Life and politics from the Sunshine State's best city

Tag archive

Bryan Avila - page 2

Short takes: Legislative roundup for Wednesday

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

House votes on senate gambling bill—by amending it with their own bill The House stood its ground, voting 73-40 Wednesday to replace the Senate’s gambling overhaul (SB 8) with its own version (HB 7037). That sets up the conference process by which both sides say they can “iron out the differences” between their different approaches. The gulf is wide, with the House wanting to lock down gambling expansion in the state and the Senate open to a host of new…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

Ban on public support for profession sports facilities cleared for final House vote

in Statewide by

Two days after the Oakland Raiders won NFL approval to move to Las Vegas, the Florida House Wednesday set a final floor vote on a bill that would ban professional sports teams from building or refurbishing stadiums on public land. CS/HB 77, by Bryan Avila, says “a sports franchise may not construct, reconstruct, renovate, or improve a facility on public land leased from the state or a political subdivision thereof.” The bill — one of a number targeting professional sports — also says the…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

Joe Henderson: Time to get rid of red-light cameras, but turn up heat on texting

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

Depending on your point of view, red-light cameras in Florida are either: A) Of great benefit to public safety by making drivers think twice when approaching a changing traffic light; or B) a cash grab by communities that amounts to a backdoor tax. Just we’re clear, I’m on the side of Option B. While several communities throughout the state have discontinued use of the cameras for reasons best explained by Option B, the Legislature has never mustered enough support for…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

By two votes, House ‘whiskey & Wheaties’ bill cleared for floor

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

In another squeaker, the House version of a bill to allow retailers to sell liquor in their main stores cleared its last committee by just two votes. The House Commerce Committee on Wednesday OK’d the legislation (HB 81) on a 15-13 vote. It’s now ready to be considered by the full House. It previously cleared the Government Operations and Technology Appropriations Subcommittee by a 7-6 vote. And it hobbled out of the Careers and Competition Subcommittee on an 8-7 vote. “Any time you have an issue…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

House budget panel votes to gets tougher on public contributions to pro teams

in Statewide/Top Headlines by
stadiums

A bill that would ban professional sports teams from building or refurbishing stadiums on public land passed the House Appropriations Committee Wednesday on a 21-8 vote. CS/HB 77, by Bryan Avila, says “a sports franchise may not construct, reconstruct, renovate, or improve a facility on public land leased from the state or a political subdivision thereof.” The bill — one of a number targeting professional sports — also says the sale of public land for sports stadiums must be at fair market value. Furthermore, teams…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

House ‘whiskey & Wheaties’ bill clears another panel — barely

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

The House “whiskey & Wheaties” bill has limped out of another committee with a one-vote margin. And that was after its sponsor fixed a problem that could have cost the Department of Business and Professional Regulation more than $250,000 in lost liquor license revenue. The legislation (HB 81) cleared the Government Operations and Technology Appropriations Subcommittee on Tuesday by a 7-6 vote. It previously stumbled out of the Careers and Competition Subcommittee on an 8-7 vote. The proposal, which aims to let retailers sell hard liquor…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

Is House splitting the difference over the whiskey & Wheaties bill?

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

After the “whiskey and Wheaties” bill nearly whiffed in the House, a new twist was filed Monday evening. A proposed amendment on the bill (HB 81) would create dual “liquor package store licenses,” with “Type A” licenses going to stores keeping a wall of separation between booze and other retail items, and “Type B” licenses going to those who sell liquor in the same general space as other goods. Those getting a Type B license also must pay “an additional amount”…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

1 2 3 4 5
Go to Top