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✅Bring SB 80 (State Land Management) to a vote

✅Adopt the language of its House companion, HB 209

We're so close to securing a historic victory for our state parks –let’s make sure it doesn’t get derailed by DeSantis’ latest political scheme.
~Sierra Club FL

#SB80
#FLLegislature
#ProtectOurParks

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TaxWatch identifies $157.5 million in 'budget turkeys' improperly added to 2021-22 Florida budget • Florida Phoenix Florida TaxWatch, an independent budget watchdog organization, has identified more than $157.5 million in  so-called “budget turkeys” that it says the Legislature included outside the formal rules within its $101.5 billion budget for the 2021-22 fiscal year. The group urged Gov. Ron DeSantis to veto these projects because they did not receive proper scrutiny during […]

“Every dollar spent by the Legislature deserves to go through the thoughtful, appropriate process." #Florida #FLLegislature

floridaphoenix.com/2021/05/24/tax…

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Gov. DeSantis throws a monkey wrench into efforts to improve FL's paltry unemployment benefits • Florida Phoenix There’s a new obstacle to increasing Florida’s unemployment benefits, which rank among the stingiest in the United States: Gov. Ron DeSantis “Increase benefits? Look, no,” the governor said when asked about the matter during a news conference Friday in Lakeland. “I think we get people back to work. You see or hear these stories about […]

“When the governor makes statements like that, it causes the House, perhaps, to have a hard pause.” #Florida #UnemploymentBenefits #FlLegislature

floridaphoenix.com/2021/04/19/gov…

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"Even though my policy ideals are different from Democrats who served in the Legislature, we had a shared background. A lot of us grew up the same way, we tried to overcome the same things.” #Florida #FLLegislature #BLM

floridaphoenix.com/2021/03/16/a-f…

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China a target of anti-espionage legislation that passed first committee votes in FL House, Senate • Florida Phoenix Legislation increasing penalties for corporate and university espionage — especially when done to benefit overseas countries, particularly China — sailed through its first committee tests Tuesday in the Florida House and Senate. The House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee, the first to take up the idea (HB 1523), took less than two minutes to […]

“We really need to make sure we have the framework in place to prosecute when people steal companies’ innovation, their trade secrets. Or worse, give them to a foreign government that may not be friendly to our interests." #Florida #FlLegislature

floridaphoenix.com/blog/china-a-t…

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Ordinary citizens will largely be left out in the 2021 legislative process • Florida Phoenix With the Florida Legislature convening next week, regular citizens trying to participate in the legislative process will face tough hurdles under COVID-19 protocols set by the House and Senate chambers. For Floridians who want to engage in the process of creating laws and providing testimony, access in general will be limited and residents with disabilities […]

“Somebody that has mobility impairment may not be able to make that trek back and forth, especially to have to do it repeatedly, multiple times a day." #Florida #FLLegislature #DisabilityRights

floridaphoenix.com/2021/02/26/ord…

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Vietnam vets ask Legislature to OK state site for Vietnam POW-MIA memorial • Florida Phoenix Nearly 60,000 Americans, including 1,954 Floridians named here, were killed in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia in the 1950s, 1960s,and 1970s during the Vietnam War. Another 2,338, including 54 Floridians, are still listed as missing in action, according to national military archives. Through 1976, nearly 5 million Americans bought bracelets bearing the names of servicemen and […]

“It’s an expression of gratitude and remembrance of the prisoners of war and missing in action, soldiers that came back and those that never came back from the conflict." #Florida #FLLegislature #VetnamVets

floridaphoenix.com/2021/02/18/vie…

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FL lawmakers trying to squash Key West voters’ wishes, but forget one thing • Florida Phoenix You hear a lot around Presidents’ Day and other patriotic holidays about how great democracy is and how important voting is. But in Florida, when a vote doesn’t go the way big corporations like, our Legislature is ever eager to squash the voters’ wishes. Sometimes, though, in their rush to crank up the steamroller for […]

But here’s the question nobody wanted to address: If you take control of the ports from local governments and hand it to the state, what part of the state gets it? #Florida #FLLegislature

floridaphoenix.com/2021/02/18/fl-…

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Dems, trial lawyers fight against protecting businesses from COVID lawsuits, but GOP bill heads to House floor • Florida Phoenix One Democrat said the legislation creates “blanket immunity.” Another, Dianne Hart of Hillsborough County, called the bill “well-intentioned” but not a “good bill.” The legislation in question is about protecting businesses against COVID lawsuits, and it will likely become one of the most contentious bills in the 2021 legislative session, pitting Republicans against Democrats and […]

