Peter Schorsch
“A return to normalcy.”
That’s how we led our 2024 edition of this column. Well, so much for that.
The 2025 Session was anything but normal. It started with new House and Senate leaders aligning to directly confront the Governor via veto overrides, stripping him of authority in higher ed, campaigning for ballot amendments, threats of investigation into the First Lady’s charitable arm, and more.
Some of those efforts stalled. As the Session progressed, that interchamber relationship regressed, leading to spats between the Senate President and House Speaker over a bevy of bills, personal barbs between chambers, and a budget that is still not close to being resolved.
Hence, unlike in years past, we won’t even be able to comment on the fallout of appropriations work in this column, though we expect plenty of coverage in the weeks ahead as a budget deal takes shape.
Instead, we’ll focus on what lawmakers and lobbyists were able to accomplish before the scheduled 60 days expired and what issues moved or were left on the cutting room floor.
But back to that talk of normalcy. What we described last year was the legislative degree, reasserting its independence from the Governor’s Office after years of Ron DeSantis flexing his muscle in Tallahassee.
Some culture war bills died. DeSantis vetoed a social media bill before hammering out another version. Those battles, though, paled compared to what we saw this year.
Like so much of recent political history, the 2025 Session was another example of a pendulum that needed correction, nevertheless swinging too far in the opposite direction. Now, we’re looking at a massive five-week extension to power through multiple unresolved bills, even beyond the budget, and the three top leaders in Tallahassee all distrust one another to some degree.
But that begs the question: What is “normal” now as DeSantis gets even closer to terming out?
As we wrote then, last year was “the way Session is supposed to work. ” There were some quibbles, to be sure, but the big stuff got done.
Is 2024 a preview of how Sessions will work going forward, at least through next year when all the same players return?
That’s a question we’ll have to answer next March (or April?). For now, we’ve got more than enough to talk about after a roller coaster 60 days.
Biggest Winner
Daniel Perez — After years of being all but a rubber stamp for the Governor, the Legislature established itself as a coequal branch this Session, and much of the credit belongs to the House Speaker. He had a willing partner in Senate President Ben Albritton, but it was Perez and other House lawmakers who squared up with DeSantis and refused to back down in the face of his schoolyard bully politicking.
And what a refreshing change from the genuflection the Governor enjoyed as he ran for President and scored victory after victory and endorsements from a Legislature all too willing to please him.
Perez, strong of backbone and economical in speech, made clear early on he’d be no one’s errand boy. A year before he took over as Speaker, fellow Miami Republican Vicki Lopez predicted he’d “take the House back.” She was right.
When DeSantis called for a Special Session on illegal immigration, Perez and Albritton called the move “premature” and derided the Governor’s “plan” for lacking detail. Then they gaveled in, only to gavel right back out of DeSantis’ Session before convening their own and passing immigration reforms more aligned with President Donald Trump’s dictates.
After DeSantis fumed at the House for overriding his vetoes, advancing tort bills he opposed, and eschewing his budget and tax proposals, Perez called the Governor “emotional” and prone to “temper tantrums,” but stressed, “I consider him a friend. I consider him a partner.”
A partner. Not a stooge. And not an accomplice. When questions arose around funneling $10 million in Medicaid settlement money through First Lady Casey DeSantis’ Hope Florida charity to a political committee chaired by the Governor’s then-Chief of Staff, Perez called for answers. And while House hearings into the matter led by Pensacola Rep. Alex Andrade ended with more of a whimper than a bang, the Speaker made clear the issue is far from dropped and “all options are still on the table.”
With those issues pending resolution, a Special Session on the horizon to hammer out the next state budget and the 2026 Session less than a year away, all eyes are on Perez and how he — backed by a gangbusters staff led by brainiac Mat Bahl — will guide the chamber through the end of next year.
A Note of Grace
It must be acknowledged the outsized role former Senate President Kathleen Passidomo played in the 2025 Legislative Session. Her critics suggest she wielded too much power in the upper chamber, even for a Rules Committee Chair. They will say she worked behind the scenes with the Governor’s Office to undermine the House. Just as they will say, she was too often the obstacle to agreement between the two chambers. And we especially disagreed with her recent comments about Speaker Perez.
Passidomo’s defenders (of which there are many), on the other hand, will attest to Passidomo’s devotion to her colleagues and her principles, as well as her willingness to punch back against a Florida House that, let’s be honest, gaveled into Session looking for a fight.
Considering these factors, and many more, we have concluded that Sen. Passidomo deserves a note of grace for her efforts this Session.
Were you to tell us that Kathleen Passidomo would still be standing on the Senate floor late into the 60th night of Session after suffering the tragic and untimely death of her husband less than a year ago, we would have told you there is no way that was possible.
But that’s precisely what she did and that’s why she garners the admiration she does. It’s why so many colleagues, Senate staffers, and others in The Process refer to her as “Mom.”
Had we been forced to deal with what she had faced, we could not have done what she had done.
Watching Sen. Passidomo from afar, we are reminded of the steely courage displayed by the late Queen Elizabeth II, whom we deeply admired. Even after her beloved Phillip passed away, she continued to serve the country she loved. We’re not overstating things here, but we can’t imagine it has been easy for Passidomo. And yet, she has endured.
Her admirers and detractors wish she were more of an elder statesman like the other former Senate President, Don Gaetz. She should enjoy the new leaders a bit more and watch the battle, not lead it. In doing so, she can be the winner we all know she can be.
Outstanding Members
Lori Berman — As in music and athletics, it’s notable when a lawmaker turns in one of her best legislative performances after 15 years. That’s what Berman, a Boynton Beach Democrat, did during the 2025 Session.
Despite being at a historic disadvantage in the Senate, serving from the minority, she passed five priority bills, including one to ensure cost-free coverage for diagnostic and supplemental breast exams under the state group insurance program that Berman, a breast cancer survivor, had filed for six straight years. Berman’s thoughtful, calm and incisive approach to the Process has earned her many allies since her first election to state office in 2010.
And when Jason Pizzo abruptly stepped down as Senate Democratic Leader and left the party late last month, slamming the proverbial door on his way out, those left in the room quickly turned to Berman for direction and stability, electing her to the job he forsook. They chose wisely.
Jenn Bradley — There was a time when independent minds populated the Senate, members who asserted their voice but acted as restraints on the House’s worst ideological excesses. Such voices seemed scarce in recent Sessions, but Bradley sought to reverse that trend this year.
The stateswoman scored significant wins, from shepherding the condo bill to returning decisions on school start times to local school districts. She also passed legislation that should end the Agency for Persons with Disabilities’ waitlist by creating an expanded managed care pilot program available to anyone on it. She also pushed for changes to Florida law to help the wrongfully incarcerated receive compensation from the state much faster, sponsoring the Tristin Murphy Act to create a model process for diverting defendants to mental health treatment.
But did anything of note happen in the Senate other than her bill? Well, she played a key role in rejecting DeSantis’ kookiest appointees to the University of West Florida trustee board, and she killed an effort by Lennar that could have locked homebuyers into eternal fees to the developer. She was also a leading player in the amendment reform bill, stopping state money from going into political committees <cough> Amendments 3 and 4. She demonstrated the ability to kill bad bills and pass good ones.
This is what old-school Senate legislating looks like. More of this, please.
Danny Burgess — Each Session, Burgess proves to be one of the hardest-working Senators in The Process, carrying and passing an impressive list of bills year after year. He consistently navigates The Process skillfully and successfully, caring more about the policy passed than who gets the credit.
