Last week, we welcomed the new class of Senators who will serve our state during the 2022-2024 legislative term. 

On Tuesday, November 22, the Florida Legislature held an Organizational Session in Tallahassee.  The Florida House gaveled in at 10:00 AM and elected their new Speaker, Paul Renner.  The Senate convened in the chamber at 10:30 AM to elect our leadership for this term.  We were joined by Governor Ron DeSantis, Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez, Attorney General Ashley Moody, Commissioner Nikki Fried and former Senate President and now Agriculture Commissioner-Elect Wilton Simpson, along with many other former and current leaders from across our state.

I was both honored and humbled to be unanimously elected President of the Florida Senate.  Joined by my husband, John, my 99 year old father, and many friends and family, I was sworn into this new role.  From the rostrum, I shared my vision for our state.

One of our first challenges is our response to Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Nicole.  Our communities and residents are bound and determined to rebuild stronger and better than ever.  The resilience of Floridians is phenomenal. Next month, the Florida Legislature will convene in a special session to address the challenges still facing our state’s insurance market and ensure residents whose homes are uninhabitable get a break on property taxes.

As we look to the future, Florida’s economy is in great shape.  Our unemployment rate is a full point below the national rate.  The Sunshine State is on track for record growth this year. However, while Florida’s economy is booming, the pain of inflation is very real for Florida families.  We see it at the grocery store. We see it at the gas pump. And we certainly see it in the housing market.

The appeal of the free state of Florida has put an intense pressure on our already overburdened housing market. The cost of rent and home ownership has skyrocketed.  These costs – combined with the challenges of inflation on essential items – are difficult on Florida families. In addition, they are a threat to Florida’s workforce.  If our workers don’t have a safe and affordable place to live and raise their families, we will not be able to recruit and retain the workforce we need in the Sunshine State. State government cannot independently fix or outrun the problems caused by inflation, but I believe a focus on safe, attainable, workforce housing is one area where we can do our part to support Florida families through these challenging times. This will be my number one priority.

Also, one of my goals over the next two years is to continue the expansion and to connect the Wildlife Corridor to the Florida Trail System so that more people across our state and around the world can experience Old Florida at its finest.  Florida is already a global destination for outdoor recreation and adventure enthusiasts.  Expanding our trail system has the added benefit of connecting our residents and visitors to Florida’s cultural heritage of the small, legacy towns across Florida’s heartland.  Fifty years from now, our children and grandchildren will say that the greatest thing the Florida Legislature did in the 2020s was the creation of the Wildlife Corridor and the preservation of millions of acres of farmland and ranch land for conservation.  It will be our Central Park.

If you're interested to learn more, click one of the links below.

As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office any time that I can be of assistance.

Sincerely,

Kathleen C. Passidomo

Senate President
State Senator, District 28

Not paid for at taxpayer expense.

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