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Sports Betting? DeSantis Studies Late Gambling Proposal

April 25, 2019 - 7:30am

Gov. Ron DeSantis and his staff continued Wednesday to scrutinize a proposed gambling agreement, but the odds of closing out what some lawmakers have called a “three-dimensional game of chess” grow dimmer as the clock winds down on the legislative session.

After weeks of negotiations, Sen. Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, and representatives of the Seminole Tribe reached a tentative deal on Tuesday. DeSantis and House Speaker José Oliva received an outline of the agreement, known as a “compact,” on Tuesday.

Andrew Gillum Will Pay a $5,000 Ethics Fine

Submitted by Nancy Smith on April 24, 2019 - 8:02pm

Andrew Gillum's ethics hearing took months to get under way, but on Wednesday when it was due to begin, it was already done and dusted.

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An Open Letter to the Legislature on Criminal Justice Reform

Barney Bishop

April 25, 2019 - 7:30am

The Florida Legislature is wrestling again with criminal justice reform because of the persistence of Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, an outspoken advocate for far-reaching reforms who has good intentions. As a result, the Senate is positioned to pass an omnibus bill, SB 642, while the House is ready to take up a considerable number of bills that individually encompass some of the same issues.

Finally, AOB Reform Bill Heads to an Eager DeSantis

Jim Saunders News Service of Florida

April 24, 2019 - 5:45pm

After a fierce lobbying battle that included arguments about insurance rates and “bad actors,” the Florida Senate on Wednesday approved an overhaul of the insurance practice known as assignment of benefits.

The 25-14 vote sends the measure (HB 7065) to Gov. Ron DeSantis, who quickly issued a statement saying he will sign it. Passage of the bill was a major victory for insurers and business groups, which have argued that “AOB” abuses and excessive litigation have driven up homeowners’ insurance premiums.

Okeechobee Watershed Projects, Septage Solutions In Big Need of Funding

Dan Peterson

April 25, 2019 - 7:30am

The Legislature is in its final days and many bills concerning environmental protection from nitrogen and other nutrient “pollutants” seem sidelined for this year. Few bills confronted the real issue: preventing nitrogen and other nutrients from entering groundwater and the aquifer.

Perhaps they are being put off until they can be debated more fully next year, or there is a legislative “surprise” yet to come. These issues are important and deserve careful consideration. Most remaining bills deal more with reorganizing bureaucracies and requiring reports.