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Bruce Ritchie - page 7

Bruce Ritchie has 127 articles published.

House speaker says water bills closer, advisory council could be sticking point

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House Speaker Steve Crisafulli said Wednesday that the Senate is getting closer to the House on a comprehensive water bill but some differences remain. SB 918 was rewritten in a committee on Wednesday in response to requests by business groups and environmentalists, both of whom had raised concerns. Both sides still have issues, with environmentalists still more critical of the Senate and House bills than business groups. The Senate bill would establish springs protection zones, provide consistency in pollution regulations dealing…

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Bill doesn’t lift prohibition on plastic bag bans but does allow pilot programs

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A pilot program is a small step — but it is a step forward nonetheless, critics of disposable plastic shopping bags said Wednesday. A Senate committee on Wednesday approved a bill that allows coastal communities to create a 2-1/2-year pilot program to regulate or ban plastic bags. Critics say plastic bags become litter that choke waterways and often are eaten by sea turtles and other marine life because they look like jellyfish. California enacted a statewide ban in 2014. But…

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Jack Latvala says he ‘tried to find holes’ but couldn’t in Duke Energy deal as it passes committee

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A Senate committee on Tuesday approved a bill amendment to provide for financing the shutdown of the Crystal River nuclear plant to save Duke Energy Florida customers more than $600 million. SB 288 was a bill that primarily strengthened ethics requirements for the Florida Public Service Commission. But state Sen. Jack Latvala, a Republican from St. Petersburg and bill sponsor, requested a 30-page amendment to allow utilities to issue bonds to pay for shutting down nuclear plants. The amendment grants the PSC authority to…

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Amended state lands bill passes committee, heads to House floor

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A bill that would allow the Cabinet to give away state land passed its only committee stop on Tuesday with changes requested by environmental groups. HB 7135 would establish “low impact agriculture” as a management goal for state lands. The bill also would allow the Cabinet to give away state parks and other state lands to adjacent landowners under an agreement to conserve both properties. State Rep. Matt Caldwell, a Republican from Fort Myers, said the bill would allow the…

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Jimmy Buffett tells Capitol crowd it’s good to be ‘raising hell for the right reason’

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With hundreds of lobbyists in suits and Parrotheads in flower-patterned shirts cheering in applause, singer Jimmy Buffett urged Gov. Rick Scott and the Legislature to buy land to protect the Everglades. “It’s good to be back in Tallahassee,” Buffett said before playing an acoustic version of Changes in Lattitudes. “It’s good to be raising a little hell for the right reason,” he said. Buffett was at the Capitol for an Everglades Day celebration hosted by the Everglades Coalition, which wants the state to buy some…

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Growth bill passes House panel after ‘constrained’ agriculture language removed

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A wide-ranging House growth management bill was amended Tuesday to remove language requiring construction approval on agricultural land surrounded by development. But HB 933 still faces opposition from cities, counties and environmental groups who are concerned that it eliminates a state review process for designated “developments of regional impact.” HB 933 passed the House Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee after state Rep. Mike La Rosa, a Republican from St. Cloud, offered an amendment to remove language dealing with “constrained” agricultural parcels. Palm…

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Growth bill critics target ‘constrained’ agricultural parcels language

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Critics of a wide-ranging House growth management bill say that a section would undermine local development planning by requiring approval of agricultural lands that are nearly surrounded by development. HB 933, by Rep. Mike La Rosa, a Republican from St. Cloud, is scheduled to be heard Tuesday by the House Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee. Another subcommittee on March 25 combined HB 933 with six other House bills dealing with growth management. The 68-page bill faces opposition from groups…

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