Florida Banking April 2023

“WE APPRECIATE YOUR FEEDBACK AND ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE BANKING COMMUNITY AND OTHER LEADERS OF BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY."

Legislative Leaders, Continued from page 9

my Senate District, President Pro Tempore Garrett Richter, is a career-long banker. In my experience, whether with local bankers or in one-on-one meetings and committee hearings in Tallahassee, Florida bankers provide relevant and timely input on key issues. We appreciate your feedback and always look forward to learning the perspective of the banking community and other leaders of business and industry. One of the blessings of modern technology, and its impact on the legislative process, is that every Floridian has the opportunity to play a meaningful role in government regardless of their proximity to Tallahassee. All of our Senate Committee meetings and floor sessions can be viewed on our website, and interested Floridians can follow along in real-time by downloading the same meeting packets and information our Senators are reviewing in Tallahassee. You can also sign up for our Legislative Tracking System which allows users to receive updates as bills move through the process.

The Live Local plan we are advancing in the Senate is a comprehensive statewide workforce housing strategy to create attainable housing options, convenient for Florida workers who want to live in the communities they serve. This strategy includes housing options for Floridians at every income level and stage of life with a focus on ensuring our workers have an affordable, convenient place to live and raise their families. Through key partnerships with the private sector, this proposal will make certain that companies expanding in and moving to our state can recruit and retain the workforce needed to keep Florida open for business. I certainly hope it will earn your strong support! Q: How would you encourage Florida bankers to engage in the legislative process? Florida bankers have a very long history of civic engagement at all levels. In fact, my predecessor in

MEET SENATE PRESIDENT KATHLEEN PASSIDOMO

S enator Kathleen C. Passidomo, 69, was elected to the Florida Senate in November 2016 after serving in the Florida House of Representatives since 2010. Senate President Wilton Simpson (R-Trilby) appointed her to serve as Chair of the Senate Committee on Rules for the 2020-22 Legislative Term. During the 2018-20 Legislative Term, she served as Republican (Majority) Leader under former Senate President Bill Galvano (R-Bradenton). Senator Passidomo graduated in 1975 from Trinity College (now University) in Washington, D.C. In December 1978, she received her law degree from Stetson

University’s College of Law. She built a law practice around Real Estate and Business Law and has been practicing law in Naples for more than 40 years. Senator Passidomo was in the first group of attorneys in the state to obtain Board Certification in Real Estate Law, and her peers elected her to serve as President of both the Collier County Bar Association and the Collier County Women’s Bar Association. Senator Passidomo and her husband, John, married in 1979. Together, they have three adult daughters, Catarina, Francesca and Gabriella, and two grandsons, William and Emilio.

10 — FLORIDA BANKING THE VOICE OF FLORIDA BANKING