Rosalind Osgood — Recognized for helping make the bill bipartisan.
Barbara Sharief — Senator Sharief was recognized during the Alpha Kappa Alpha tribute, first being invited to stand and then identified as the member who carried the letters of Alpha Kappa Alpha.
LaVon Bracy Davis — Senator Bracy Davis, also referred to as Senator LaVon Bracy Davis, was recognized during an Alpha Kappa Alpha acknowledgment segment. She was invited to stand, included in the group being honored, and specifically recognized for carrying the letters of Alpha Kappa Alpha.
Tracie Davis — Senator Davis was included in the Alpha Kappa Alpha recognition, with Senator Tracy Davis specifically noted as one of the members who carried the letters.
Tracie Davis — Asked about funding amounts for rural hospital capital improvement programs and critical access hospitals in relation to possible future legislation.
Tracie Davis — Tracie Davis engaged in a sustained discussion of the bill, first thanking Senator Gates and noting that the legislation addresses concerns she and colleagues have raised about vouchers. She then asked how the bill would prevent future problems such as overpayments, double counting, and unverified enrollments. After hearing an explanation, she responded positively to the separate categorical approach and emphasized the importance of tracking money by school district. She followed up by asking why the administrative fee for scholarship funding organizations was reduced from 3% to 2%, and whether the department would issue an RFO for other scholarship organizations as part of the bill’s business plan. She concluded by thanking Senator Gates and saying the bill contains many good provisions.
Tracie Davis — In a brief, overlapping exchange, Senator Davis is referenced as the speaker is corrected from asking whether she had a question to saying she had a debate, followed by a joking remark that avoids being a 'Debbie Downer' or saying 'I told you so.'
Ben Albritton — The committee report is addressed to the Senate President.
Ben Albritton — Ben Albritton was addressed as President Albritton and praised as a tremendous advocate for rural Florida.
Don Gaetz — As chair of the Ethics and Elections Committee, Don Gaetz presented the committee report covering 52 gubernatorial appointees, then moved that the Senate accept the report in full and confirm the appointments. After the motion was adopted, he was acknowledged by the chair.
Don Gaetz — Don Gaetz was recognized to explain Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 318 and described how the bill strengthens Florida’s universal school choice program, including safeguards and the historical funding model supporting it.
Don Gaetz — Senator/President Gates is engaged in a continuous floor discussion explaining and clarifying amendments to the bill. The exchange covers the First Amendment and subsequent amendments, including removing or relocating declining-enrollment/stabilization language, reducing paperwork around private-school enrollment documentation, and refining scholarship program administration. Gates explains that the bill aims to prevent overpayments and unverified enrollments by assigning each student a number, require competitive selection and performance-based contracts for scholarship funding organizations, and provide for ongoing Auditor General oversight and legislative monitoring to ensure the changes are implemented faithfully.
Don Gaetz — Multiple speakers repeatedly thanked and praised President/Senator Gates for taking on a major issue, bringing the legislation forward, and sponsoring the bill, expressing appreciation for the effort and leadership behind it.
Corey Simon — Senator Corey Simon introduced Senate Bill 250 as a comprehensive rural development strategy, then offered amendments to remove overlapping provisions and update funding-related language in response to a new federal rural health grant opportunity. He explained that the amendments would streamline the bill and preserve access to grant mechanisms for rural and agricultural areas. During the question period, he clarified how counties and rural areas could work with the county and DOT to access funding, how ACA would administer the grant process, and that state funding would be available if programs met the criteria. He also answered questions about funding amounts, stating the bill currently included $10 million recurring in the base budget for the relevant programs and critical access hospitals. The discussion concluded with Simon moving that the bill be read a third time.
Corey Simon — Corey Simon said he would work with Chair Burgess and other members of the Ed Appropriations Committee on the conforming bill, including keeping scholarship money separate from school district funds and addressing a declining enrollment subsidy. He clarified that the subsidy is meant to help school districts facing declining enrollment, not to make them whole.
Corey Simon — The discussion centers on Senator Corey Simon’s role in the school choice/voucher issue and the bill being considered. He is first mentioned as having been given a hard time over the voucher rollout, then thanked for helping bring the issue to this point years earlier. The speaker notes that they and Senator Simon spent many hours working on the issue together. Senator Simon then speaks, thanking Senator Gates for the bill and referencing prior work on universal school choice. The exchange closes with a light joke directed at Senator Simon, followed by references to him as a co-sponsor and as someone whose support aligns with the bill’s approach.
Kathleen Passidomo — Cited for past work on rural health care.
Kathleen Passidomo — Kathleen Passidomo, serving as Rules Chair, was recognized for a motion and then moved that the Senate adjourn until 9 a.m. on Thursday.
Colleen Burton — Cited for past work on rural health care.
Darryl Ervin Rouson — Asked a question after the bill returned to the floor as amended.
Darryl Ervin Rouson — Recognized for helping make the bill bipartisan.
Ralph Massullo — Senator Massullo was recognized for a follow-up question and asked Senator Simon how counties will access and receive distribution of the federal funds over the five-year period.
