, 2016

Despite the Florida House of Representatives’ frequent complaint of judicial overreach, a House panel Wednesday OK’d a measure that would put more power in the hands of judges as it possibly weakens the state’s public record law. The Government Operations Subcommittee by a 12-0 vote approved the bill (HB 1021) that gives judges discretion whether to award attorney […]

Tag: public records

Miami Herald loses appeal of ‘black outs’ in public records

PETA wins round in public records fight over monkeys

Abortion, budget, tax cuts among new Florida laws

Media and City of Orlando go to court over Pulse nightclub massacre tapes

Ag. Department says PETA triggered public records fight

Animal research lab suing to prevent release of records

Rick Scott signs raft of 33 bills into law

Obtaining police emails can take months, cost thousands

In Florida, most legislative documents are public records

House panel clears what critics call “weakening” of open government