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Senate panel postpones vote on Surgeon General John Armstrong

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The Senate Ethics and Elections committee has once again postponed a confirmation vote on Surgeon General John Armstrong. The committee was scheduled to hold a confirmation hearing on Tuesday, one week after postponing a confirmation vote on the state’s top health official. Sen. Garrett Richter, the chairman of the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee, told the panel the vote was being postponed because members still had some unanswered questions. “We continue to get some responses to some questions on (Armstrong)…

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Senate panel rejects proposal to regulate fracking in Florida

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A bill to regulate fracking in Florida is on life support after a Senate panel voted to reject the controversial proposal. The Senate Appropriations Committee narrowly rejected the proposal (SB 318). However, lawmakers used a parliamentary maneuver — in this case, a motion to reconsider — to keep the proposal, sponsored by Sen. Garrett Richter, alive. The motion to reconsider gives lawmakers the option of bringing it up for another hearing in the waning days of the 2016 session. “As…

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Rick Scott signs two trade secret bills into law

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Florida Governor Rick Scott, on Wednesday, signed two bills into law that deal with trade secrets. Both bills were sponsored by Naples Republican Senator Garrett Richter. SB 180  expands the definition of “trade secret” to expressly include financial information under the definition. And SB 182, a companion bill,  protects financial information deemed to be a trade secret from public disclosure, thus creating an exemption to public records laws. SB 182 expands exemptions to public meetings requirements, as well, when “trade secrets” are discussed.…

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Senate Dems huddle up to oppose fracking bill

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After a fire alarm delayed the start of Wednesday’s meeting by almost half an hour, the Senate Democratic caucus finally got down to the task at hand: opposing Republican-sponsored legislation, particularly an energy exploration bill that has environmentalists up in arms. The caucus members were united in their resistance to a bill they said would preempt local bans on natural gas exploration via hydraulic fracturing, better known as “fracking.” Sen. Darren Soto came to the meeting fresh from a press conference in opposition…

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Bill to start 2018 Legislative Session in January advances in Florida Senate

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The 2016 Florida Legislative Session now in mid-February is more than halfway complete, an anomaly that usually happens once every decade. Under a bill, SPB 7076, that narrowly passed through the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee on Tuesday, the early start could happen again in 2018. It passed on a party-line vote, with all three Democrats on the panel dissenting. Lake Worth Democrat Jeff Clemens said he’s not sure the Legislature could be provided with sufficient economic data that early to…

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Health care cost transparency bill passes Senate budget panel

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Health care price transparency legislation favored by Gov. Rick Scott cleared the Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee Thursday by a 6-2 vote. SB 1496, sponsored by Fleming Island Republican Sen. Rob Bradley, would have the Agency for Health Care Administration set up an online system to compare medical procedure prices at hospitals and surgery centers, and require medical facilities to provide itemized bills for services. The bill also aims to make timely responses to billing questions law and would require insurance providers to detail…

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Senate fracking proposal moves forward despite some concerns

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A proposal to regulate high-pressure well stimulation has cleared a second Senate committee, despite continued objections from environmental activists. The measure (SB 318), sponsored by Naples Republican Sen. Garrett Richter, cleared the Senate’s general government appropriations subcommittee Monday on a 4-2 vote. Sen. Gwen Margolis and Sen. Oscar Braynon, both South Florida Democrats, voted against the measure. “Today, there’s nothing in Florida that prohibits fracking, with this bill there will be. Today, there is not a moratorium in place ……

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