This Session, Burgess especially delivered for his home region, sponsoring and passing a priority bill for every Sheriff in the Tampa Bay area, including SB 612 for Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister, SB 1450 for Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, and SB 86 for Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco, and working hand-in-hand with Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri on the Senate’s school safety package, SB 1470. He also fought tirelessly for his constituents impacted by historic flooding in the wake of Hurricanes Milton and Helene, getting stormwater system inspections across the finish line despite long odds without a House companion. We could go on, but you get the point.
He accomplished all this while juggling the added responsibility of chairing the Senate PreK-12 Education budget.
Nick DiCeglie — If there were an MVP in the game who could get sh** done, Sen. DiCeglie would be in the running. He carried across the finish line a massive hurricane preparedness and response package that responded to myriad challenges that arose in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, both of which battered the Senator’s Indian Rocks Beach home and much of his Pinellas County-based district. He also ensured one of his top priorities, prohibiting wake on flooded streets, didn’t die by working to include it in a broader transportation package. And on and on.
It might not seem like a win to everyone, but he probably scored some brownie points with President Trump with his successful push to officially rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, aligning Florida policy with Trump’s executive order doing the same.
Pinellas County Sheriff Gualtieri probably agrees DiCeglie gets a W this Session. The two worked together on an amendment to a transportation package — the same one that had the wake provision — to improve some unintended consequences of the state’s school bus safety law, allowing the use of cameras on stop arms to issue citations to drivers who fail to stop for buses.
There’s so much more, but if all that were not enough, he also shepherded a bill providing protections to pet owners seeking pet insurance.
Alex Andrade — Who guessed that a guy once engaging in bar fights alongside Anthony Sabatini in Tallahassee would one day oversee the most significant government oversight of the DeSantis administration?
The Pensacola Republican took over the Health Care Budget Committee with little background in the field, but was shocked at his discoveries. From revelations of $160 million in misspent Medicaid funding to the passing of grant money through nonprofits that ended up in political committee coffers, the story of the Session was built mainly upon discovery and testimony in Andrade’s Subcommittee.
And if you question the influence of this Panhandle lawmaker on The Process, check out the obsession with him among the DeSantis bots … er, supporters on social media. In the span of just a few months, the work has catapulted Andrade from the role of spirited country lawyer to a news fixture, thanks in large part to his willingness to go against an administration once treated by lawmakers as untouchable.
Lindsay Cross — It’s hard for a Democrat to land a win in a Legislature dominated by Republicans, but Rep. Cross managed to leverage good working relationships with colleagues on the other side of the aisle to bring home victories for her constituents and those from across the state.
Cross was the initial House sponsor for legislation (HB 241) prohibiting wake on flooded streets caused by vehicles driving through floodwaters. Neither her bill nor DiCeglie’s upper chamber companion made it through The Process, but provisions were wrapped into a broader transportation package DiCeglie continued to push (SB 462). So, while her name isn’t on the final product, her fingerprints are, and if signed by the Governor, the new law will remove a concern for those in flood-prone areas.
Likewise, Cross isn’t getting direct credit for a provision tucked into a larger package updating the Live Local Act and increasing options for affordable housing. Cross worked with Republican Rep. Vicki Lopez on the package to include language adoption of the “Yes in God’s Backyard” (YIGBY) policy, which allows churches and other religious institutions to use their property for affordable housing projects regardless of zoning.
And she played an unsung role in a sweeping hurricane preparedness and response package (SB 180) that DiCeglie carried across the finish line in the waning days of Session, working with GOP counterparts to include language adding protections and proactive solutions relating to construction cranes (one fell during Hurricane Milton in Cross’ district, causing major damage to the Tampa Bay Times’ downtown St. Pete building), debris management and local emergency management.
It’s no wonder Cross was the only elected official in Florida chosen this year to join The NewDEAL nationwide coalition of center-left leaders.
Traci Koster — The up-and-coming Republican sponsored and led two crucial and complicated bills to unanimous passage, awaiting the Governor’s signature.
HB 633 brings long-overdue transparency and accountability metrics to the Department of Children and Families’ managing entities and the state’s contractors, to improve behavioral health outcomes for all Florida families who depend on quality mental health and substance abuse disorder services.
Koster, working with Sen. Bradley, helped pass SB130, correcting a long-standing injustice by ensuring wrongfully incarcerated individuals have the opportunity to receive fair compensation for the years taken from them. Many advocates have been working on this legislation since 2008, as Florida’s unique “Clean Hands” law imposed restrictive barriers and denied far too many exonerees the restitution they deserve.
Kudos to Koster for winning the good fight on behalf of Floridians who cannot hire powerful lobby firms to make these much-needed systemic changes.
Vicki Lopez — Winners have an extra gear when the stakes are high and the game is on the line, and time and time again, Lopez called for the proverbial ball on some of the toughest but important issues in Florida.
This year, she carried all but two of her bills to the House floor, including since-passed measures to further shore up condo safety while addressing cost concerns and expanding the state’s affordable housing initiative while protecting local history. She also took the helm on a fleet of boating safety bills, including Lucy’s Law, cracking down on reckless maritime activity.
Her legislative success rate, responsiveness and penchant for cross-aisle collaboration made her a natural choice to co-lead Speaker Perez’s joint panel on property tax reform, which will undoubtedly deliver a thoughtful product when lawmakers begin meeting for Session next year.
Members Deserving An Honorable Mention
Don Gaetz — We expect nothing less of such a lion of the Senate, but the former Senate President came back to Tallahassee with a roar. From his Chair seat on the Ethics and Elections Commission, the Crestview Republican helped seal the fate of a half dozen of DeSantis’ most controversial nominees. Those included a couple wackadoodle trustees at Senate District 1’s own University of West Florida and Shevaun Harris and Taylor Hatch, heads of agencies caught up in the Hope Florida scandal.
But he wasn’t just a thorn in the administration’s side. The Senate statesman crafted a constitutional amendment reform bill with Erin Grall in the Senate that could stop the next abortion or marijuana measure from making the ballot. A master of The Process with a keen awareness of how — and when — to apply leverage made this “freshman” lawmaker a potent force in the Florida Capitol once again.
Darryl Rouson — This veteran Florida lawmaker deserves credit for many things, but one stands out above all else this Session: Keeping his eye on the prize.
The Senate passed legislation (SB 1620) implementing several recommendations of the Commission on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Disorders, a panel on which Rouson served. It’s well known he’s a recovering addict, and it often guides his policy decisions on issues either directly or indirectly related to substance abuse. Within the Senate bill was creating an addiction research center at the University of South Florida to be named after Rouson as a nod to his exhaustive work on the issue, as he ends his final term as a state Senator.
The House stripped that provision from the bill when it passed it, sparking outrage in the Senate from Republicans and Democrats alike, who were willing to draw a hard line in the sand in support of their colleague.
But Rouson not once, but twice, insisted the Senate pass the House’s amended bill anyway, noting that “the work of the Commission is more important” than an accolade for himself.
He’s not done yet, but Rouson cemented a legacy as a true class act, and his colleagues in the upper chamber will continue to have his back.
Jay Trumbull — Set to take the helm as Senate President in the 2028-2030 terms, Trumbull displayed his leadership skills during this Session when he spearheaded an effort to right a legislative wrong that targeted Walton County back in 2018. Trumbull not only filed SB 1622 but also secured near-unanimous support for it, repealing the state law that limits public access to local beaches by preventing government entities from adopting ordinances that establish customary use. Now, thanks to Trumbull, Walton County beaches will be free once again, guaranteeing the public unfettered access to these white sand shores — a huge legislative victory for his Senate District 2.
