Steinberg Responds To Hays’ Remark
Comparing Abortion To The Holocaust

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Representative Richard Steinberg (D-Miami Beach) today called on Representative Alan Hays (R-Umatilla) to issue an immediate and formal apology to the members of the Florida House of Representatives and the citizens of Florida for a highly inappropriate remark made during deliberations on House Bill 1143, a measure dealing with abortion restrictions. … Continue Reading

Hudson’s Cost-Saving State Health Agency Legislation Moves To Governor

TALLAHASSEE, FL – Representative Hudson’s bill streamlining and increasing efficiency in the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), a government state health agency, passed the Florida House today. … Continue Reading

House Passes Jobs For Floridians Package, Incentive To Attract Business And Create Jobs

~Measure creates the conditions for job growth to get Floridians back to work~

TALLAHASSEE, FL – Today the Florida House passed a measure to strengthen Florida’s economic development-related programs to incentivize businesses to expand operations, attract new business and generate jobs for Floridians.  Senate Bill (SB) 1752 will create conditions for Florida’s businesses to generate jobs. … Continue Reading

House Passes Legislation Restricting The Use Of Taxpayer Dollars For Elective Abortions

TALLAHASSEE –Today, Representatives Anitere Flores (R-Miami), Rachel Burgin (R-Brandon), and Matt Gaetz (R-Fort Walton Beach) led efforts in the House of Representatives to pass an amendment prohibiting federal funds from being used to pay for elective abortion procedures. … Continue Reading

Florida House Passes Comprehensive Background Screening Protections For Vulnerable Floridians

TALLAHASSEE – The Florida House of Representatives today passed House Bill (HB) 7069 by Representative William Snyder (R-Stuart). The bi-partisan legislation will close loopholes in the background screening process to help keep criminals and predators away from Florida’s most vulnerable citizens such as children, seniors and the disabled. Representative Snyder released the following statement: … Continue Reading

Reps. Fitzgerald and Kriseman Call on Florida Republican Leaders To End Florida’s Oil Drilling Debate

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — In light of the tragedy and loss of life in the Gulf of Mexico, and a subsequent oil spill that now threatens the entire Gulf Coast, state Representatives Keith Fitzgerald (D-Sarasota) and Rick Kriseman (D-St. Petersburg) are calling on Republican Speaker-Designate Dean Cannon and other Republican leaders to put an end to all consideration of oil drilling in state waters, just 3 to 10 miles off Florida’s coasts. … Continue Reading

Florida House Democratic Caucus Members Demand Withdrawal Of Objectionable 11th Hour Ploy 
To Harm A Woman’s Right To Choose

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida House Democratic Caucus members voted today to stand against an 11th hour legislative ploy by Republican leaders to add highly objectionable abortion restrictions that would greatly impair a woman’s right to choose. … Continue Reading

Rep. Roberson’s Public Safety Bill Setting Professional Standards, Training For 911 Dispatchers Passes House Unanimously

Tallahassee, FL- State Representative Ken Roberson (R-Port Charlotte) praised the unanimous passage of Senate Bill (SB) 742, known as the 911 Bill, in the Florida House.  SB 742 is a public safety bill that requires 911 call takers and dispatchers to take a Public Safety Telecommunications Training Program, pass an examination administered by the Department of Health (DOH) that measures the competency and proficiency in public safety telecommunications, and re-defines 911 emergency dispatchers as “911 Public Safety Telecommunicators”.  Representative Roberson released the following statement: … Continue Reading

House Passes Bill To Grow Jobs, Incentivize, Attract Businesses

~Measure gets Florida’s economy back on track, creates the conditions for job growth~

TALLAHASSEE, FL – Today the Florida House passed legislation to strengthen Florida’s economic development-related programs to incentivize businesses to expand operations, attract new business and generate jobs for Floridians.  Senate Bill (SB) 1752 will create the conditions necessary for Florida’s businesses to generate jobs. … Continue Reading

Condo Bill Moves To The Governor’s Desk

TALLAHASSEE, FL – A measure to provide condominium owners economic relief passed the House today by a vote of 107-4.  Senate Bill (SB) 1196, identical to a House proposal by Representative Ellyn Bogdanoff (R-Fort Lauderdale), Representative Matt Hudson (R-Naples), and Representative Maria Lorts Sachs (D-Delray Beach), makes a number of reforms to bring Florida’s condominium laws in line with current economic conditions and contains several provisions that would provide relief to condominium unit owners from expenses required under current law.  … Continue Reading

