Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Danny McAuliffeDecember 7, 2017

Legislation providing for a review of efficiency in government procurement is making its way through the Legislature. St. Petersburg Republican Jeff Brandes’ SB 368 cleared the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government Thursday with a unanimous and undebated yes vote. Brandes’ bill — which is accompanied in the House by Wauchula Republican Rep. Ben Albritton’s […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 18, 2017

Tuesday afternoon, the Florida Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government was the latest successful stop for Sen. Dana Young‘s craft beer bill, bringing small-batch brewers one step closer to self-distribution. SB 554 allows craft breweries producing under 7,000 kegs a year to distribute kegs (not bottles or cans) to other Florida craft breweries. That applies as long as […]

Phil AmmannJanuary 28, 2016

Florida environmental agencies will have about $3.6 billion to spend in the 2016-2017 fiscal year, based on recommendations from the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government. Put together by Umatilla Republican Sen. Alan Hays, the Committee released its budget recommendations Thursday, reports LobbyTools. Among other things, Hays’ budget provides $1.5 billion to the Department of Environmental Protection, $1.7 billion […]

Bruce RitchieApril 14, 2015

Despite objections from environmentalists, a Senate subcommittee on Tuesday amended a state lands bill to require that state parks be reviewed to determine whether could be used by “low impact agriculture” or whether the state still needs them. SB 7086 is preferred by environmental groups compared to the House version of the bill, which would allow […]

Bruce RitchieApril 14, 2015

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A bill that would regulate oil and gas hydraulic fracturing was amended by a Senate Committee on Tuesday to place a moratorium on the activity until after a study is completed 2016. Hydraulic fracturing, also known as “high-pressure well-stimulation” or “fracking,” is a process involving the use of water, sand and chemicals to extract oil and gas […]

Bruce RitchieApril 8, 2015

A Senate comprehensive water bill was rewritten Wednesday with changes requested from business and environmental groups, but neither side is yet supporting the bill. SB 918 would establish springs protection zones, provide consistency in pollution regulations dealing with Lake Okeechobee, and incorporate Central Florida water supply planning in state law. The bill passed its second […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 25, 2015

A Senate budget amendment that would have provided $350 million for land-buying was withdrawn Wednesday but the senator who sponsored it said it could come back. In November, 75 percent of voters approved a ballot initiative called Amendment 1 that provides an estimated $741 million in fiscal 2015-16 for water and land conservation. The proposed Senate budget […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 25, 2015

Sen. Thad Altman is backing up his criticism of Amendment 1 funding in the Senate proposed spending plan for 2015-16 with budget amendments to provide $350 million for conservation land-buying. The Senate Committee on Appropriations is scheduled Wednesday to consider the proposed $80.4 billion Senate budget. Amendment 1, approved by voters in November, provides an […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 23, 2015

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Sen. Arthenia Joyner of Tampa, the Senate Democratic leader, is filing a budget amendment to redirect $80 million toward the Florida Forever land-buying program and away from other purposes she said are not consistent with Amendment 1. Approved by 75 percent of voters in November, Amendment 1 is supposed to direct $742 million toward water […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 20, 2015

Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Jon Steverson told a Senate panel this week he wants to cut and sell more trees from state parks — and do it faster. Citing other states that have increased revenue from timber sales on state land, Steverson told senators he is working to make Florida’s state parks financially […]

Tag: Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government

Bill to review government efficiency sails through committee

Dana Young craft beer bill clears Senate subcommittee

Senate recommends $3.6 billion for environmental agencies in 2016-17 budget

Senate amendment requires review of state parks for ag use or disposal

Senate bill amended to ban fracking during study, rule-making

Industry, environmentalists say rewritten Senate water bill better, could be improved

Budget amendment for land-buying withdrawn but may be back, senator says

Senate budget amendment would provide $350 million for land-buying

Arthenia Joyner filing budget amendment to boost land-buying

DEP’s Jon Steverson wants to cut down more trees, do it faster