Posted inNews
Trump appoints Florida Republican Joe Gruters to Homeland Security Council
His alliance with Trump dates back to when he was named co-chair of Trump’s first presidential campaign in Florida in 2015
Mitch Perry, Florida Phoenix
Posted inNews
After FSU shooting, Florida Republican proud to have voted against ‘moronic campus carry bill’
Sen. Ileana Garcia joined with Democratic Sens. Jason Pizzo, Mack Bernard, and Carlos Guillermo Smith in opposing the proposal
Posted inNews
Florida House passes bill to restore citizens’ gun rights during local state of emergency
Democratic Rep. Gottlieb said he believed the bill carried ‘wide-ranging implications that could endanger us in society’
Posted inNews
Orlando Rep. Anna Eskamani, advocates say Florida should look at taxing corporations
‘Our taxes should serve working families, not wealthy corporations,’ said Oberlink, legislative director for Florida For All
Posted inNews
Florida House unanimously passes bill to protect state parks from development of pickleball courts, hotels
The measure follows outrage felt across the board last summer after the Florida Department of Environmental Protection proposed to construct lodges, pickleball courts and more in state parks
Posted inCannabis
Florida House panel advances proposal to tax all hemp-derived THC products at 15%
The measure is one of two regarding regulation of hemp-derived THC products that were approved unanimously in the House Budget Committee
Posted inNews
Florida AG James Uthmeier wants to help Orlando state attorney Monique Worrell prosecute more cases
Worrell and Uthmeier have sparred in just the last week
Posted inNews
Distracted driving, shotgun purchases and more bills struggling in Florida Legislature as session nears end
Health care, education, ‘right to repair’ legislation and more proposals are in limbo
Posted inNews
Orlando Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith’s bill to aid businesses harmed by construction advances in Senate
Smith said the impetus for filing the bill was the closing in January of Orlando’s Hammered Lamb
Posted inNews
Florida law enforcement divided on bill that would scrap anonymous complaints against officers
‘It severely damages all of the progress that our profession has made with regard to transparency and accountability,’ Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell said
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Florida House panel advances bill that limits local councils’ power to give themselves raises
The proposal is sponsored by Republicans James Buchanan from Sarasota and Mike Giallombardo from Lee County
Posted inNews
Florida bill requiring E-Verify for all Florida businesses advances to House
Florida is one of 23 states that use E-Verify in some fashion, although only a handful require all private companies to use the system
Posted inNews
Bill to limit development on Florida state parks wins approval in House
The development gave hope to environmentalists and those who enjoy state public parks that this legislation can become law this year
Posted inNews
Florida bill that would allow workers to make less than minimum wage advances to House floor
Paul Cox, an Orlando stagehand, said the bill asks Floridians to waive their constitutional rights to a minimum wage
Posted inNews
Inmate advocates work to air-condition some Florida prisons this legislative session
Nearly three quarters of Florida prisons lack air-conditioning
Posted inNews
Florida House passes tighter restrictions on citizen-led amendments
Its passage comes just five months after two constitutional amendments that would have respectively enshrined abortion rights and legalized recreational cannabis for adults narrowly fell short of passage
Posted inNews
Democrats continue fight for ‘inmate bill of rights’ in Florida prison system
Despite efforts in places like Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas, the prison reform movement largely bypassed Florida
Posted inCannabis
Bill aimed at restricting Florida’s hemp industry heads to Senate floor
This years’s bill (SB 438) is similar to last year’s — with more restrictions
Posted inNews
Bill making it harder for Florida citizens to put amendments on the ballot heads to House floor
An overwhelming number of public speakers denounced the bill, many claiming the GOP-controlled committee and Legislature simply don’t want to have the citizen-led amendment process continue
Posted inNews
Florida Senate committee advances proposal prohibiting use of preferred pronouns in government jobs
The measure would also make it illegal for any local government to require any training, instruction, or other activity on sexual orientation