House Works To Fund Jackson Laboratory, Create 7,500 Jobs

~Fosters development of a world-class biomedical research facility, creates high-paying jobs~

TALLAHASSEE – As part of the state budget and pending federal funding, the Florida House of Representatives included a measure in the budget expected to pass on Friday that will foster the development of a world-class biomedical research facility. … Continue Reading

Hukill Protects Students With Disabilities, House Passes Restraint & Seclusion Guidelines

TALLAHASSEE – The Florida House passed State Representative Dorothy L. Hukill’s (R-Port Orange) House Bill (HB) 1073, which establishes standards and procedures regarding the use, monitoring, documentation and reporting of seclusion and restraint on students with disabilities. Representative Hukill released the following statement: … Continue Reading

Florida House Honors 100 Years Of Scouting

TALLAHASSEE – Representatives John Wood (R-Winter Haven) and Lake Ray (R-Jacksonville) joined with other members of the Florida House in honoring the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America.  Representative Ray filed House Resolution (HR) 9127 recognizing the 100th Anniversary of the Boy Scouts. Boy Scouts from around the Tallahassee region joined the Florida House of Representatives in opening the House Session and leading the pledge of allegiance. Representatives Wood and Ray, both Eagle Scouts, released the following joint statement: … Continue Reading

Governor Crist Urged to Sign Animal Protection Legislation Sponsored by Representative Luis Garcia and Representative Joseph Abruzzo

*IN CASE YOU MISSED IT*
The Humane Society of the United States has applauded the Florida Legislature for passing legislation (House Bill 765) sponsored by Representative Luis Garcia (D-Miami) and Representative Joseph Abruzzo (D-Wellington) that seeks to protect Florida horses from slaughter. The organization is urging Governor Charlie Crist to sign the legislation. … Continue Reading

Proposed Constitutional Amendment Silences 1.7 Million Floridians

HJR 7231 Aims To Confuse and Misguide Floridians

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida House Democratic Caucus members led the debate today against HJR 7231, arguing that it would silence 1.7 million Floridians who have been clear in their demands to reform Florida’s broken reapportionment process. … Continue Reading

Crisafulli’s “Star” Act Clears The House, Heads To Senate

TALLAHASSEE – Legislation to strengthen and revitalize Florida’s space industry passed unanimously in the Florida House today. House Bill (HB) 1389, the Space Transition & Revitalization (“STAR”) Act, sponsored by Representative Steve Crisafulli (R – Merritt Island) authorizes 20% of the state’s Quick Action Closing Fund to be used for space businesses and grants Space Florida flexibility in spending for funds appropriated to Launch Complex 36 in Cape Canaveral. … Continue Reading

Measure Protecting Floridians From Intrusive Health Care Mandates Clears House

~Measure protects Floridians’ freedom from Washington mandates, intrusion~

TALLAHASSEE – Today, the Florida House passed a measure intended to send a clear signal to Washington that Floridians reject intrusive health care mandates.  House Joint Resolution (HJR) 37 sponsored by Representative Scott Plakon (R-Longwood) passed in the Florida House by a vote of 74 to 42. Representative Plakon, sponsor of the measure, issued the following statement: … Continue Reading

House Honors Florida Military, Passes Hukill Military Support Bill

TALLAHASSEE – On Thursday, April 22, the Florida House passed State Representative Dorothy L. Hukill’s (R-Port Orange) House Bill (HB) 7129, a measure that recognizes the positive impact the military has on Florida’s economy and provides for active duty members of the armed forces and their spouses to continue to receive a homestead exemption when the service member is deployed. Representative Hukill released the following statement: … Continue Reading

Minority Leaders Blast GOP Redistricting “Clarification” Proposal

Joint Resolution is a Desperate and Deceptive Attempt by Leadership to Maintain Power to Draw Districts for Political Self-Gain

TALLAHASSEE, FL – Minority leaders gathered in the State Capitol today to blast 11th-hour legislative proposals (SJR 2288/ HJR 7231) that would undermine citizen backed efforts to prohibit lawmakers from drawing districts for their own political gain or political purposes. … Continue Reading

What Would Florida’s Gun Owners Think of Today’s Republican Proposal to Alter the Constitution?

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — During debate today in the Florida House of Representatives on a Republican proposal calling for a U.S. constitutional convention, House Democratic Caucus members raised concerns about the possibility of a runaway convention that could attack existing portions of the U.S. Constitution, perhaps even SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS that have been interpreted to pertain to gun ownership. … Continue Reading