Florida legislative session started — here’s what local lawmakers are up to

Florida legislative session started — here’s what local lawmakers are up to

Condo reform, critical race theory, abortion and more There’s always a theme to the Florida legislative session, and especially among the Miam-Dade delegation of state representatives and senators. This year, bills about condo safety, education and oversight are all the rage, thanks to the tragedy at the Champlain Towers in Surfside, where 98 people died […]

Lawmakers aim to expand hate crimes vs entities, women, trans and disabled

Lawmakers aim to expand hate crimes vs entities, women, trans and disabled

Four Democrat Florida legislators are hoping to update the state’s 30-year-old hate crime law this session, adding to the list of potential victims. Sen. Tina Polsky (D-Boca Raton) and State Rep. Emily Slosberg (D-Boca Raton) want to include government, public and private organizations to the list. Sen. Lori Berman (D-Delray Beach) and State Rep. Joe […]

‘Civil immunity’ is really corporate license to kill with COVID negligence

‘Civil immunity’ is really corporate license to kill with COVID negligence

Among the more controversial — and frightening — bills that the Florida Legislature is considering this year are some “civil immunity” measures that would give companies, hospitals and nursing homes a legal loophole from lawsuits that stem from employees or customers getting COVID-19. No, really. House Bill 7, sponsored by Rep. Lawrence McClure (R-Plant City), […]

Florida redistricting: Letting the fox in the hen house — again

Florida redistricting: Letting the fox in the hen house — again

The Florida Supreme Court ruled Thursday that eight congressional districts in Florida violation Fair District amendment of 2010 and must be redrawn in 100 days — by the very same Republican-led State House and Senate that gerrymandered the districts in the first place. Como? Isn’t that like letting the fox back in the hen house […]

Legislators let clock run on Everglades — and ignore our vote

Legislators let clock run on Everglades — and ignore our vote

Remember Amendment One? It was only about five months ago that we the people of the great state of Florida passed a constitutional amendment, no less, that provides for the funding of long-promised Everglades restoration through the purchase of land with a percentage of document fees. Well, leave it to the Florida legislature to ignore […]