Keith Truenow — He delivered a landmark victory with the Florida Farm Bill, revolutionizing agriculture policy. The SodFather’s first Senate year cultivated opportunities for Floridians to succeed. His bold leadership banned fluoride from public water, ensured honest food labeling, and protected critical properties from drone harassment. Truenow’s focus on agriculture, manufacturing, and workforce training will open new opportunities for Floridians, cementing his legacy as a fierce defender of the state’s economic backbone.
Adam Anderson — The Republican transformed personal loss into a powerful fight for Florida’s kids, spearheading rare disease research and early detection through cutting-edge genomics. His strategic vision has united medical pioneers, securing a brighter, healthier future for young Floridians. Anderson’s unwavering dedication to health care innovation has solidified his legacy as a rising star in Tallahassee.
Gallop Franklin — If the Florida Democratic Party is “dead,” Tallahassee’s second-term Representative didn’t get the memo. Despite being a member of the super-minority party, Franklin has found a way to get bills through an increasingly conservative state House — and by bills, we don’t mean a token victory on a specialty license plate, we mean heavy-duty policy. His significant achievement this Session was HB 1353, a sequel to the home health services bill he carried across the finish line last year. The 2025 effort is a broader reform bill that tackles workforce shortages by letting contract nurses perform start-of-care and discharge visits. It also updates the state’s Excellence in Home Health program to make it more meaningful for skilled and unskilled providers. His effectiveness in the Capitol is helped by his willingness to reach across the aisle — this year, he convinced GOP Sen. Alexis Calatayud to carry the Senate bill — the result: unanimous approval in both chambers and a trip to DeSantis’ desk.
Mike Giallombardo — Not long ago, the Cape Coral Republican’s push to put single-member districts on the ballot in Lee County seemed to hit a wall and forge a schism in the local delegation. But this year, he got both chambers on board with the change. A referendum will likely land in front of voters in Florida’s eighth-largest county to decide if they want regional County Commissioners instead of having every member represent more than 800,000 people.
If voters say yes — as voters in every large county facing the question have done in recent years — the change will go into effect in 2028. That happens to be when Giallombardo faces term limits in the House. Not that the Commission would be his only option, but it will likely be a cheaper one.
Fiona McFarland — She solidified her reputation as a legislative trailblazer, a year removed from safeguarding kids with landmark social media reforms. As Chair of Student Academic Success, she drove child care reforms, uplifting working parents across Florida. A commanding voice on AI, hurricane relief, and transportation, McFarland’s relentless leadership, paired with her high-profile role as a devoted mom to baby Grace and the rest of her crew, showcased her tenacity, balancing parenting and policy with unmatched grit.
Danny Nix — A high-energy unifier. By first responder amputees, establishing the Florida Medal of Valor and Blue/Red Heart Medal, and banning motor vehicle kill switches, he’s solidifying Florida’s law-and-order legacy. Nix’s harsh penalties for attacks on justice system personnel, enhanced reporting of missing persons, and creation of the Critical Infrastructure Mapping Grant Program will fortify public safety. Rallying colleagues with infectious drive, Nix’s team spirit laid the foundation for a stellar opening act.
Toby Overdorf — Overdorf worked to fortify Florida’s fight against human trafficking by arming Floridians with critical awareness to spot its signs. His FLOGE bill, mirroring federal DOGE efforts, slashed red tape by mandating timely agency notices and rigorous rule reviews, streamlining governance. Overdorf’s relentless advocacy also bolstered Florida’s nursing workforce, ensuring top-tier talent through enhanced education standards. He sparked hope by co-leading bold property tax cuts, empowering Floridians to keep more of their hard-earned money.
Michelle Salzman — The unrelenting “Queen of the North” unleashed a fierce set of legislative victories. She overhauled driver’s license requirements and championed disability awareness in schools, mandating tailored instruction from kindergarten to grade 12 on bullying, physical disabilities, autism, hearing impairments, and intellectual disabilities. Salzman’s relentless drive for safer roads and inclusive classrooms made her a legislative powerhouse, but you already knew that!
Dana Trabulsy — Her heartfelt leadership shone brightly this Session, blending compassion with fierce resolve to pass her landmark “free kill” bill, closing Florida’s loophole to hold negligent doctors accountable. As Chair of the Education Administration Subcommittee, she championed transformative reforms, addressing critical teacher shortages, modernizing certifications, and bolstering support for military families’ education. From expanding prekindergarten access to strengthening the New Worlds Tutoring Program, Trabulsy’s meticulous and caring approach reshaped Florida’s education system, solidifying her as a legislative powerhouse.
Meg Weinberger — In her first Session, this Palm Beach Gardens Republican exhibited none of the trepidation to which some first-term lawmakers are prone. She sponsored bills tackling child welfare and animal cruelty, two issues very close to her heart. She also took on the contentious task of protecting localities from exposure to waste incinerators and took the lead on one of two bills to recognize the Gulf of America. Her reach didn’t ever seem to exceed her grasp, and her legislative versatility hardly hampered her success rate. She even successfully ran one of several claims bills that seldom make it across the finish line. Looks like the President, a slew of MAGA notables and myriad local and state officials who backed Weinberger’s campaign last year were onto something.
Other Winners
Wilton Simpson — By every measure, 2025 is going well for the Agriculture Commissioner. It feels like forever ago, but the Legislature’s bulk of a Special Session lauding Simpson at the Governor’s expense. It appears that wasn’t mere lip service. Simpson put forward an ambitious slate. The Florida Farm Bill will rewrite the vocabulary for ersatz food products such as soy milk — the M-word is reserved for “hooved animals. It also exempts agricultural spaces for the National FFA Organization and the 4-H Club from zoning laws that would otherwise ban them. And, like it or not, it even delivers a win to the groundswell of anti-fluoride advocates. Whether due to luck or (more likely) strategy, the fluoride inclusion provided a smoke screen for the former Senate President’s biggest victory: a 2026 ballot initiative to exempt agricultural lands from property taxes, which didn’t get any play in prior Legislatures. We’ll sneak in one more Ag cliché: In a year of budget cuts and either-ors, Simpson convinced the Legislature that the farm.
Florida Justice Association — After a previously undisclosed report surfaced showing insurance companies had been siphoning billions of dollars to affiliated companies, the justification for the Governor’s 2023 overhaul of the civil justice system was called into question early in Session. The report offered evidence of increased claims denials, and showed ever-increasing insurance premiums put defenders of those reforms on the defensive for the first time in recent memory. After successfully weathering bruising battles to win passage off the House floor, reforms stalled in the Senate.
Still, one reform received broad legislative support and will head to the Governor’s desk: repealing the so-called “free kill” exception in medical malpractice cases (HB 6017). The House passed the bill 104-6. After narrowly defeating an amendment that would have revived damage caps, the holy grail of tort reform, the Senate passed the bill 33-4. Advocates for repeal have become familiar faces in the Capitol, coming to Tallahassee year after year to seek justice for lost loved ones. The fate of the bill now rests with the Governor, who will have to decide between maintaining his tort reform agenda or delivering another devastating loss to families who have already experienced unthinkable losses without justice.
MAGA — Even as others sour on his economic policies, Trump’s most loyal supporters in the MAGAverse have plenty to cheer from this Legislative Session, including efforts to ensure a presidential library in what is now Trump’s hometown, renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America officially in state references, a street named after Trump and a Florida DOGE.
GOP lawmakers this Session — and DeSantis even before Session began — have been tripping over themselves to please POTUS.
