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Staff ReportsMay 9, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott signed legislation Tuesday pledging $800 million in bonds toward Senate President Joe Negron’s signature project — a $1.5 billion plan to restore Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades by building a reservoir south of the lake. Scott had signaled his intention to sign the legislation earlier in the week, calling Everglades restoration “a […]

Michael MolineMay 8, 2017

House Speaker Richard Corcoran and Senate President Joe Negron took the opportunity to crow a little upon the conclusion of the 2017 Legislative Session. Even if it did run over a little. The two held a joint news conference in the Capitol Rotunda following sine die to brag on what the Legislature had accomplished. “For […]

Michael MolineMay 5, 2017

Senate President Joe Negron said Friday that the Senate was waiting to vote on two bills and then would retire for the evening. Those bills, he said, were the joint resolution extending the session past its midnight expiration time, into Monday, so the House and Senate could debate an $83 billion compromise budget and conforming […]

Michael MolineMay 5, 2017

The House and Senate staged one last conference committee Friday, agreeing on budget conforming bills containing sweeping policy changes, on public schools, higher education, economic incentives programs and more. House Speaker Richard Corcoran and Senate President Joe Negron did the honors personally, leading delegations to a committee room to present and consider offers on the […]

Michael MolineMay 2, 2017

Senate President Joe Negron conceded the obvious Tuesday night: The House and Senate won’t wrap up budget negotiations in time to adjourn as scheduled on Friday. “You know the timetable as well as I do, with the 72-hour requirement. So we will definitely not complete the budget work prior to the end of Friday, and […]

Michael MolineMay 2, 2017

The Senate adopted an amendment Tuesday easing mandatory-minimum prison sentences in a bill cracking down on trafficking in synthetic opioids, including fentanyl and carfentanil. Senate President Joe Negron ruled that Sen. Randolph Bracy’s amendment had passed on a voice vote, following an impassioned debate touching on the drugs’ dangers and the damage minimum-mandatory sentencing has […]

Michael MolineMay 1, 2017

Senate President Joe Negron held out hope Monday evening that he and House Speaker Richard Corcoran could resolve lingering disagreements about the state budget in time to present a bill Tuesday and adjourn as scheduled on Friday. “I know there was some real good progress made today on a number of issues, particularly in the […]

Michael MolineApril 27, 2017

The House-Senate budget conference committee convened Thursday, exchanged pleasantries, and dispersed to begin working toward a compromise $83 billion spending plan for next fiscal year. “Let the games begin,” said Senate Appropriations Chairman Jack Latvala, who’ll serve as chairman of the conference. “We look forward to making quick and aggressive counter-offers, and we look forward […]

Michael MolineApril 27, 2017

The House and Senate agreed upon the outlines of a state budget Thursday and appointed conferees to work out the details, beginning that afternoon. Senate President Joe Negron said the deal would provide an across-the-board raise for state workers — their first in about nine years, according to Appropriations Chairman Jack Latvala, for whom the […]

Michael MolineApril 26, 2017

House and Senate negotiators have agreed on the broad outlines of a new state budget, and were haggling over the details before appointing members to conference committees, Senate President Joe Negron said Wednesday. “We’ve reached an agreement on the substance of the budget, and we’ve also reached agreement on a way that we can get […]

Tag: Senate President Joe Negron
South Ocean Boulevard is staying closed for the time being.

Rick Scott signs SB 10, the Lake Okeechobee restoration plan, into law

House, Senate leaders claim historic accomplishments during 2017 session

Joe Negron starts edging toward the exit

Conference committees complete work on budget conforming bills

Joe Negron acknowledges the Legislative Session will enter extra innings

Opioid-crackdown bill picks up potentially deadly amendment in Senate

Joe Negron sees ‘good progress’ toward budget deal as session enters final week

Budget conference committee gets down to work, with time running short

House and Senate settle budget allotments, appoint conference committees

Budget deal would include Lake O plan, lower property taxes for schools