Florida Banking December 2024-January 2025

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

LOOKING AHEAD: THE 2025 26 FLORIDA LEGISLATURE

BY ANTHONY DIMARCO FBA EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

N early 11 million Floridians cast their votes in the 2024 election. As you know, both President Trump and Sen. Rick Scott easily won Florida. The election also included the Florida Legislature. The Legislature was beginning to take shape as we headed toward the constitutionally mandated Organizational Session on Nov. 19. On this day, Senate President Ben Albritton and Speaker of the House Danny Perez are slated to begin their respective terms. Both were expected to lay out their plans for the

• Sen. Jim Boyd as Majority Leader We look forward to working with Senate President Albritton and his leadership team. The Florida House The House has an increased supermajority of 85 to 35. The Republicans gained one seat as they flipped two Democratic seats and the Democrats flipped one Republican seat. Otherwise, incumbents won or the parties retained their seats. There are 26 new Representatives for the Florida House: Jon Albert (R), Jose Alvarez (D), Wallace Aristide (D), Yvette Benarroch (R), Omar Blanco (R), Erika Booth (R), Nan Cobb (R), Bill Conerly (R), Richard Gentry (R), Anne Gerwig (R), Sam Greco (R), JJ Grow (R), Chad Johnson (R), Kim Kendall (R), Jennifer Kincart Jonsson (R), Debbie Mayfield (R), Monique Miller (R), Danny Nix (R), Vanessa Oliver (R), Michael Owen (R), Bill Partington (R), Mitch Rosenwald (D), Judson Sapp (D), Leonard Spencer (D), Debra Tendrich (D), and Meg Weinberger (R). Speaker Perez has begun to build his leadership team: • Rep. Wyman Duggan as Speaker Pro Tempore and Ways & Means Chair • Rep. Chuck Brannan as Judiciary Chairman • Rep. James Buchanan as Commerce Chairman • Rep. Jennifer Canady as Education & Employment Chair • Rep. Sam Garrison as Rules and Calendar Chair

upcoming terms. Also, the Democratic Leadership of both chambers, Sen. Jason Pizzo and Rep. Fentrice Driskell, are set to be officially elected by their respective caucuses. The Florida Senate The Senate will continue with a Republican supermajority as no Senate seats switched parties. The Senate will welcome nine new members due to term limits: Kristen Arrington (D), Mack Bernard (D), Randy Fine (R), Don Gaetz (R), Tom Leek (R), Stan McClain (R), Barbara

“THE HOUSE HAS AN INCREASED SUPERMAJORITY OF 85 TO 35. THE REPUBLICANS GAINED ONE SEAT AS THEY FLIPPED TWO DEMOCRATIC SEATS AND THE DEMOCRATS FLIPPED ONE REPUBLICAN SEAT.”

Sharief (D), Carlos Guillermo Smith (D), and Keith Truenow (R). The Republican supermajority stays at 28 to 12. Senate President Albritton has also announced his leadership team: • Sen. Jason Brodeur as Senate President Pro Tempore • Senate President Kathleen Passidomo as Rules Chair

• Sen. Ed Hooper as Appropriations Chair • Sen. Joe Gruters as Fiscal Policy Chair

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