They passed a bill (SB 118) that would preempt local governments and cede control to Tallahassee over the placement of the future Donald Trump Presidential Library.
They also passed a bill officially calling Florida’s most iconic body of water the Gulf of America, bringing the state’s naming in line with Trump’s executive order doing the same.
Likewise, GOP lawmakers approved naming a portion of Southern Boulevard in Palm Beach “President Donald J. Trump Boulevard.”
And earlier this year, outside of Session, DeSantis piled on, too, even though he and the 47th President aren’t exactly bros. The Governor created a Florida DOGE, mirroring efforts from Elon Musk’s federal DOGE — Department of Government Efficiency — to root out government waste. It’s already got targets, including at state universities now facing sweeping state audits.
Americans for Prosperity-Florida — The grassroots powerhouse AFP notched several key wins this Session, advancing its mission to promote economic freedom and improve government accountability. AFP-FL played a leading role in promoting legislation protecting the American Dream by lowering the cost of building homes and increasing our housing supply through zoning and permitting reform. They say defense wins championships, and boy did AFP play defense, fighting off unintended consequences of overregulating nonprofits, ensuring the legislaLegislaturet bring back automatic cost of living adjustment (COLA) for all state employees pensions, preventing the overregulation and caps on Florida’s ESA programs, and working to prevent the role back of property insurance reforms. Lastly, after more than 10 years of pushing for the passage of the Administrative Procedures Act, the Legislature did it this year.
Associated Industries of Florida — AIF once again proved why it’s a heavyweight in the Capitol. With Brewster Bevis at the helm, a sharp government affairs team led by Adam Basford, and strategic muscle from Jeremy Sheftel, the “Voice of Florida Business” held the line against efforts to roll back landmark tort reforms enacted just a few years ago. These reforms have been credited with helping Florida climb out of its deep “judicial hellhole,” reining in lawsuit abuse that drove up insurance costs for families and job creators alike. Trial attorneys and their allies led a formidable effort to go backward to the pre-reform status quo, but AIF’s defense of these hard-fought gains will help keep Florida on a pro-growth, business-friendly path, benefiting the workers and families fueling the state’s economy.
The autism community — Senate President Albritton set the stage early for what ended up being a banner year for legislation focusing on and providing expanded support for individuals with autism spectrum disorder and their families in Florida. With advocacy support coming from organizations including Autism Speaks (and their lobbyist James McFaddin of The Southern Group) and The Arc of Florida, the Legislature’s comprehensive legislation that provides free screenings and referrals, focuses on early detection, intervention, and support opportunities, and creates specialized summer programs. The bill also creates the Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment at the University of Florida as a statewide hub for autism research, services, and best practices. Other impactful legislation for the autism community also reached the finish line this year, including a bill creating a statewide system, Spectrum Alert, to help locate missing autistic children more effectively, as well as legislation expanding the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Pilot Program, enhancing iBudget transparency, and requiring a study and evaluation of how iBudgets are constructed.
Citrus County Sheriff’s Office — Thanks to the hard work of Citrus County Sheriff David Vincent, all 115 deputies within the patrol division in the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office will wear body cameras during daily interactions beginning June 30. With Citrus County being just one of three Florida counties not using body cameras, Vincent pushed for more transparency when he campaigned for office in 2024. Vincent and Ruthie Davis Schlabach of The Southern Group worked with lawmakers to secure the funding to sign a contract with Axon to supply the body camera equipment.
County Commissioners and School Board Members — The local officials once again dodged the imposition of term limits like those restricting lawmakers from holding office forever. While the House passed a resolution that would have put eight-year statewide restrictions on County Commission or School Board seats on the statewide ballot, the measure stalled in the Senate. While plenty of counties already include restrictions on terms in their local charters, this will remain a local decision for now.
But elected officials should stay alert. The measure, sponsored by Pensacola Rep. Salzman, still cleared the preemption-loving House floor on an 82-33 vote and made it through the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee this Session, so the fight isn’t over.
AirTags — Bluetooth-powered devices like AirTags and SmartTags and apps like Life360 are handy for keeping track of your loved ones and never losing your keys. But like most technology, they can be used for nefarious purposes as well, including multiple stalking and murder cases. Lawmakers hiked penalties for all tech-assisted crimes last year. Sen. Tom Leek and Rep. Tiffany Esposito believed the punishment should be even steeper for 26 crimes, from murder and kidnapping to human trafficking and domestic violence, classified as dangerous in Florida Statutes. And they succeeded, winning unanimous approval in both chambers to make using tracking devices and apps while committing the most heinous infractions imaginable punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
The memory of Emily Adkins — It’s hard to do justice for the pain and loss suffered by former Rep. Janet Adkins and her husband, Doug, when their daughter Emily passed away from a blood clot at the age of 23.
But they turned tragedy into an opportunity to help make sure that others don’t suffer the needless grief they did, by beginning the Emily’s Promise nonprofit and by going to work to help get the Emily Adkins Family Protection Act through the LegislaLegislatureill, sponsored by Jacksonville Republicans Sen. Clay Yarborough and Rep. Dean Black, requires training and protocols to assess and treat patients at risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) when a patient is admitted to hospital with an emergency room or an ambulatory surgical center.
Upon the bill passing both the Senate and the House, Doug Adkins said it was “about giving families a fighting chance, so no one has to wonder ‘what if’ like we do every day.”
Every bill has a story. And this one, like few others, is a story born of tragedy.
Rosie Cordero-Stutz — Miami-Dade County’s first elected Sheriff in more than half a century took little time after securing a landslide election win in November to begin making her mark at home and in Tallahassee. That included her support for legislation (HB 1447) by Fort Myers Sen. Jonathan Martin and Cape Coral Rep. Giallombardo to increase criminal penalties for trespassing at a large-scale ticketed event. The bill and a $500,000 House budget earmark were inspired by the chaos at last year’s Copa Américas final, where non-ticket holders forced their way into Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, delaying the game and drawing global criticism. HB 1447 passed with near-unanimous support with the help of lobbyist Erin Daly Ballas, Vice President of Public Affairs Consultants.
Brooke Curry — This Jacksonville teenager, a Bishop Kenny High School student, may have never intended to follow her father, Lenny Curry, into politics.
But when she was the victim of a malicious deepfake in 2023, she found no recourse under current law, leading her and her family to push for reform.
Reform is coming, via the eponymous “Brooke’s Law,” which was shepherded through The Process this year by Sen. Calatayud and Rep. Wyman Duggan.
Upon becoming law, people will have recourse to demand that exploitative, pornographic images of them created by AI are taken down from platforms that host them, meaning that future young women aren’t victimized like Brooke was.
It’s appropriate that BK’s mascot is the Crusader. Brooke Curry showed distinct bravery in talking to the media and to legislators to get the measure over the finish line. Lenny Curry’s machine was fully engaged, of course, with the indispensable Katie Wiles assisting in shaping the message, which aligns with initiatives pursued federally by First Lady Melania Trump.
Clear skies — Nobody likes hearing an annoying buzz while trying to relax and enjoy Florida’s natural beauty. The irksomeness only intensifies when the pest is outfitted with rotors and cameras. Drones have their place, to be sure, but thanks to HB 1121, we’re one signature away from getting some much-needed drone-free zones. Rep. Jennifer Canady’s bill — sponsored in the Senate by Truenow — won’t ban drones everywhere, but it will ensure they don’t snoop around critical infrastructure. The only regret here is that Truenow’s version would’ve allowed us to use “reasonable force” to down drones flying over private property without clearance. We understand why that was nixed, but it still sounds like a blast.
