New day, new way: Leadership, committee changes coming to Florida Legislature in 2025
When Florida lawmakers gather in Tallahassee on Nov. 19 for a one-day post-election organization session , there will be new leadership teams in the House and Senate and a new committee structure in the House.
Republicans retained their supermajorities in both chambers after Tuesday's election, giving them mostly a free hand in how and what issues will be addressed for the annual 60-day session that begins in March.
For example, in a memo sent to members Thursday, incoming House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, said he wanted a leaner committee structure to make House members' service "more meaningful for all of you."
Perez, first elected in 2017 , proposes changing the name of the Appropriations Committee to the Budget Committee. He told incoming lawmakers the name change was more than cosmetic, representing "a deeper philosophical point" he wants front and center when they start writing the state budget.
The 37-year-old Speaker-designate notes that members' district project funding, derisively referred to by critics as "pork-barrel spending," has increased 645% – from $174 million to $1.3 billion – since 2019.
"As elected officials, we should not be asking, 'How much of the public's money can we spend?' As a House, we should do what Florida's working families do every day: budget their money responsibly," Perez said.
Moreover, the new committee structure eliminates the Infrastructure & Tourism Subcommittee and replaces it with a Information Technology Budget & Policy Subcommittee and a Transportation & Economic Development Budget Subcommittee.
Perez also wants to refocus Education & Employment subcommittees away from a K-12 vs. higher education divide into a singular purpose of preparing students for their future, whether it be college or a profession.
And he wants to create a Security & Threat Assessment Committee: "Traditionally, presiding officers have been given access to confidential information," he explained. "I believe that in a healthy legislative body that the circle of trust should be wider.
"This new committee will function as a forum where committee members will have an opportunity to be briefed on issues including law enforcement threats, cybersecurity threats, and threats to the Capitol complex. In order to protect the identity of witnesses and confidential sources, a secured briefing will be open only to members of the committee. We do not expect the committee will meet often, but it is important that more Members are included in these important conversations."
Later Thursday, Perez separately announced his leadership team, including Reps. Wyman Duggan as Speaker pro tempore and Ways & Means Committee chair, Lawrence McClure as Budget Committee chair, and Tyler Sirois as House Majority Leader and Security & Threat Assessment Committee chair, among others.
Rep. Jennifer Canady, who is in line to become House speaker in 2028, will be Education & Employment Committee chair.
Albritton announces new leadership team in state Senate
That same day, incoming Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, also announced his leadership team for the next two sessions.
For his top lieutenant, Albritton has tapped Sen. Jason Brodeur, R-Sanford, will be the Senate President pro tempore. Albritton said he has known Brodeur since 2010 when they both served in the House and that he has been a "reliable partner."
"Together with the President and the Rules Chair, the Pro Tempore is responsible for making certain we abide by the letter and spirit of the Senate Rules to ensure all Senators have the opportunity to advocate for their constituents," Albritton said.
Brodeur was first elected to the Senate in 2020. Operatives involved with boosting a "ghost candidate" in that race as a way to promote Brodeur were later found guilty of violating election laws. Brodeur denied any knowledge of the scheme and was not accused of any wrongdoing.
Albritton also named outgoing Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, as chair of the Rules Committee.
In other moves, Sen. Ed Hooper, R-Palm Harbor, will chair the Committee on Appropriations. Sen. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton, will be the Majority Leader. And Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, will chair the Committee on Fiscal Policy.
James Call is a member of the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at and is on X as .