Lori Berman — Leader Berman first asked whether South Bay and Belle Glade would be eligible for the ACA grant program, then followed up after the eligibility criteria were explained and noted that the cities would not qualify under the stated definition. He then shifted into supportive debate remarks for the bill, emphasizing that rural communities need investment and respect, that prosperity is a statewide responsibility, and that the legislation helps address rural Florida’s challenges through coordination, local leadership, and a dedicated Office of Rural Prosperity. He highlighted the bill’s benefits, including expanded grants, rural health care, road and transit improvements, and educator investment, and closed by urging support for the bill.
Lori Berman — Named as part of the Palm Beach County delegation.
Daniel Burgess — Referenced as Chair Burgess in connection with working on the conforming bill.
Joe Gruters — Explains that the bill will prevent payment until the student’s location is known.
Joe Gruters — Moves that the bill be read a third time.
Joe Gruters — The transcript notes that the bill is co-sponsored by Senator Simon and Senator Burgess as the chairs of the relevant committees, and later references that Senator Burgess has indicated support for the bill’s approach.
Clay Yarborough — Clay Yarborough speaks in support of the bill, praising the stabilization fund amendment and explaining that the measure preserves supplemental support for school districts and helps cover scholarship needs if participation exceeds budgeted amounts. He also notes that changes were made to give families more flexibility in submitting end-of-year testing results for scholarship renewal, reflecting feedback from parents and improving the turnaround-time issue.
Jim Boyd — Jim Boyd praises the bill and broader education reforms, thanks members for tackling a difficult issue that helps children affected by their zip code, and closes by thanking the sponsor and stressing that doing nothing would be legislative malpractice.
Danny Burgess — Senator Burgess thanked President Gates and Senator Simon for their work on the bill, emphasizing that it is meant to save and preserve the scholarship program process. A later remark, likely also from Senator Burgess despite a transcription error, continued the supportive tone. The discussion concluded with recognition that Senator Burgess was a major part of the effort behind the bill.
Jason W. B. Pizzo — Senator Jason W. B. Pizzo is introduced as an additional co-sponsor on the bill, contributing to what is described as a historic first tripartisan bill on the Senate floor. The speaker notes that Pizzo objected to being described as a party member, but emphasizes that he is nonetheless a co-sponsor who helped advance the bill.
Mack Bernard — Senator Mack Bernard was called on to make an announcement and then spoke about Palm Beach County Day at the Capitol, noting that he and Senators Herald, Berman, and Polsky represent Palm Beach County.
Tina Scott Polsky — Named as part of the Palm Beach County delegation.
Mayor Sarah Baxter — Listed as attending Palm Beach County Day at the Capitol.
Vice Mayor Marcy Woodward — Listed as attending Palm Beach County Day at the Capitol.
Commissioner Maria Marino — Listed as attending Palm Beach County Day at the Capitol.
Commissioner Greg Weiss — Listed as attending Palm Beach County Day at the Capitol and noted as still present.
Commissioner Joe L. Flores — Listed as attending Palm Beach County Day at the Capitol.
Commissioner Maria Sachs — Listed as attending Palm Beach County Day at the Capitol.
Former Senator Joe Bruce — Listed as attending Palm Beach County Day at the Capitol; likely a transcription error in the surname.
Commissioner Maria Sacks — Named as part of the Palm Beach County delegation; likely a transcription error for Maria Sachs.
Former Senator Joe Bruzo — Named as part of the Palm Beach County delegation; likely a transcription error.
Jason Brodeur — In a continuous exchange, Jason Brodeur repeatedly addresses and thanks President/Senator Gates while discussing the bill. He notes prior conversations about the legislation, credits Gates with helping balance the stabilization fund and scholarship program, and praises his capability and work in handling the bill and the Auditor General’s report, ending with thanks for bringing the measure to this point.
Shevrin D. "Shev" Jones — Senator Jones is called on and then makes a recognition for members of Alpha Kappa Alpha present in the chamber, followed by thanks directed to him after the recognition.
Shevrin D. "Shev" Jones — Shevrin D. "Shev" Jones was thanked for his strong advocacy on behalf of rural Florida, including his work on the rural Florida initiative, his passion for rural communities, and his outreach to farmers and agricultural workers in the district.
Shevrin D. "Shev" Jones — Senator Jones asked about the stabilization fund and how it would affect public schools with declining enrollment, then followed up to confirm whether the explanation provided was satisfactory.
Shevrin D. "Shev" Jones — Shevrin D. 'Shev' Jones thanks President Gates and voices support for the bill, saying it is what they have been hoping for. He then raises concerns about scholarship program oversight and staffing in his district, noting very small groups of children supervised by only one adult and questioning whether students are receiving adequate instruction in a proper learning environment. He closes by asking that these issues be reviewed while still urging support for the bill.
Rosalind Osgood — Senator Rosalind Osgood is briefly referenced as possibly not being present, and then directly recognized by name in the discussion.
Rosalind Osgood — Rosalind Osgood speaks in support of Senator Gates’ education bill, thanking him and praising the measure for addressing transparency and implementation problems in the voucher rollout. She says the bill helps avoid legislative mistakes, supports looking at categorical funding for traditional public schools and charter schools, and reflects progress toward better education policy. She concludes by saying she is happy to co-sponsor the bill.