Legislators named to lead law-related committees
Legislators named to lead law-related committees
Florida Senate and House leaders have completed their committee appointments for the 2019-2020 legislative sessions, including for the panels that will have oversight of the justice system and legal matters.
Senate President Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, released his committee selections in November while House Speaker Jose Oliva, R-Hialeah, made his picks in December.
In the upper chamber, Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, will chair the Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice, which oversees spending for the court system, state attorneys and public defenders, clerks of courts, and other court-related agencies as well as the Department of Corrections, the Department of Juvenile Justice, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Sen. Randolph Bracy, D-Ocoee, is the committee’s vice chair. Other members are Sen. George Gainer, R-Panama City, Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, Sen. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, Sen. Keith Perry, R-Gainesville, Sen. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, and Sen. Annette Taddeo, D-Miami.
The overall Appropriations Committee will be chaired by Republican Sen. Rob Bradley, an attorney from Orange Park and the vice chair is Sen. Wilton Simpson, R-Spring Hill.
The Judiciary Committee will be chaired by Sen. David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, and the vice chair is Sen. Jose Rodriguez, D-Miami. Other members are Sen. Dennis Baxley, R-Lady Lake, Sen. Audrey Gibson, D-Jacksonville, Sen. Travis Hutson, R-Palm Coast, and Sen. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland.
The Criminal Justice Committee will be chaired by Sen. Keith Perry, R-Gainesville, and the vice chair is Brandes. Other members are Bracy, Sen. Anitere Flores, R-Miami, and Sen. Jason Pizzo, D-Miami.
On the House side, Rep. Clay Yarborough, R-Jacksonville, is chair of the Justice Appropriations Subcommittee. Rep. Bobby Payne, R-Starke, is vice chair. Other members are Rep. Mike Beltran, R-Valrico, Rep. Cord Byrd, R-Jacksonville Beach, Rep. Nick DiCeglie, R-Largo, Rep. Juan Fernandez-Barquin, R-Miami, Rep. Michael Gottlieb, D-Davie, Rep. Scott Plakon, R-Longwood, Rep. Sharon Pritchett, D-Miami Gardens, Rep. Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, Rep. Emily Slosberg, D-Delray Beach, and Rep. Richard Stark, D-Weston.
The overall Appropriations Committee is chaired by Rep. W. Travis Cummings, R-Orange Park, and the vice chair is Rep. Dane Eagle, R-Cape Coral.
Aside from his duties on the appropriations subcommittee, Renner will chair the Judiciary Committee. Rep. Bob Rommel, R-Naples, is the vice chair. Other committee members are Rep. Ramon Alexander, D-Tallahassee, Beltran, Robert Brannan III, R-Lake City, Ben Diamond, D-St. Petersburg, Fentrice Driskell, D-Tampa, Gottlieb, Rep. James Grant, R-Tampa, Rep. Tommy Gregory, R-Sarasota, Rep. Walter Hill, R-Pensacola, Rep. Chip LaMarca, R-Lighthouse Point, Rep. Amy Mercado, D-Orlando, and Rep. Tyler Sirois, R-Merritt Island.
The Civil Justice Subcommittee will be chaired by Rommel, and Rep. Jackie Toledo, R-Tampa, is vice chair. Other members are Rep. Bruce Antone, R-Orlando, Rep. Melony Bell, R-Ft. Meade, Beltran, Diamond, DiCeglie, Gregory, Hill, Mercado, Rep. Anika Omphroy, D-Lauderdale Lakes, Rep. Bobby Payne, R-Palatka, Rep. Ana Maria Rodriguez, R-Doral, Rep. Charlie Stone, R-Ocala, and Rep. Geraldine Thompson, D-Windemere.
The Criminal Justice Subcommittee will be chaired by Grant and Rep. Stan McClain, R-Ocala, is the vice chair. Other members are Rep. Dr. James Bush III, D-Miami, Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Naples, Eagle, Fernandez-Barquin, Rep. Heather Fitzenhagen, R-Ft. Myers, Gottlieb, Rep. Adam Hattersley, D-Riverview, Rep. Spencer Roach, R-North Ft. Myers, Rep. William Robinson, Jr., R-Bradenton, Rep. Anthony Sabatini, R-Clermont, Rep. David Santiago, R-Deltona, and Rep. Jennifer Webb, D-St. Petersburg.
The Legislature is scheduled to meet for two weeks of committee meetings in January and three weeks in February, and the 90-day Regular Session starts on March 5.