“If we can’t have a discussion and a vote on an amendment, what’s the purpose of having a Legislature or being a member of the Legislature in the first place?” #Florida #Covid19 #FLLegislature

floridaphoenix.com/2021/02/16/dem…

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FL Legislature 2021: FL's business lobby and state’s trial lawyers clash: GOP wants to protect businesses from COVID lawsuits and possibly more • Florida Phoenix Barbara DeVane, lobbyist since 1972 for progressive causes in Tallahassee, offered some historical perspective last week to several senators considering whether to shield medical institutions, including hospitals and nursing homes, from liability from COVID lawsuits. The Senate’s Judiciary Committee was debating a bill by its own chairman — Pinellas Republican Jeff Brandes — and voting […]

To House and Senate leaders, tort reform “is a priority, and they are looking for ways to get there. This is one of the vehicles." #Florida #CovidLiability #Covid19 #FLLegislature #TortReform

floridaphoenix.com/?p=201361&prev…

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FL Legislature 2021: Working families caught between economic crisis and pandemic • Florida Phoenix The least-fortunate of Florida’s working families are in trouble, in ways that Florida lawmakers have never faced before. Few could have imagined the coronavirus pandemic would persist for over a year, with hundreds of thousands of Floridians still, or again, unemployed and struggling. Hundreds of thousands are at risk of being disconnected from utilities and/or […]

While Congress deliberates another COVID relief package expected to supplement unemployment benefits paid by the states, Democratic lawmakers in Florida want to permanently increase the state’s share. #Florida #FLLegislature

floridaphoenix.com/2021/02/10/fl-…

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A COVID-related bill in the Legislature pits businesses against rank-and-file workers • Florida Phoenix Legislation that would make it harder to sue businesses that expose people to COVID-19 is moving forward in the Florida Legislature, where a face-off looms between businesses, employees, lobbyists and trial lawyers over a top priority for the Republican leadership. Big-business interests and small businesses are demanding protection against litigation, while rank-and-file workers fear they’ll […]

"And how interesting is it that the first major COVID policy to come out of the 2021 legislative session is liability protection for business?” #Florida #Covid19 #FlLegislature

floridaphoenix.com/2021/01/25/a-c…

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ACLU condemns FL 'anti-mob' legislation as cruel, timely stunt to advance governor's agenda • Florida Phoenix The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida says the filing of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ anti-mob legislation following Wednesday’s assault on the U.S. Capitol is “a cruel political stunt” exploiting the national tragedy to further his anti-protests agenda. “We are not fooled,” wrote Micah Kubic, executive director of ACLU Florida, in answer to Phoenix questions. “The […]

This proposed legislation by DeSantis was nothing more than a campaign political stunt. Now, it is being disguised as a response to the failed violent coup at the U.S. Capitol." #florida #CapitolRiot #FLLegislature

floridaphoenix.com/2021/01/08/acl…

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FL lawmakers file governor's anti-mob legislation, sans 'Stand Your Ground' provision • Florida Phoenix Florida lawmakers have filed legislation to fend off violent protests after a right-wing mob carrying “Trump” banners stormed the U.S. Capitol Wednesday. Gov. Ron DeSantis said Thursday that “strong views” do not justify violence. “You can have strong views, you can be disappointed in an election, you can be disappointed in whatever, but you can’t […]

"And it doesn’t matter what banner you’re flying under. The violence is wrong. The rioting and the disorder is wrong. We’re not going to tolerate it in Florida." #Florida #FLLegislature #CapitalRiot

floridaphoenix.com/2021/01/07/fl-…

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Some lawmakers missed the Legislature's organization session Tuesday because of COVID-19 • Florida Phoenix The list of Florida lawmakers who have tested positive for COVID-19 has been rising, but we don’t know by how much. During the Legislature’s organizational session in Tallahassee on Tuesday, two state senators were excused, and it was already known that they had tested positive for COVID-19. They are state Sen. Ray Rodrigues, a Republican […]

Speaker of the House Chris Sprowls, a Republican who represents part of Pinellas, acknowledged that some members of the House tested positive for COVID-19 prior to the session and did not attend. #Florida #FLLegislature

floridaphoenix.com/2020/11/17/som…

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Lawmakers get A through F grades -- from a progressive point of view -- and many GOP members flunked • Florida Phoenix No surprise: Republican Florida House Speaker José Oliva, who has pushed a conservative to libertarian agenda through the state House, got one of the lowest grades of all in an analysis by the Progress Florida organization. Oliva got a 37 percent — an F. The more moderate Republican Senate President — Bill Galvano — got […]