Charter Communications — Broadband is getting a boost thanks to legislation from Rep. Will Robinson and Sen. Stan McClain (HB 703 and SB 818) that will create a new Utility Relocation Fund to help ISPs cover the cost of moving infrastructure during public projects — in English, it slashes red tape. Charter Communications, which was recently ranked the most reliable internet provider in the country by Opensignal, also has one of the most reliable teams in Tallahassee, with VP Marva Johnson and Albie Kaminsky leading the charge. While the bill looks like a no-brainer on paper, it took a fight as local governments weren’t initially keen on it. Of course, Charter’s impressive roster of contract lobbyists deserves a shoutout — the lineup includes the all-star teams at Rubin Turnbull, Johnston & Stewart, Continental Strategies, and French Brown and Floyd Self.
Charter schools — Charter schools gained additional footholds this Session through the passage of multiple bills. One measure (HB 1105), which sponsor Danny Burgess described as an “amazingly big education train,” makes it easier to convert public schools into charter schools by only including parents in the voting process. It also requires school districts to proportionally share discretionary surtax revenue with charter schools based on enrollment. Another (HB 443) by Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez and Reps. Alex Rizo and John Snyder enables charter schools to increase enrollment beyond previously approved levels. While not all the charter-focused bills passed this year, these major ones did, due in part to the efforts of lobbyists like Matthew Herdon, Natalie King and Ronald Pierce of RSA Consulting Group; David Ramba, Allison Carvaja and Evan Power of Ramba Consulting Group; Kenneth Kniepmann of Cardinal Consulting; and Rep. Susan Valdés, who carried HB 1105 in the House.
Equality Florida — When you really drill down, the only prerequisite for being a winner is don’t lose. The state’s foremost LGBTQ rights organization satisfied that requirement for the second Session in a row. To be clear, a zero-loss Session for Equality Florida is impressive — outside of (maybe) trial lawyers, it’s hard to think of a group that must play defense on as many bills as Nadine Smith and the Equality Florida team. This year they are celebrating the demise of four bills, including banning state funding for so-called “DEI” activities and positions in state agencies (HB 731/SB 1710); a measure prohibiting local governments from “funding or promoting or taking official action as it relates to diversity, equity, and inclusion” (HB 1571/SB 420); legislation that would curtail workplace discussions of LGBTQ issues (HB 1495/SB 440); and last but not least, a thinly veiled Pride flag ban — it technically targets flags expressing “political viewpoints” — also failed. However, in an improvement from last year, lawmakers avoided bringing a clown show to the Capitol by hearing that one in committee.
Flamingos and scrub-jays — Another Session passed, and the unremarkable mockingbird has again kept its perch as Florida’s long-standing state bird, a title it holds in four other states. This year, Sen. Ileana Garcia and Reps. Chip LaMarca and Jim Mooney led the charge to replace the avian with a far better-suited pair: the American flamingo as the state bird and the Florida scrub-jay, the only species of bird endemic to the Sunshine State, as the Florida songbird. House lawmakers clipped the proposal’s wings, never taking it up.
Efforts to swap the mockingbird with the scrub-jay date back to the 1990s, but they encountered a powerful foe in then-National Rifle Association lobbyist Marion Hammer, whose vendetta against the blue-and-gray scrub-jay, born of a feud with Audubon Florida, has continued into the 2020s. During a hearing over the bill’s Senate version, self-professed “bird nerd” Jackson Oberlink, the Legislative Director of Florida For All, derided Hammer’s “bizarre crusade” against the scrub-hay, arguing that the bird’s return from the brink of extinction reflects Florida’s resilience. “This fight over the state bird is part of a larger pattern (of) special interests blocking progress,” he said, “whether it’s gun reform, environmental protections or even something as simple as recognizing Florida’s own wildlife.”
Florida agriculture — For the first time in several years, a major agriculture package was passed. This is a break from the past, when the different chambers offered varying degrees of support for Florida agriculture. This Session, both chambers spoke loudly and supported agriculture through key priorities, including support for rural communities and legislation that makes it clear that agriculture has strong support in Florida.
While Congress continues to struggle to pass a farm bill, Florida’s Legislature prioritized farmers, unanimously passing its own version of a Florida Farm Bill.
Florida Chamber of Commerce — The Florida Chamber has spent the better part of a decade working to grow Florida’s economy into one of the Top 10 in the world, and the state Legislature has been a key partner on the journey. They’ve notched some monumental achievements over the past few Sessions — a rewrite of state torts law, assignment of benefit (AOB) reform, preemptions on maligned local government regulations, and much more. There were wins in the 2025 Session, too, but the lack of losses really sticks out. The Senate President and House Speaker both issued stark warnings to insurers in their swearing-in speeches, signaling a potential walk-back of the 2023 tort bill, at least in part. Nothing came of it. Meanwhile, another of the Chamber’s long-term goals was realized when the Legislature OK’d new restrictions on ballot amendment campaigns — better yet, that win is set in stone as the Governor signed it into law as soon as it hit his desk.
Florida Natural Gas Association — FNGA and its executive director, Dale Calhoun, emerged as a clear winner this year, championing a trio of bills that reinforce the value of natural gas for Florida’s energy future. Ensuring affordable and reliable energy remains available statewide, Sen. Truenow, Rep. Jason Shoaf and their fellow lawmakers passed HB 1137, fortifying consumer choice by preventing the restriction of access to certain fuel sources or appliances. Another measure backed by FNGA and sponsored by Sen. Clay Yarborough and Rep. Jennifer Kincart Jonsson, SB 1386, will enhance utility worker safety by increasing penalties for violent attacks — an important step to protect those who maintain critical infrastructure. Finally, the passage of SB 1574, spearheaded by Sen. DiCeglie and Kincart Jonsson, creates a new path for investment in renewable natural gas (RNG) infrastructure, laying the groundwork for innovation and expanded use of sustainable gas sources across Florida.
General magistrates and child support hearing officers — This legislative victory, championed by The Family Law Section of The Florida Bar, provides increased safety and security for all court officials, including general magistrates and child support hearing officers, recognizing the inherent risks they face while ensuring the fair administration of justice. By explicitly including these roles under the law’s protection, the bill acknowledges their crucial work within the judicial system and empowers them to perform their duties without fear of intimidation or violence.
‘Kill the Drill’ — The 2025 Session was good for the environment on all fronts — land, air and sea. Lawmakers OK’d a parks protection bill, passed a crackdown on drones and, most importantly for “Kill the Drill” faithful, they greenlit a bill limiting oil drilling along the Apalachicola River. HB 1143 isn’t perfect and, as with many things this Session, its journey to the finish line had plenty of twists and turns. A last-minute amendment by Sen. Corey Simon weakened the original language by Rep. Shoaf — it originally would have applied to all three of Florida’s National Estuarine Research Reserves, but the version that passed only pertains to the Apalachicola NERR, which spans Calhoun, Gulf and Franklin counties. Still, it would give the region’s struggling oyster industry what it’s clamoring for … assuming DeSantis renews the counties’ rural areas of opportunity designation.
“Lucy’s Law” and boater safety — Florida boaters involved in reckless activity on waterways will face stiffer penalties, as state lawmakers approved stricter measures to curb watercraft accidents and fatalities. The legislation, dubbed “Lucy’s Law,” is named after 17-year-old Lucy Fernandez, who was killed in a boating accident during Labor Day weekend in Miami-Dade County in 2022. Under the newly passed legislation, reckless boating resulting in serious injury will be a third-degree felony, instead of a misdemeanor, while reckless boating resulting in death remains a second-degree felony. The Lucy Fernandez Foundation worked closely with Edgar Castro and Avery Mazur of The Southern Group to advocate for this critical legislation. Additionally, Reps. Lopez and Vanessa Oliver co-sponsored the bill, ensuring successful passage. If Gov. DeSantis signs, the new law will take effect on July 1.
