Florida Legislature

Car insurance rates skyrocket in Florida as crashes mount on busy roads

TALLAHASSEE — Floridians are driving more and getting into a lot more accidents, and they're paying the price with rising car insurance rates that are already among the nation's highest.

Rod Smith's early-bird TV ad gets attention in Gainesville

Despite texting law, distracted driving crashes keep increasing

Nearly three years after Florida enacted a ban on texting while driving, car crashes caused by distracted driving are increasing at a steady pace.

Florida lawmaker wants AG opinion on feds’ transgender bathroom rules; Pam Bondi declines

An outgoing conservative lawmaker in Florida who is running for Nassau County schools superintendent wants state Attorney General Pam Bondi to issue an official opinion on what she believes to be the "constitutional encroach" of the Obama administration's new guidance to public schools …

Rep. Janet Adkins wants Florida AG to weigh in on transgender students' bathroom access

From The Buzz:

Gov. Rick Scott signs bill that scales back testing

TALLAHASSEE — Responding to a parent-driven charge to scale back testing in public schools, Gov. Rick Scott on Tuesday signed legislation to eliminate at least one exam and delay the release of school grades until the other exams are deemed valid.

Bill to address Florida testing concerns headed to Gov. Rick Scott

TALLAHASSEE — A proposal that would reduce the testing requirements for Florida schoolchildren — and delay the release of school grades until an independent agency reviews the new assessments — is headed to Gov. Rick Scott's desk.

PolitiFact Florida: Do uniform policies improve school safety and truancy?

More Florida school districts might soon have millions of reasons to start requiring students to wear uniforms, thanks to a bill that just passed the House.

After a dozen years, Florida class-size foes may finally prevail

For the eighth time in 12 years, Florida lawmakers are looking to roll back voters' wishes for smaller class sizes.

Florida Senate moves to temporarily suspend school grades

TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Senate took a critical step Wednesday toward temporarily suspending school grades in response to the outcry statewide among parents, teachers and superintendents who want a smoother transition as the state shifts to new standards and tests.

In GOP-dominated Legislature, black lawmakers caucus struggles

TALLAHASSEE — When the last cocktail had been poured and the last guests had floated away from the Florida Conference of Black State Legislators' annual Scholarship Gala last month, thousands of dollars had flowed into the nonprofit foundation, courtesy of five-figure checks from a variety of special interests …

Watchdog report says power companies wield too much influence in Florida Legislature

TALLAHASSEE — To understand the influence of Florida's largest electric companies in Tallahassee, look no further than your monthly bill.

Big money, powerful lobbying groups push Florida voucher proposal

TALLAHASSEE — Nearly 200 schoolchildren greeted Senate President Don Gaetz last month when he visited a Catholic school in Pensacola to get a firsthand look at the impact of Florida's controversial school voucher program.

Capitol's dash for cash: Florida lawmakers race against time, picking up checks

TALLAHASSEE — The race for campaign cash shifted into high gear Monday as dozens of state legislators sought contributions from lobbyists before today's start of the legislative session when such fundraising is banned for two months.

Times/Herald special report: Tallahassee's torrent of campaign contributions

TALLAHASSEE — When Florida legislators open their annual 60-day session on Tuesday, many of the decisions about what issues make it onto the agenda have already been made — thanks in large part to the powerful special interest groups and a torrent of cash flowing into the coffers of legislative political …

A predicted $400 million drop in revenue could scuttle Gov. Rick Scott's tax-cut plan

TALLAHASSEE — Tumbling financial markets are further clouding Gov. Rick Scott's push for $1 billion in tax cuts as the Legislature deals with a suddenly less rosy financial outlook and less money to divvy up.

Feds say Florida needs $1 billion in hospital funding for poor next year

TALLAHASSEE — Federal health officials told Florida Thursday that the state should expect big reductions in future years for a hospital payment program that's at the crux of a political stalemate blocking passage of a new state budget.

Florida House leaders threaten budget battle over Medicaid expansion

TALLAHASSEE — The gloves are off inside the Capitol.

Despite budget constraints, hometown pork still popular with Florida lawmakers

TALLAHASSEE — Though the Florida Senate unanimously passed its $80.4 billion budget Wednesday — and the House appears unified to approve its own version today — there's plenty of behind-the-scenes wrangling among members when it comes to pet projects.

