Darkness in the Sunshine State: Florida Legislature Helps Feds Keep Status Quo

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Aug. 23, 2016) – Republican dominated leadership in the Florida House and Senate chose to maintain the unconstitutional status quo on multiple issues in 2016, killing a wide variety of bills that would have blocked state enforcement of federal policies. Many of the bills did not even receive votes in their respective chambers.…

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Federal Loophole Renders Florida’s Asset Forfeiture Reforms Potentially Meaningless

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (April 4, 2016) – Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed a bill into law Friday that reforms the state’s asset forfeiture laws, but a federal loophole effectively renders even the modest improvements in state law potentially meaningless Sen. Jeffrey Brandes (R) sponsored Senate Bill 1044 (SB1044). As introduced, the legislation would have require criminal prosecution…

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Florida Bills Would Curb “Policing for Profit” via Asset Forfeiture, But Federal Loophole Remains

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Dec. 10, 2015) – Bills filed in the Florida legislature for the 2016 legislative session would reform the state’s asset forfeiture laws, making it more difficult for police to seize property. But a loophole in the legislation would allow law enforcement to work with the feds to skirt the more stringent state law. Sen. Jeffrey…

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