Pollsters — The inability of the Senate and House to do business on several issues during this Session benefited university pollsters when the two legislative branches couldn’t reconcile competing education bills from Sen. Calatayud and Rep. Salzman. The Senate product would have clipped the wings of polling operations at the University of North Florida and Florida Atlantic University, restricting them from polling candidates and electoral races and limiting them to issue-based surveys that, let’s be honest, fewer people care about. At least for one more year, they dodged a bullet … and will be serving up content through the 2026 campaign cycle as a result.
Prescribed pediatric extended care centers — Better known as PPECs, these facilities are specially designed for children with medically complex needs, allowing the child to leave home during the day to receive care from PPEC nurses and therapists as prescribed by a physician. The child gets an opportunity to be around other kids, and the parent(s) or caregiver can use that time to go to work or school. Moreover, in Florida’s Medicaid program, PPECs are less expensive than in-home nursing care. PPECs across the state stood together in Tallahassee this Session, fighting off an attempt to shift Medicaid coverage of PPECs away from Medicaid directly and into managed care plans. And, as Session goes into overtime, PPECs can secure a much-needed reimbursement rate increase within the budget.
Renewable natural gas — The Legislature cleared a measure (SB 1574/HB 1239) enabling the increased use of domestically produced renewable natural gas (RNG), which enhances energy security and supports economic growth. This will benefit various sectors, including agriculture, municipal governments, and businesses, by providing new energy products and utilizing waste streams to create jobs and stimulate economic growth. It also reduces Florida’s reliance on other states for fuel and protects against nutrient runoff, contributing to a more resilient and sustainable energy future for the state.
Separation of powers — This Session’s legislative effort attempted to override a Supreme Court rule regulating lawyers and the trust accounts they must use to hold client funds. SB 498 (and later SB 1612) sought to lower the interest rates banks pay on lawyer trust accounts, which helps to fund the state’s legal aid program. Constitutional concerns were raised since the Supreme Court has the exclusive authority to regulate the practice of law, including oversight of these accounts. With the legislation now dead for this Session, we’re hearing stakeholders are committed to finding a compromise this Summer and working with the Court to amend the rule in a way that ensures the program is both more sustainable for participating banks and provides adequate funding for legal aid, eliminating the need for this potentially problematic legislative workaround.
State employees — Lawmakers delivered a huge win to state employees battling cancer, particularly those who can’t afford the high price tag that often comes with defeating one of life’s biggest enemies. What’s better is that the measure cleared both chambers unanimously, signaling a unified front and ensuring state employees get the care they need and deserve. The measure, sponsored by Rep. Marie Woodson in the House and Sen. Berman in the upper chamber, eliminates out-of-pocket costs for diagnostic and supplemental breast exams for state employees, co-pays, deductibles and other cost-sharing requirements if a patient needs follow-up care. It’s not free for the state — a Senate staff analysis estimated it would cost $3.6 million each year — but it’s a small price to pay to ensure state employees’ health. Rep. Anna Eskamani summed it up well. “This is a bill that’s going to save lives and help to ensure cost is not a prohibition to accessing care,” she said.
State parks — Our wonderful state parks could be preserved and not demolished for hotels and golf courses, and we’re all winners because of it. We can continue to enjoy our beautiful parks if Gov. DeSantis signs HB 209, which was passed by the Legislature, to prevent state parks from being developed. Heck, even if he refused to do so, the sort of backlash lawmakers heard after the Jonathan Dickinson State Park debacle last year may well guarantee an override that forces this bill into the statute books.
Props to the Tampa Bay Times’ dogged reporting, the public’s loud call to save parks, and Legislators for taking action. And don’t forget the early siren call from Agriculture Commissioner Simpson at the first sign that the state may aggressively pursue more “active uses” of state parks that looked more like resort development than nature trails.
Kudos also to Rep. John Snyder, a Hobe Sound Republican, who carried the House bill to passage while Sen. Bradley spoke for the trees in the upper chamber. And don’t forget John Gaddis, the Department of Environmental Protection whistleblower, was fired right after helping make plans to bulldoze state parks public. If there were moments to question whether the cost was worth it, some permanent protections in state law should ease any doubts.
The Children’s Movement of Florida — It was a strong Session for advocates for early childhood education, with several measures that will expand access to affordable, high-quality care and support for Florida’s youngest learners. The Children’s Movement of Florida helped push key legislation across the finish line, including SB 738, which updates licensing and safety standards for child care providers; SB 1102, which prioritizes low-income families for school readiness funding; and SB 112, which expands services for children with developmental disabilities. HB 859 also passed to boost early learning tuition assistance, marking steady progress toward ensuring every child in Florida has the care and support they need to thrive.
University of West Florida — When Gov. DeSantis announced five new trustees at the Pensacola-based university, it looked like the school would be doomed to get the New College treatment. But effective resistance from business and community leaders in Pensacola disrupted those plans and prevented confirmation for three newcomers (and out-of-towners).
Two nominees went away for good as Gates Garcia and Scott Yenor resigned and withdrew from consideration before Senate committees could reject them. Yenor, the most controversial pick for assertions society, should prepare young women “to become mothers” instead of for careers, had been immediately elevated to Trustee Chair at UWF. The Senate also refused to forward The Heritage Foundation’s Adam Kissel’s nomination to a floor vote. DeSantis could still re-appoint Kissel, and after the rejections, he said UWF should still “buckle up” for his de-woke-ing agenda.
But the rapid administration swapping and library emptying changes felt in Sarasota were effectively turned back in, of all places, in ruby red Escambia County. That’s partly thanks to respected figures such as former UWF President Judith Bense, who attended every critical hearing alongside boosters and business leaders tied to the school. Sen. Gaetz, the former Senate President who represents the district where the university is located, played a big role as well, as his Ethics and Elections Committee turned into the final stop for many of DeSantis’ most controversial nominees.
Utility workers — The Legislature saw fit to enhance protections for utility workers, who are crucial in maintaining Florida’s critical infrastructure, by increasing penalties for assault and battery against them, ensuring they can perform their duties more safely. As Floridians, we know precisely how vital utility workers are, especially in the wake of natural disasters, like hurricanes. So this law is a win for utility workers who are real front-line heroes.
Verra Mobility — The traffic safety tech company won this Session with the passage of SB 462, a bill that will strengthen Florida’s school bus stop-arm camera enforcement programs. After working closely with lawmakers to align the legislation with their best practices from other programs, Verra Mobility helped ensure the law now includes a more accessible process for contesting violations. This boosts public trust and paves the way for broader adoption of automated enforcement tools that protect students.
Walton County beachgoers — Mike Huckabee’s away and South County tide-philes can play. The Legislature enacted a 2018 law that largely preempted customary use ordinances in one jurisdiction and prohibited public beach access at private properties.
The singling out of Walton’s beach bums irritated locals for years, and Sen. Trumbull this Session did something about it. The future Senate President overcame objections of the former Senate President, Passidomo, who wrote the original law and rallied most lawmakers in The Process to free the sandbars anew. And since a nationally known politician has sold his Fort Walton Beach home, it may be unlikely that any further preemption bills resurface.