Florida House and Senate battle over tax cuts

TALLAHASSEE -- The tax cut battle lines have been drawn.

After Medicaid blowup, House moves forward with its own free-market health care ideas

TALLAHASSEE — After knocking down a plan to expand Medicaid last summer, the Florida House is now pushing its own ideas for health care reform.

Ideas emerge to bridge Florida's legislative divide

TALLAHASSEE — Florida legislators may have ended their stalemate last week when they agreed to convene a three-week special session to resolve the budget crisis in June, but they didn't agree on the hard part: how to resolve stark differences over health care.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott asks hospitals to consider profit sharing

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Rick Scott is pitching a new idea to help Florida hospitals handle the potential loss of federal funds for treating indigent patients: profit sharing.

Meet the Arizona doctor House Republicans like to quote

TALLAHASSEE — Dr. Jason Fodeman may not be a household name in Florida.

Gov. Rick Scott calls for special session, says tax cuts may be sacrificed to end stalemate

TALLAHASSEE — Blaming the federal government for Florida's financial woes, Gov. Rick Scott on Tuesday said he was prepared to call Florida lawmakers back for a special session to complete the budget — and even encourage them to pass a bare-bones budget if necessary.

Lawmakers want to advertise 'the truth' about rising property taxes paying for increased education spending

TALLAHASSEE — When Gov. Rick Scott rolls out his budget proposal today, he'll talk about spending more money on schools, but some fellow Republicans say he's not telling taxpayers the whole truth.

Dramatic rise of renegade 'no party' voters is reshaping state politics

TALLAHASSEE — Three simple letters have ignited a civic rebellion in Florida that could reshape the state's politics for decades to come.

Gov. Rick Scott gets out-voted as Cabinet approves ranch preservation plan

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Rick Scott was handed a rare setback Tuesday as Cabinet members overruled him and voted to preserve one of the last surviving ranches in central Florida.

Gov. Rick Scott announces 40 new jobs from Kentucky — or is it Ohio?

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Rick Scott bagged 40 more jobs Tuesday at the expense of Kentucky, a state that has two things Scott doesn't like: an income tax and a Democratic governor.

Take 3: Florida lawmakers try to fix 'tainted' lines for Congress

TALLAHASSEE — They look like simple lines on a map, but they will make and break political careers.

Activists question Gov. Rick Scott's rush job on environmental appointment

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Rick Scott's decision to speed up the reappointment of Florida's top environmental regulator is drawing suspicion from grass roots activists across the state.

For 2015 Florida Legislature, simply no end in sight

It's a good thing for Florida taxpayers that state legislators don't get paid by the hour.

Being a Florida lawmaker a path to wealth for many

TALLAHASSEE — In the wake of the Great Recession, which left the average Florida family struggling to make ends meet, at least one group of people continues to get richer: It pays to be elected to the state House or Senate.

Embattled Florida elections chief goes on the defense

TALLAHASSEE — Under fire once again for lapses in oversight of Florida's voter database and lax communication, Gov. Rick Scott's top elections official says he'll "over-communicate" in the future.

In paying late claims for jobless, why did Florida wait so long?

TALLAHASSEE — It took Florida officials more than three months to decide to pay overdue jobless benefits to about 10,000 unemployed workers, many of whom went without checks since October because of a defective online registration system.

Why I still want my gun

FOUR HOURS. That's it.

In order for me to get a concealed weapons permit in Florida, my firearm competency certification class took four hours.

Openly carry guns in Florida? Bill clears first hurdle in House

TALLAHASSEE — A controversial measure that would allow Floridians with concealed-weapons permits to carry those firearms openly in public easily cleared its first hurdle Tuesday, but the legislation still faces several more tests before it could become law.

School guns proposals stalled in Florida Senate

TALLAHASSEE — A proposal that would allow certain teachers to carry guns in public schools is on life support after the Senate Education Committee declined to vote on it for the second meeting in a row.

Bill for concealed carry in evacuations headed to Gov. Rick Scott

TALLAHASSEE — Floridians soon could be allowed to carry a concealed weapon in the first two days of an emergency evacuation, even if they don't have a concealed license to do so.

Gun advocates score victories in Florida House, Senate (w/video)

TALLAHASSEE — Florida gun rights activists had a victorious day in the Capitol as the Republican-controlled Legislature considered two St. Petersburg lawmakers' bills, passing one through the Senate and shooting down the other.