2017 Florida bills propose a variety of criminal justice reforms. A Florida Senate Bill (SB 290) sponsored by Criminal Justice and Darryl Rouson (D) proposes ending mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent offenses, allowing judges to depart from the 118 mandatory minimum sentences under Florida law [CS/HB 641 is a similar House bill]. The bill would exclude…
The Florida Constitution, Article 1, Section 8, specifically guarantees the right to keep and bear arms in self-defense: “The right of the people to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves and of the lawful authority of the state shall not be infringed, except that the manner of bearing arms may be regulated by…
Several bills have been introduced in the 2017 legislative session to address the issue of “corporate welfare.” HB 9, sponsored by Rep. Paul Renner (R), deals with VISIT FLORIDA, the state’s official tourism marketing organization, a quasi-government agency which uses taxpayer dollars to promote tourism to Florida. The agency recently came under fire for a…
As reported in the Pensacola News Journal PNJ| Viewpoint: Amendment 1 against ‘free market’ By: Christian Wagley October 28, 2016 Some of the biggest matchups of the college football season are upon us. But imagine if the best teams refused to play each other because they were afraid. That’s the situation with the anti-solar energy…
Florida residents may soon vote on a constitutional amendment regarding medical marijuana. The proposed amendment (Amendment 2) can be viewed here (and below). A “yes” vote for Amendment 2 would create a Constitutional Right for use of marijuana for debilitating medical conditions, which are defined such that, “Debilitating Medical Condition” means cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, positive…
Under Florida law (790.053), it is currently a misdemeanor to open carry a firearm other than the exceptions listed in F.S. 790.25 (e.g. during target practice under safe conditions and in a safe place not prohibited by law or going to or from such place, or when going to, or returning from, or when engaged in…
PNJ: Escambia eyes marijuana dispensary moratorium Will Isern, wisern@pnj.com 3:05 p.m. CDT July 20, 2016 As medical marijuana prepares to hit Florida in a big way, the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners is moving to implement a year-long moratorium on dispensaries opening here. County commissioners took the first of two votes on Tuesday to…
Pensacola News Journal reports: Two years after promise, still no Charlotte’s Web Will Isern, wisern@pnj.com 6:37 p.m. CDT July 9, 2016 Two years ago, Florida Gov. Rick Scott promised a young, epileptic Gulf Breeze girl that he would get her the medicine she needed. “He looked her in the eye and said, ‘I will…
According to the Tallahassee Democrat: Incoming House Speaker Richard Corcoran said he will lead the charge to strip taxpayer funding from Enterprise Florida, saying he believes the agency has consistently failed the state. Corcoran, who will ascend to the top House leadership position in November, would rather see money like the $23.5 million already in…
The Reason Foundation and the DeVoe L. Moore Center put together a Policy Brief on Occupational Licensing in Florida. The Liberty First Network is looking to take action, stating “this brief talks about how these licenses are unnecessary and are killing jobs here in Florida…Take the LFN survey and let us know what licenses we…
