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Staff ReportsMarch 10, 2018

The 2018 Legislative Session came and went, and Brian Pitts of the advocacy group Justice 2 Jesus was nowhere to be found. One of the last times he was spotted was November at the Oversight, Transparency & Administration Subcommittee. It was the last meeting for former state Rep. Neil Combee and after he said farewell, […]

Drew WilsonMarch 9, 2018

Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam raised $905,630 for his gubernatorial bid in February, ending the month with nearly $17.5 million on hand. Putnam is one of three major Republicans running to replace termed-out Gov. Rick Scott in 2018. He faces U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis and House Speaker Richard Corcoran. Putnam’s campaign finance report is not yet […]

Jim RosicaMarch 9, 2018

The Florida Legislature’s last best chance to pass comprehensive legislation on gambling came up a bad beat on Friday, with a conference committee calling it quits. Senate President Joe Negron and House Speaker Richard Corcoran released a joint statement Friday night. “Despite the good faith efforts of both the House and Senate, a gaming bill […]

Ana CeballosMarch 9, 2018

A much-debated bill that would ban all marriages under the age of 17 passed the Legislature Friday; it now heads to Gov. Rick Scott. A spokesman for Scott said the governor “intends to sign” the bill (SB 140). The vote in the House on the Senate bill was 109-1, with the only ‘no’ vote cast by Republican […]

Drew WilsonMarch 8, 2018

Lawmakers got praise from the Florida Health Care Association Thursday for upping funds to nursing homes in the 2018-19 state budget. “FHCA applauds the Legislature for making the quality care of our frailest elders a priority. We want to especially thank Senate President Joe Negron, who has long been a champion for nursing home residents. […]

Ana CeballosMarch 8, 2018

Legislative leaders closed out the largest proposed budget in state history Thursday that included nearly $90 million in last-minute spending for projects that largely have to do with education. As the House and Senate finalized differences on the roughly $88 billion 2018-19 budget, the supplemental funding — informally known as the “sprinkle fund” — was unveiled in […]

Jim RosicaMarch 7, 2018

The Florida Senate on Wednesday passed the latest version of comprehensive gambling legislation for 2018, and asked the House to go into conference to bang out a compromise. Bill sponsor Travis Hutson offered an amendment to the House bill (HB 7067) that already passed off the floor. The chamber OK’d it 22-10, sending it back. Hutson—a St. Augustine […]

Ana CeballosMarch 7, 2018

Despite being able to run for a final two years in the House, Rep. Larry Lee Jr. announced Wednesday he is pulling the plug on politics. “You get to this point in your life when you say, ‘why do I have to stand up and take all of these acts?’ Because when you continue to lay […]

Ana CeballosMarch 6, 2018

The Florida House Tuesday passed a priority bill for Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam without a toxic gun provision and without considering a contentious bill tied to puppy mills. The language in the House plan was causing heartburn, but state Rep. Jake Raburn, who is sponsoring the House bill, decided to consider the Senate plan, which […]

Staff ReportsMarch 6, 2018

After an hours-long floor session, in which a series of Democratic attempts to change a controversial school safety bill failed, the Republican-controlled House on Tuesday readied the proposal for a final vote. Before that could happen, dozens of amendments sponsored by Democrats were killed. One by Rep. Jared Moskowitz would have removed a ‘guardian program’ […]

Tag: Richard Corcoran

Takeaways from Tallahassee — Where is Justice 2 Jesus?

Adam Putnam raises $905K in February

Snake eyes: Gambling bill dies for 2018

Lawmakers pass ban on minors marrying — but exclude 17-year-olds

FHCA lauds lawmakers for nursing home budget increase

House, Senate reach budget deal with $90m in last-minute spending

Senate passes gambling bill, requests conference

A tearful, fed-up Larry Lee decides to leave House

House passes Adam Putnam’s priority without contentious gun provision

After marathon floor session, House poised to approve school safety bill