Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersJuly 30, 2018

Citing problems in Florida, Michigan and at least four other states, Florida’s Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson joined a colleague from Michigan Monday morning in asking the Federal Trade Commission to investigate SunPass contractor Conduent State & Local Solutions for possible illegal wrongdoing. The Florida Department of Transportation contracted with the Maryland-based company for $287 […]

Drew WilsonJanuary 10, 2018

A bill that would allow police to pull over and ticket drivers who are texting cleared its second Senate panel Wednesday, with a unanimous vote from the Senate Committee on Transportation. Texting while driving is currently a ‘secondary offense’ in Florida, meaning law enforcement can tack on an additional charge for texting motorists who are […]

Scott PowersMarch 22, 2017

State Sen. Linda Stewart is pushing the creation of an “Orlando United” specialty license plate to commemorate the city’s unity in the wake of last summer’s Pulse nightclub massacre, and to raise funds for mental health organizations. Stewart, the Orlando Democrat who introduced Senate Bill 1232, will get her first chance to present it today […]

Drew WilsonMarch 20, 2017

The Senate Transportation Committee unanimously approved a bill Tuesday that would require private rail companies to add safety features along their tracks, a move maligned by officials at All Aboard Florida. SB 386’s safety standards require passenger rail companies to install features such as positive train control, which helps prevent train-on-train collisions, and a remote […]

Associated PressMarch 20, 2017

The House on Wednesday is expected to take up a bill that would ban red-light cameras in the state. The bill (HB 6007), which has easily passed House committees and is slated for a Wednesday floor session, would repeal a law that allows cities and counties to install and use red-light cameras. The ban would […]

Ryan RayFebruary 4, 2016

A key Senate panel narrowly passed a proposal to effectively end the use of red light cameras around the state of Florida on Thursday. The Senate Transportation Committee passed the bill by a 4-3 party-line vote. Bill sponsor St. Petersburg Sen. Jeff Brandes, who also chairs the panel, said the bill simply reflects the public policy reality […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 6, 2016

The chairman of the Florida Senate’s Transportation committee has filed legislation aimed at reining in the burgeoning number of specialty license plates. State Sen. Jeff Brandes, a St. Petersburg Republican, filed the bill (SB 1390) on Wednesday. The state’s Department of Motor Vehicles and Highway Safety now lists 124 approved and available specialty plates. Now, groups in Florida […]

Rosanne DunkelbergerDecember 2, 2015

Standing in front of the Tallahassee Automobile Museum on a rainy Tuesday morning, Sen. Jeff Brandes was talking about a coming technology that will revolutionize travel as much as the Model-T Fords on display inside the building did in the early 20th century. In the background was an Audi A7 “piloted driving” concept car named Jack, ready to […]

Ryan RayOctober 8, 2015

The Senate Transportation Committee heard testimony from staff of two state agencies and a circuit court judge on Thursday morning as it continued to seek answers about a Florida driver licensing regime previous witnesses have called “cruel.” Panel Chairman Jeff Brandes wrote a handful of key administrators last month saying, “It is the intent of the committee […]

Ryan RayJune 3, 2015

The Senate’s FHIX 2.0 health care insurance plan carried the day in the upper chamber by a vote of 33-3 Wednesday afternoon. It came after an hours-long session of back-patting and exhortations to the House to join them on their quest for a health care “revolution,” as one senator called it. Warm feelings and high-minded speeches rang […]

Tag: Senate Transportation Committee

Bill Nelson, Michigan senator seek federal inquiry into SunPass contractor

Texting while driving ban clears second Senate panel

Linda Stewart pushing ‘Orlando United’ specialty license plate

All Aboard Florida says Senate railroad bill ‘unconstitutionally targets one company’

House to take up red-light camera repeal

Senate panel passes red light camera preemption 4-3

Jeff Brandes cracking down on specialty auto tags

Jack, take the wheel

Transportation panel inches closer to driver’s license suspensions fix

Jeff Brandes bucks Senate, votes “no” on revamped FHIX health care plan