Lawmakers get A through F grades — from a progressive point of view — and many GOP members flunkedvia @flphoenixnews #FlaPol #FloridaNews #FLLegislature

floridaphoenix.com/2020/05/29/law…

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COVID-19 puts the governor's review of legislation and new state budget on the back burner • Florida Phoenix The COVID-19 crisis has upended the normal review by Gov. Ron DeSantis of more than 200 bills and the $93.2 billion state budget that came out of the 2020 Florida Legislature. With the annual legislative session concluded a week ago, this would be the beginning of the process whereby House and Senate leaders begin sending […]

"I think it would probably not be a good use of my time to be going through a lot of legislation right now.” #Florida #Coronavirus #Covid19 #FLLegislature #GovRonDesantis

floridaphoenix.com/blog/covid-19-…

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GOP agenda won passage in 2020 FL Legislature, dovetailing with Trump election; Dems call it extreme, radical • Florida Phoenix Heading into a critical election year, the Republican-dominated Legislature used the annual session to advance conservative measures that dovetail with President Donald Trump’s re-election campaign. In addition to a $93.2 billion state budget, lawmakers spent the last 67 days to impose new work restrictions on undocumented immigrants and erect new barriers for citizen groups seeking […]

Most major Democrat-backed bills, including measures on gun control and health care, did not advance. In many cases, particularly in the House, the bills didn’t even receive a hearing. #Florida #FLLegislature

floridaphoenix.com/2020/03/20/gop…

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FL Legislature approves state budget amid fears COVID-19 could wreck their plan • Florida Phoenix The Florida Legislature, its numbers diminished amid concerns that travel between members’ districts and Tallahassee could facilitate spread of COVID-19, approved a $93.2 billion state budget Thursday intended to fund the state through the fiscal year that begins on July 1. Only 104 of the 120 members of the state House were on hand to […]

“This is a budget that did not ignore reality but it also did not overreact either. We accounted for uncertainty.” #Covid19 #Coronavirus #FLLegislature

floridaphoenix.com/2020/03/19/fl-…

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FL Legislature approves state budget amid fears COVID-19 could wreck their plan • Florida Phoenix The Florida Legislature, its numbers diminished amid concerns that travel between members’ districts and Tallahassee could facilitate spread of COVID-19, approved a $93.2 billion state budget Thursday intended to fund the state through the fiscal year that begins on July 1. Only 104 of the 120 members of the state House were on hand to […]

Fl Legislature approves state budget amid fears COVID-19 could wreck their planvia @flphoenixnews #FlaPol #FloridaNews #FLlegislature #coronavirusFL

floridaphoenix.com/2020/03/19/fl-…

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Lawmakers send a bill to governor making it harder for citizen groups to advance constitutional amendments • Florida Phoenix Floridians looking to amend the state Constitution to expand Medicaid or allow recreational cannabis will face a more costly and complicated process under a bill headed to Gov. Ron DeSantis. The Florida House on Wednesday voted, 73-45, for a bill (SB 1794) that would impose new barriers for citizen groups seeking to collect enough voter […]

This year, citizen petition groups had to collect 76,620 validated signatures to qualify for a court review. Under the bill, they would have needed to collect nearly 192,000 signatures. #Florida #FLLegislature #citizensinitiatives

floridaphoenix.com/2020/03/12/law…

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The black swan phenomenon: FL faces potential shortfall in state funding • Florida Phoenix A black swan has descended on the 2020 Florida Legislature, causing lawmakers to extend their session beyond Friday’s deadline and to prepare for a potential shortfall in state funding. The black swan phenomenon, first described by statistician Nassim Taleb, is a rare, hard-to-predict, high impact event beyond normal expectations. The black swan confronting the Florida […]

“It will take considerable time – perhaps several quarters – before we can be confident that the virus has been contained. It will take even longer for the global economy to recover its footing.” #Florida #coronavirus #FLLegislature

floridaphoenix.com/2020/03/11/the…

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Harmful and inhumane prison conditions demand action by lawmakers, but is time running out? • Florida Phoenix Last October, Florida Department of Corrections Secretary Mark Inch, appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, warned Florida lawmakers about growing tensions in the state’s prisons. “The status quo cannot continue,” Inch declared. The situation was approaching a “death spiral, or the plane crashing into the side of a cliff or, you know, the tipping point.” Inch […]