World Equestrian Center — Bottoms up. Thanks to a local bill passed, the Ocala horse-riding venue can serve drinks and operate a cigar on the premises. Legislation introduced by Rep. Ryan Chamberlin, a Belleview Republican, authorizes a special beverage license at the Marion County facility, creating an exception to the state’s beverage laws and the Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s enforcement.
The bill initially drew opposition from independent liquor store operators, mainly because the legislation, as initially written, would have allowed the sale of liquor to be consumed off-site. Scott Dick, a lobbyist for the Florida Independent Spirits Association, helped broker a change in the legislation to address fairness concerns.
That means equestrian events should soon be able to mix some mint julep with the mighty gallop already happening.
Mixed Bag
Jason Pizzo — Leading severely disadvantaged Democrats in the Legislature’s chamber isn’t the greatest gig in the world, but for Pizzo, a former prosecutor and silver-tongued orator with eyes on the governorship, it presented opportunities. But in-party friction and accusations that he was using his Senate Democratic Leader post as a launchpad for a statewide campaign proved too vitriolic, and rather than endure the push-and-pull of it all, he left the party and declared it dead in a floor speech that made national headlines and drew jeers from Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried and several of his other now-former party mates. Even amid all that turmoil, he turned in a successful round of lawmaking, passing bills to crack down on so-called “super speeders,” honoring the late Sen. Geri Thompson and delivering compensation to a man wrongly imprisoned for nearly four decades.
Florida Panthers — We’re talking about the hockey team, not Florida’s native big cat — the latter was a winner. Meanwhile, the NHL franchise hoped a local bill would allow Amerant Bank Arena’s exclusive concessionaire company to sidestep state beverage laws in a major way. HB 4039 would have granted an exemption to a private company’s three-tier system, allowing them to seek and accept payments from big-name booze brands in exchange for exclusivity, locking out competition. Lawmakers saw through it in Committee and put it down in its second hearing. So, why the mixed bag instead of an L? Their Stanley Cup hopes are still alive and the Lightning’s aren’t.
Miami Beach — For the past several Sessions, Florida’s most famous and tourist-attracting oceanside municipality has been battling a post-Surfside push to strengthen building safety and develop more affordable housing. It isn’t that Miami Beach is against either. Those efforts have also included language that weakens protections for historic local structures and neighborhoods, including the city’s world-renowned Art Deco District, while allowing for much larger and taller buildings to rise in their place. In 2024, lawmakers passed a measure to make it easier for developers to raze and replace coastal and sometimes historic buildings. This year, lawmakers passed an update to the 2023 Live Local Act, and despite some last-minute accommodations for historic structures, the city’s character still has local officials like Miami Beach Commissioner Alex Fernandez on edge.
Optometrists — Optometrists once again lined up behind a bill that would have allowed them to perform some surgeries currently reserved for ophthalmologists. As always in the so-called “Eyeball Wars,” there was impassioned debate. Ophthalmologists hold firm that no eye procedure is “simple,” and that their med school credentials aren’t just for show. The proponents, meanwhile, say ophthalmologists are too few in number to serve a state of 23 million and growing. That argument convinced a few members to vote for HB 449 in committee, and the bill cleared the full chamber on an 88-24 vote. But in hindsight, the many ophthalmologists and optometrists who made the trek to Tallahassee could have stayed home since the Senate never showed any interest in the bill and aren’t likely to next Session either — a scope-of-practice expansion won’t fly with former Senate President Passidomo, whose father was an ophthalmologist and who notably prioritized bills that would have banned optometrists from calling themselves “physicians” during her presidency. Now, Passidomo is Rules Chair … need we say more? Rizo’s close in one committee took inspiration from author/philosopher Henry David Thoreau, who wrote, “The question is not what you look at, but what you see.” In the same spirit, we’ll staple this mixed bag shut by paraphrasing Erasmus: “In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man still needs a Senate sponsor.”
Rural Renaissance — Before we proceed, let’s acknowledge the asterisk: All components of Senate President Albritton’s priority legislation remain in play as they were included in the Session extension bill. That said, Day 60 has come and gone and only a small piece of the Wauchula Republican’s vision for small county development earned approval from both chambers. And it was, indeed, a small piece. The Senate packed Rural Renaissance neatly into a single bill and forwarded it to the House two weeks into Session. What happened after that … let’s say that, as worn out as the sausage-making analogy is, it’s never been more fitting. Sen. Corey Simon was less charitable in his assessment, speaking on the chamber floor that the House had ”bastardized” the bill. Indeed, the House stripped its version of the bill down to the studs and scattered the components across a stack of bills that had little if any connection to rural Florida. The lone bill to pass (HB 1427) is, as sponsoring Rep. Overdorf put it, focused on making Florida No. 1 in nursing education — it’s an admirable goal, sure, but there’s hardly enough space to explain the logical leap on a Harvest Festival poster.
Sleeping in — A 2023 law required middle and high schools to implement later start times beginning in 2026, a plan backed by scientific research based on the sleep patterns of adolescents and teens. Now, that plan is dead — assuming Gov. DeSantis signs a 2025 bill repealing the law and instead requiring school districts to merely submit a report to the state outlining information about how they considered start times, including financial implications and community input. That’s it. The report doesn’t even need to be approved. That means rural and large urban school districts that argued the initial law would cause logistical problems and be financially burdensome because more bus drivers would be needed, are not likely to move backstop times so kids can get some extra shut-eye.
But it’s a win for those school districts who now avoid what essentially amounted to an unfunded mandate. And it’s a win for lawmakers who opposed it in the first place, such as Rep. LaVon Bracy Davis, who dropped a diplomatic “I told you so” after the repeal passed. That goes for Rep. Anne Gerwig, too, who sponsored the House version of the repeal. While she backed the reversal, she acknowledged the later start times were “a well-intentioned law backed by research.”
It’s also a win for Sen. Bradley, who had the wisdom to recognize the unintended consequences and hit the pause button on mandatory later start times, by sponsoring the upper chamber legislation, calling feedback to the original bill “overwhelming” in its assertion that the mandate would “present incredible challenges.”
And as for sleeping in, it hasn’t entirely lost. School districts now have to take a look, even if there’s no requirement to implement new times, and that could be enlightening for the future as lawmakers clearly have their eye on helping kids shut theirs for an appropriate amount of time.
Hemp industry — Some retailers and product manufacturers may have celebrated the back-to-back failures to put any regulations on THC-infused goods. After the Governor vetoed legislation in 2024, the House and Senate couldn’t reach an agreement on some fundamental issues, like the banning of synthetics and how to treat inhalable products.
That means another year when any roadside convenience store can sell intoxicating beverages without a liquor license and for retailers to sell edibles with a THC level rivaling or even exceeding that found in medical marijuana dispensaries.
However, that leaves the entire industry operating in the shadows with no clear regulatory framework. And that’s not even getting into the risk of kids getting into their parents’ bag of gummies and consuming them like candy before getting rushed to the emergency room. Somehow, winning doesn’t seem to be the operating term here, when the bag the industry holds contains so much potential trouble.
Biggest Loser
Casey DeSantis — The First Lady wanted this Session to be all about her. And it was. But for all the wrong reasons. No one took it on the chin more than Casey DeSantis. Every single priority she had went up in flames. Her initiative to seize control of cancer research funding? Gutted. Her bill to enshrine Hope Florida into state law exposed a web of corruption, conflicts of interest, and accusations of stealing Medicaid dollars. Her narrative about a dual endorsement from President Trump? Shot down. Governor’s Office employees were even caught red-handed trying to raise campaign cash for her on the taxpayers’ dime. Instead of launching her into the Governor’s race, this Session saw her campaign blow up on the launchpad. The past 60 days have been nothing short of a complete disaster for Casey DeSantis.
