A special primary election will be held January 28 for Florida’s congressional House district 1 and House district 6.

This will be followed by a special general election on April 1.

These elections are the result of Rep. Matt Gaetz and Rep. Mike Waltz being tapped for positions in the new administration.

Both seats have candidates that have been endorsed by President-elect Donald Trump and those endorsed are favored to win.

The County Commission has approved an ordinance to raise the monetary value limit of a gift of food and drink for elected officials from $5 to $25.

Commissioner Mark Bogen stated this ordinance will allow elected officials, candidates, and government staff to interface better with the public as the current rules prevent officials from attending functions they should be attending.

Reasoning in the ordinance states the stringent gift limitations in the County Code of Ethics unintentionally discourage personal interaction and communication between elected officials and the communities they serve.

The gift limitation was raised on November 12 after a unanimous vote for its approval.

Republican Rick Scott defeated his opponent Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell in the race for U.S. Senate 55% to 42%.

Scott, who served two terms as governor of Florida before being elected to the U.S. Senate in 2018, will now serve a second term.

Voters in Florida rejected a ballot measure to the repeal the public campaign financing requirement for campaigns for statewide office.

The current law makes funds available to individuals who wish to run for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, chief financial officer and agricultural commission.

The original purpose of this law was to make funds available for anyone to run for office but also allowed those fully capable to fund raise for themselves to get additional funds from the state. .

Voters in Florida rejected a ballot measure to require candidates for school boards to pick a party if they want to run.

The measure was slightly controversial as some voters believed it would make the process of electing members of the school board more transparent while other voters believed it could disenfranchise them.

The civil penalty for violating revolving door restrictions has increased.

Senate Bill 7014 doubled the maximum fine to $20,000 for former officials who violate the state’s six-year ban on lobbying on matters of policy and procurement.

The bill also makes changes to ethics investigation procedures and to public disclosures allowing public officials who are lawyers to claim clients as a source of income without divulging their names.

Senate joint resolution 1114 has passed both chambers and now making its way to Gov. DeSantis.

The resolution calls for a referendum on whether the public wants to end the Public Campaign Finance Act of 1986, which uses a portion of taxpayer money to help fund political campaigns.

The act provided roughly $13 million to candidates and is credited with allowing less wealthy candidates to run.

Gov. DeSantis called on the state Legislature to hold a special session to discuss further sanctions on Iran in response to Iran’s support of Hamas.

DeSantis wants to expand the number of industries on Florida’s existing scrutinized companies list and strengthen prohibitions against investing in companies that do business with states sponsoring terrorism.

The session is expected to convene on November 6 and adjourn on November 9.

A Sarasota commissioner has proposed an act to require lobbyist registration for any person hired for the purpose of lobbying.

The act is intended to diminish clandestine lobbying done in secret by private individuals.

This act will affect anyone paid to lobby the city on any matter and require them to disclose their client and the purpose of their lobbying.

The act will exempt those who are not compensated for lobbying activities or those lobbying on behalf of the community.

Finally, the act will establish a public database with a maintained list of lobbyists, their clients, and the subjects of their lobbying.

U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom of the Southern District of Florida permanently halted a portion of the lobbying ban approved by voters in 2018.

The restriction barred public officials from lobbying, on issues of policy, appropriations, or procurement before governmental bodies or entities while in office.

Bloom determined the amendment language to be too broad and poorly defined, agreeing with the Plaintiffs in the case.

The six-year ban on lobbying pertaining to former state and local officers after leaving office was not blocked by Bloom and will continue to be in effect.

The 2023 session of the Florida Legislature adjourned sine die on May 5.

Florida lawmakers approved a $117 billion budget that includes $2.7 billion in tax cuts for consumers and businesses, then moved quickly to adjourn their regular session.

The new budget that starts July 1 is $5 billion higher this last year’s, thanks largely to unexpectedly high revenue collections.

The budget adds nearly $2 billion to the state’s reserves, bringing the total to about $10.9 billion, about $4 billion less than Gov. Ron DeSantis requested.

The Florida Legislature has ended its special session today, February 10.

Legislators passed bills supporting state control over Disney’s special district, migrant flights, and police election units.

The bills will now be sent to Gov. Ron DeSantis where it is expected he will sign the bills into law.

Lawmakers will now prepare for the start of their upcoming regular session on March 7.

The Republican-controlled Florida Legislature will hold a special session this week to deal directly with Disney World’s Reedy Creek Improvement District.

Gov. Ron DeSantis previously pushed lawmakers to end the existence of Reedy Creek and in April of 2022, signed into law the legislation abolishing the Reedy Creek Improvement District.

Now, the state must decide whether to assume control of the district and how to deal with the district’s debts.

The special session began February 6.

A special election has been set for February 27, to fill the seat recently vacated by former Commissioner Ken Russell.

Commissioners had 10 days to appoint a replacement to serve out the remainder of Russell’s term but could not find a consensus candidate.

District 2 comprises portions of Coconut Grove, Brickell, Edgewater, Morningside and downtown.