Senate passes bill giving state control over Donald Trump library

Florida’s government is one step closer to guiding the process when it comes to the future Donald Trump Presidential Library.

The Senate passed Senate President Pro Tempore Jason Brodeur’s measure (SB 118) that would preempt local governments and cede control to Tallahassee.

“As the home of the 45th and 47th President of the United States, there is a high likelihood that President Trump will select Florida to be the site of his presidential library,” Brodeur said. “In anticipation of Florida’s first presidential library, we should roll out the welcome mat and offer our President maximum flexibility to construct this historic landmark in Florida.”

The eventual library is expected to be in South Florida, near where the Trump family makes its base. The Associated Press says Florida Atlantic University and Florida International University are among the sites being explored for construction.

Senate President Ben Albritton hailed the passage of the legislation.

“Florida is proud to be the home state of President Donald Trump, and we would be honored to welcome our state’s first presidential library in celebration of President Trump’s historic tenure. The Florida Senate stands with President Trump and is committed to protecting his legacy as the first Floridian in the White House.”

NBC’s Matt Dixon reports that Eric Trump and Steve Witkoff have scouted out potential sites, and Trump has met with Gov. Ron DeSantis to discuss the project.

Pensacola Republican Rep. Alex Andrade’s bill (HB 69) has cleared all House committees. It is likely the House takes up the Senate version as soon as the next floor session.

The bill reserves to the state “all regulatory authority over the establishment, maintenance, activities, and operations of presidential libraries.” It blocks “counties, municipalities, or other political subdivisions from enacting or enforcing any ordinance, resolution, rule, or other measure regarding presidential libraries unless authorized by federal law.”

Central to the legislative premise is the idea that such libraries are “unique national institutions designated to house, preserve, and make accessible the records of former presidents.”

The bill uses the definition of a presidential library adopted federally in 1986 by an act of Congress when Ronald Reagan was the chief executive, encompassing “research facilities and museum facilities,” and enshrining them as part of the National Archives system.

The federal legislation actually applied to Presidents after Reagan, such as George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama, as it took effect for Presidents inaugurated for their first terms after 1985, which was when Reagan’s second and final term as President began.