Other Losers
Randy Fine — He’s not even in the Legislature, but he still gets a big L for a bunch of reasons stemming from when he was. In his final week serving as a state Senator, before he was elected to Congress, Fine did what Fine often does — he offered blunt, offensive-to-some comments and saw a series of controversial bills either stall or die.
In perhaps one of his more shocking moments, Fine reportedly told a speaker during a committee meeting for which Fine was the chair to “enjoy your terrorist rag,” referring to a traditional Middle Eastern headdress the Speaker was wearing. When people in the audience complained, he told them to deal with it or leave. “I’m the Chairman. I can say what I want. If you don’t like it, you can leave,” he said.
He also filed a flurry of controversial bills, including campus carry; overturning the ban on adults under 21 from buying long guns, a law born of the Parkland shooting tragedy; and banning governments from flying Pride flags.
The latter drew scorn from former Senate President Passidomo, who objected to language that would allow military veterans to use “reasonable force” to enforce the bill or to stop people from desecrating the U.S. flag. Passidomo, understandably, worried such a provision could lead to elderly veterans getting into altercations.
To opponents in the LGBTQ+ community, Fine basically told them to pound sand, lamenting that they had a “bumper sticker definition of the First Amendment,” and were hypocrites for complaining about wasting time on culture war bills while themselves wasting time by signing up to speak by the dozen.
His campus carry bill stalled. So too did the long gun proposals.
Not a great way to go out.
Joel Rudman — He was already a loser when he resigned from his House seat early, only to pull less than 10% of the vote in a GOP Primary in Florida’s 1st Congressional District. Then he started saying the real reason he quit was that he had to get away from the certain-to-fail leadership of the Speaker (see winner’s list entry above).
While Gov. DeSantis rewarded Rudman’s loyalty with a seat on the Pensacola State College trustee board, he screwed that up, too. The Republican gun rights activist figuratively shot himself in the foot with an online tirade about, of all things, his upcoming confirmation hearing before a Senate committee. “I know where the bodies are buried, but if they come after me in this confirmation hearing on Tuesday, maybe we can do another Spaces, and I can give you some names,” he threatened.
Well, come for him they did. The Senate Higher Education Appropriations Committee unanimously voted down his confirmation, and he resigned his trustee seat before Senate Ethics and Elections could take another swing. Since then, he has fought chiefly with Sen. Gaetz about the timing of his invitation to that committee hearing. It may be time to step away from politics and return to his medical practice. No drug test required.
2A Advocates — It was a cloudy Session for the Gunshine State. When the Legislature was established two months ago, there seemed to be momentum behind a push to unravel the post-Parkland gun law, raising the minimum age to purchase long guns from 18 to 21. Second Amendment stalwarts were never fans of the law, and with time wearing away the shock of MSD, many lawmakers have started listening. Well, that’s at least true for the House, which moved HB 759 off the chamber floor. But in the Senate … not so much. Three Senate bills would have Ctrl-Z’d the rule, but none received a hearing — that was the expected outcome for former Sen. Fine’s version, which he filed with foreknowledge that he wouldn’t be in Tallahassee to see it through. But other versions by Sens. Blaise Ingoglia (SB 1716) and Jay Collins (SB 920) were likewise snubbed. It’s unclear whether Senate leadership is on board — unlike his predecessor, Albritton hasn’t indicated which way he leans, and the high-chaos Session gives him plenty of cover not to this year. One thing is clear, though: 2A advocates lost.
Bitcoin — Sorry crypto bros, Florida’s Chief Financial Officer, whoever it ends up being, won’t be pumping up the price of BTC any time soon. It’s not for a lack of trying — Rep. Webster Barnaby and Sen. Joe Gruters sponsored legislation this Session (HB 487/SB 550) that would have authorized the state to invest up to 10% of its holdings into Bitcoin and “and potentially other digital assets” for “protecting the purchasing power of state funds” … given that description, we’re guessing $TRUMP wasn’t on the menu. Neither bill received a committee hearing, and even if they had, the House bill got a bad draw with four committee assignments. Crypto isn’t going anywhere, so it’s a safe bet that similar measures will emerge in future Sessions, potentially with Gruters advocating for the change as CFO. In the meantime, the state will have to settle for regular old stocks, bonds and securities — the good news is it can still make substantially higher returns by investing in the publicly traded company that makes its bones off crypto and AI enthusiasts.
Citizen initiatives — Could this be the end of grassroots citizen-led ballot initiatives in Florida as we know them? The Legislature is considering adding hurdles for citizen-led constitutional amendments that Democrats fear will kill them completely. Even in a Republican-controlled state, it’s clear voters are fans of some progressive initiatives, such as universal Pre-K for their children and a higher minimum wage for workers. Does that mean we never get legal recreational marijuana now? Talk about Florida being a loser.
Tina Descovich — For the second year in a row, the former Brevard County School Board member’s nomination to the Florida Commission on Ethics failed to advance in the Senate. This time, DeSantis can’t simply re-appoint the Moms For Liberty co-founder, so the Vice Chair of the Commission had to vacate her seat as soon as the hankie dropped on Sine Die. The parental rights activist appears most focused on compromising trans rights in Colorado these days, based on her social media, so maybe she hasn’t noticed the snub yet.
E-Verify — Lawmakers had big talk on illegal immigration this year. But at the end of Session, one bill that would seriously focus on cracking down on illegal workers and getting to the root of the problem died. HB 955 would have required all businesses with fewer than 25 employees to check employees’ legal working status using E-Verify through the federal government. Florida law already requires big companies to do this. The House passed HB 955, but it died in the Senate. Count that as an L for Republicans, but maybe a win for Democrats who were against the idea in the first place and warned it would target immigrant families and hurt the state’s economy.
Florida’s water rights — As the Army Corps continues its reckless Biden-era protocols governing the management of Lake Okeechobee, the looming water shortage continues to put South Florida’s water supply at risk. Florida simply must find a way to stand up for itself before the lush, green landscape at Mar-a-Lago turns brown.
Hope Florida — First Lady DeSantis was once name-dropping Hope Florida as one of her crowning achievements, as she is considering running for Governor to replace her term-limited husband. But by the end of Session, the charity supposed to help Floridians get off government assistance is now a huge liability for the First Lady. L for Liability. L for Loser. The bill to codify Hope Florida in state government stalled out this Session. House Republicans held hearings to air as much of the dirty laundry as possible on Hope Florida, from its illicit $10 million donation to its lack of transparency. The Hope Florida board met in a public Zoom meeting that soon got shut down by trolls posting racist and sexist content. Journalists from Florida newspapers investigated Hope Florida, with at least one report questioning whether Hope Florida is actually helping people. What a mess.
Shane Strum — The Governor’s former Chief of Staff has been winning for years, jumping from EOG to the top job at Broward Health and more recently pulling double duty as Interim CEO of Memorial Healthcare System. This year, he set his sights on another W via legislation that would have allowed him to consolidate his power over the region’s health care system. The front-facing explanation of HB 1253 was that it would boost “efficiency” and “collaboration” among providers, but the better description would be “merger.” The bill would have given Strum all the cards without a public vote or regulatory review. Lawmakers didn’t bite. Adding insult to injury, the bill wasn’t even extended a courtesy committee hearing — a courtesy afforded to many legislative flops — before being put out to pasture.
