Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Bruce RitchieApril 15, 2015

Florida is the only state with more than 600 black bears that doesn’t allow bear hunting, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission staff said in opening remarks during a commission meeting Wednesday in Tallahassee. And 32 of the nation’s 41 states with black bears allow hunting, said Diane Eggeman, director of FWC’s Division of Hunting […]

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 9, 2015

A bill that delays a ban on the disposal of septic tank waste on farm fields across the state passed the House in anticipation of a state study of the waste disposal practice. Florida has 2.6 million septic tanks scattered across the state that annually produce 100 million gallons of waste, called septage, when they […]

Bruce RitchieApril 8, 2015

A pilot program is a small step — but it is a step forward nonetheless, critics of disposable plastic shopping bags said Wednesday. A Senate committee on Wednesday approved a bill that allows coastal communities to create a 2-1/2-year pilot program to regulate or ban plastic bags. Critics say plastic bags become litter that choke […]

Bruce RitchieApril 7, 2015

Rep. Matt Caldwell said Tuesday he hopes a series of amendments he filed will make his HB 7135 state lands bill acceptable to environmental opponents. The bill is scheduled to be considered at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday by the House Appropriations Committee. HB 7135 would allow the Cabinet to give away state parks and other state […]

Bruce RitchieApril 2, 2015

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As lobbyist Stephanie Kunkel, representing the Conservancy of Southwest Florida and Clean Water Action, approached the podium on Tuesday to speak on a Senate oil and gas fracking bill, there was a murmur through the committee room packed with fracking opponents. “Sellout,” one man muttered before Kunkel started speaking. The Conservancy of Southwest Florida and […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 31, 2015

Amendment 1 supporters on Tuesday flooded senators with calls urging them to support funding for land-buying in advance of Senate floor action on the state budget Wednesday. In November, 75 percent of voters statewide supported the water and land conservation funding initiative that provides an estimated $741 million in the 2015-16 state budget. The proposed […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 30, 2015

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An amendment filed Monday — and later withdrawn — by the chairman of a Senate committee would have placed a ban on state permits for oil and gas fracking until a study of the practice can be completed in 2016. SB 1468 by Sen. Garrett Richter, a Republican from Bradenton, requires the state to develop […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 26, 2015

Despite opposition from environmental groups, a House committee on Thursday voted to file a bill allowing the Cabinet to give state park lands to adjacent landowners. The committee bill, SAC 15-02, also would establish “low-impact agriculture” as a management goal for state lands along with existing goals such as recreation and protection of endangered species. Rep. […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 26, 2015

A proposed House committee bill being considered Thursday would require state park managers to allow “low-impact agriculture” on parks and allow adjacent landowners to acquire state land. The House State Affairs Committee, meeting at 1 p.m., will consider proposed committee bill SAC 15-02. In 2013, HB 33 by Rep. Jimmie T. Smith, a Republican from […]

Tag: Sierra Club Florida
Image via AP

Dramatic increase in conflicts led to bear hunting proposal, FWC chairman says

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

Bill delaying septic waste ban passes House with calls for study, springs protection

Bill doesn’t lift prohibition on plastic bag bans but allows pilot programs

Matt Caldwell seeks support with amendments to state lands giveaway bill

Enviro groups that support fracking bills thread the needle

With Senate budget amendments teed up, calls flood senators

Senate committee chair seeks to ban fracking during study

House panel files bill allowing state land giveaways for conservation

Rewind to 2013: House bill would allow adjacent landowners to acquire state land