County commissioners, by a unanimous vote, approved an ordinance requiring lobbyists to register and pay a yearly $50 fee. Under the previous law, lobbyists simply had to sign a registry each time they appeared to lobby.

The new law requires the lobbyist to declare who they represent, what topics they will be discussing, and with whom they are meeting. The ordinance also increases the fines for violations and increases the time lobbying privileges are suspended for repeat offenders. The definition of lobbying is also expanded to include indirect communication through emails or text messages.

The county will hold training for lobbyists in August covering the changes.

A bill seeking to increase lobbyist disclosure advanced in committee in the Florida state senate. Senate Bill 686, if passed, will require lobbyists to report on a monthly basis the bills and amendments they are attempting to influence. This would include listing the specific bar code the legislature uses to track amendments.

The bill still has several hurdles to clear before reaching the Senate floor, including three more committees.

Commissioners, by a count of 5-4, voted to loosen the strict gift limits imposed by the county ethics ordinance. Enacted in 2010, the ordinance created a no-gift rule, prohibiting city and county officials from accepting even a bottle of water at an event.

The new rules allow gifts, including non-alcoholic beverages, worth less than $5 and create an exception for gifts of sympathy. Other changes include the burden of reporting lobbying contact shifting away from the public official to the lobbyist and immediate family members may now act as government vendors.

Proponents lauded the changes, stating the zero-tolerance rules created a trap whereby government officials and employees could inadvertently violate the code.

After multiple attempts, and multiple special sessions, the Florida Legislature adjourned the third special session of the year on November 5, 2015 without reaching a redistricting agreement for the state senate. The adjournment came a day earlier than expected after the two chambers reached an impasse on the latest version of the map.

Now a Tallahassee Circuit Court judge will likely choose a map from drafts submitted throughout the process. This latest roadblock has renewed calls for an independent commission to handle redrawing the map.

Photo of the Old and New Florida State Capitols by Infrogmation on Wikimedia Commons.

The Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust gave its support for a proposed City of Miami Beach ordinance amending campaign finance rules. The ordinance, if passed, would prohibit the mayor and city commissioners, as well as candidates for those offices, from soliciting contributions on behalf of PACs donating to city candidates. The change would be in addition to the prohibition on city vendors, lobbyists, and real estate developers from making contributions.

The proposed amendment, from Commissioner Jonah Wolfson, is in response to an investigation into $1.5 million raised by a PAC established by Wolfson and Mayor Philip Levine. The contributions were from local businesses and lobbyists.

County commissioners unanimously approved a motion by Chairwoman Sandy Murman to increase transparency for those who are paid to lobby the Commission. An Office of Professional Lobbyist Registration will be created within the county attorney’s office and the county attorney will draft amendments to the existing ordinance.

Currently, lobbyists must register prior to each meeting with an official, but many do not adhere to this requirement. The new ordinance will require notice of visits by lobbyists to be posted online and the registration office will be responsible for enforcement.

Chairwoman Murman stated she wants the ordinance to focus on paid lobbyists, excluding volunteers from the requirements.

A special session of the legislature adjourned Friday, August 21, 2015, without an agreement on a new congressional district map. Florida’s supreme court ruled the current map unconstitutional, forcing lawmakers to return to Tallahassee earlier this month.

The failure to reach an agreement likely means the new map will be drawn by the courts. Gov. Rick Scott could force the legislature back into session before a court hearing on Tuesday, August 25, but he has stated he would not do so.

A third special session of the year has been called in Florida so lawmakers can redraw potentially unconstitutional Senate district lines. The session will take place from October 19 to November 6, 2015.

The Florida Supreme Court has already ruled the House district map unconstitutional, prompting a special session in August to redraw the lines. The court has yet to instruct the Legislature on the Senate map, but changes will be made preemptively based on the ruling.

A trial was set to begin in September following a lawsuit filed by The League of Women Voters and Common Cause claiming the Senate map violates the Fair District amendment of the Florida Constitution.

A special session of the Legislature will be held next month for lawmakers to approve a new congressional district map. The state’s supreme court recently invalidated the current map and created a 100-day deadline to complete changes.

The special session will be held from August 10 to August 21, 2015.

Nine districts are in need of reconfiguration but the 5th and 13th are expected to change the most.

The Florida Legislature adjourned its three-week-long special session Friday, June 19, 2015 after reaching an agreement on the state’s budget.

Lawmakers returned June 1 after failing to pass a budget during the regular session due to a disagreement over Medicaid expansion.

The bill now rests with Gov. Rick Scott who has 10 days to sign it.

Photo of the Old and New Florida State Capitols by Infrogmation on Wikimedia Commons.

The Miami-Dade Clerk of the Courts has announced a new online lobbyist registration system will launch on June 1, 2015.

Current lobbyist information will be transferred to the new system and lobbyists will receive temporary log in information via email in order to create a profile.

This release only affects registration; however, plans to incorporate expenditure reporting are forthcoming.

The Florida Legislature will return for a special session from June 1 to June 20, 2015. Among the topics on the agenda is the state budget, a major point of contention between the two chambers.

The House recently adjourned the regular session early, citing an insurmountable disagreement with the Senate over expanding Medicaid.

A compromise must be reached prior to July 1, the beginning of the state’s fiscal year.

The Florida Senate adjourned sine die on May 1, 2015, three days after the House abruptly ended its session early citing an impasse with the Senate over budget issues.

Senate democrats, believing the move was in violation of the state constitution, filed a lawsuit with the state supreme court seeking a writ of mandamus to order the House back into session. While the court agreed the early adjournment was a clear violation, all seven justices concurred there was no plausible way to order the House back with so little time left in the session.

Nonetheless, democratic leaders lauded the ruling as important guidance for the future.

The Supreme Court today upheld a Florida campaign finance restriction prohibiting judicial candidates from personally soliciting donations. In a 5-4 decision, the Court rejected First Amendment concerns, ruling states may choose to elect their judiciary but are not required to treat judicial candidates like politicians.

Though candidates may not solicit contributions, the Florida law allows others, such as campaign managers and friends, to do so on their behalf.

Chief Justice Roberts stated the case was a rare instance where the state, in trying to maintain the integrity of the bench, has a compelling interest in restricting speech.