Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaApril 27, 2017

A bill to allow beer companies to sponsor “events, activities, or cooperative advertising” at the state’s theme parks is ready for a final vote in the Florida House. The House on Friday will take up the Senate bill (SB 388), sponsored by Republican Sen. Travis Hutson of Elkton. It eases the state’s “tied house evil” law by allowing […]

Jim RosicaApril 24, 2017

A House bill that would have allowed “advertising” by beer companies in the state’s theme parks on Monday morphed into a measure that specifically allows “brand naming agreements.” What “brand naming agreements” are, however, isn’t defined in the bill (HB 423). “I’ll bet you your definition and my definition are two different things,” sponsor Mike […]

Jim RosicaApril 3, 2017

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Let freedom pour: Bills aimed at changing beer and booze regulations in Florida have cleared their latest review panel. The Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee OK’d measures that would allow beer distributors to give free branded beer glasses to bars and restaurants, authorize beer companies to advertise in theme parks and let craft distillers sell more […]

Associated PressMarch 24, 2017

It takes a lot of land to accommodate Cinderella’s castle, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Epcot’s 11-country World Showcase — and a hefty purse to pay the property taxes on it. To cut tax bills in the tens of millions of dollars, the specialists at Orlando’s famous theme parks have employed methods from […]

Jim RosicaMarch 16, 2017

A bill that—as one beer-company insider put it—could allow theme parks to “extort” advertising dollars out of them cleared a Senate panel this week. The legislation (SB 388), which allows beer companies to advertise in theme parks, was OK’d unanimously by the Senate Regulated Industries Committee with scant attention. It chips away at the state’s “tied house evil” law […]

Scott PowersSeptember 21, 2016

The people who brought the world the Ferris wheel restaurant and most other new amusements from zip lines to mega roller coasters are coming to Orlando permanently. The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, an organization of theme parks, amusements, and the companies who invent, design, build or run them, announced early Wednesday morning […]

Scott PowersSeptember 19, 2016

Las Vegas and Orlando. Orlando and Vegas. If you live in one, you know the rivalry and the snarkish back-and-forth putdowns. But when you set aside the casinos, theme parks, and Asian buffet restaurants there still seems to be enough there to rank both among the nation’s most fun cities, according to a new list. […]

Tamara LushAugust 7, 2016

Thank goodness it’s the slow season in Florida. At least that’s what officials and representatives of the state’s multibillion-dollar tourism industry are thinking in the wake of the news that 16 people have been infected with Zika in a small, trendy neighborhood in Miami. The outbreak has sent another chill through the Sunshine State’s all-important […]

Associated PressMay 2, 2016

It’s a crowded world after all – at least in Orlando’s hotels and theme parks. Tourism officials announced Monday that the number of visitors coming to Orlando last year jumped 5.5 percent to more than 66 million visitors. That figure sets a record for tourists in Orlando and helps the central Florida city hang onto […]

Jim RosicaMarch 4, 2016

Future riders of All Aboard Florida would be allowed a tipple as they wait for a train under legislation moving in the Legislature. The already-approved Senate bill (SB 698) was passed by the House Friday on a 115-1 vote, with only Keystone Heights Republican Charles Van Zant opposed. The House added some changes, though, sending it back to […]

Tag: theme parks

Beer advertising bill ready for vote on House floor

Beer advertising bill cleared for House floor

Bottoms up: Beer, booze bills clear Senate committee

Mickey vs. the tax man: Disney, Universal fight tax bills

Senate panel OKs beer bill — that beer companies hate

World’s largest attractions group moving to Orlando

Orlando trails only Vegas in list of America’s most fun cities, but Cincy is 6th?

Florida officials go into damage-control mode over Zika

The Might of Mickey: Orlando still top U.S. destination

Bill would allow booze in All Aboard Florida stations, trains