Despite the dire warnings and pleas for help, the House Criminal Justice Committee announced it would not meet again, all but ensuring that numerous common-sense criminal justice reform bills filed this session will die. #Florida #FLLegislature

floridaphoenix.com/2020/03/10/har…

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Term limits for utility regulation consumer advocate picks up major amendment in Senate • Florida Phoenix Legislation to term-limit the state’s chief consumer advocate on regulation of electric and other utilities advanced in the Florida Senate Friday, although with an amendment grandfathering the advocate serving now. Bill sponsor Sen. Wilton Simpson, a central Florida Republican, said he was inspired by legislative term limits that apply to senators and House members. “The […]

The measure would not apply to J.R. Kelly, who has represented consumers before the Florida Public Service Commission for more than a decade. #Florida #FLLegislature #consumers #electricutilities

floridaphoenix.com/blog/term-limi…

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Florida Senate is ready to vote on a bill making it harder to amend the state Constitution • Florida Phoenix The Florida Senate on Friday advanced a bill that would make it more difficult for citizen initiatives to reach the ballot. The Senate gave preliminary approval to a measure (SB 1794) that would increase the number of validated voter signatures needed to trigger a Florida Supreme Court review of proposed amendments to the state Constitution. […]

“I do not want to be wasting the Supreme Court’s time when there is enough for them to do." #Florida #FLLegislature #FLConstitution

floridaphoenix.com/blog/florida-s…

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Florida House backs THC cap for younger medical cannabis patients • Florida Phoenix The Florida House on Thursday approved a potency cap on medical cannabis for patients under the age of 21. Rep. Ray Rodrigues, a Lee County Republican, successfully advanced an amendment to a bill (HB 713) involving the state Department of Health that would limit the level of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) — the chemical agent that causes […]

“What we are doing is we’re imposing a cap on THC that doctors, patients, and families are not asking for." #Florida #FLLegislature #medicalmarijuana

floridaphoenix.com/blog/florida-h…

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FL lawmakers try to take on the youth nicotine crisis, but can’t agree on vaping regulations • Florida Phoenix Leading health organizations fear that a current state House bill will do very little to address the nicotine crisis of young Floridians. And a bill in the state Senate comes with its own controversies, as the Florida Legislature tries to regulate vaping products that attract young adults. From what constitutes tobacco and nicotine products to […]

“If we don’t have DBPR checking to make sure retailers are compliant…it’s just not going to stop. It’s a law with no teeth." #Florida #FLLegislature #vaping

floridaphoenix.com/2020/03/05/fl-…

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Fl Legislature looking at $10-$20 million to fight coronavirus outbreak • Florida Phoenix House Speaker Jose Oliva said Wednesday that state lawmakers are ready to boost state spending if needed to combat the coronavirus. Oliva, a Miami-Dade County Republican, said the House will follow guidance from Gov. Ron DeSantis and Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez, who is taking a leading role in dealing with the potential health crisis. “What […]

"Obviously we’re going to do whatever is necessary to make sure that the people of Florida are protected. And it’s probably going to mean spending." #Florida #FLLegislature #Coronavirus

floridaphoenix.com/blog/fl-legisl…

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Lawmakers advance E-Verify bills, but critics warn they could hurt FL's economy and workers' livelihoods • Florida Phoenix Florida lawmakers are close to delivering on a major political promise of Gov. Ron DeSantis, who wants the state to take a harder line on immigration. As the 2020 session nears its March 13 scheduled adjournment, both the House and Senate are ready for floor votes on bills that would require government agencies and major […]

Opponents of the E-Verify bill warn it could have dire economic consequences in the nation’s third-largest state. #Florida #FLLegislature #immigration

floridaphoenix.com/2020/03/04/law…

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Senate OKs $2 million-plus for wrongful murder conviction; House claims bill pending • Florida Phoenix As Clifford Williams and family members watched from the gallery, the Florida Senate voted unanimously Tuesday to pay him more than $2 million in compensation for the 43 years he spent in prison for a murder he didn’t commit. “We cannot give him back his time, but we can certainly help him move forward. He […]

“We cannot give him back his time, but we can certainly help him move forward." #Florida #FLLegislature #DeathRow #exoneration

floridaphoenix.com/blog/senate-ok…

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