TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — How lengthy is simply too lengthy for somebody to serve within the Florida legislature?
In an effort to finish the bouncing backwards and forwards between Home and Senate chambers, State Senator Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, is pushing to restrict lawmakers to a most of 16 years in workplace — eight years within the Home and eight years within the Senate.
“In case you are serving within the legislature, it must be a privilege and honor and never a profession. Sadly, it is develop into a profession for some,” Ingoglia stated.
The choice can be left as much as Florida voters.
Senator Ingoglia launched a constitutional amendment to be placed on the November 2026 poll, which asks voters if they need to restrict state lawmakers time in workplace on the statehouse.
“At present you might have an eight-year time period restrict within the Home, you might have an eight-year time period restrict within the Senate,” Ingoglia stated. “However what we have seen through the years, is individuals develop into Home members for eight years, Senate members for eight years, then return to the Home for eight years, again to the Senate for eight years, and it is actually not the intent of time period limits.”
The pattern of leaping backwards and forwards between chambers is not new. Political analysts weighed in on the matter, saying there are a variety of lawmakers in Tallahassee who’ve taken half on this cycle.
“This can be a nice Floridian custom to have people serve in a single chamber, serve in one other, after which return again or go to different workplaces,” stated Tara Newsom, Political Analyst, St. Pete Faculty. “And naturally, we all know that we do not essentially need being an elected official to be a profession, however we additionally do not need to have the lack of all that institutional reminiscence.”
Extra lately, former Senator and now reelected Consultant Debbie Mayfield, R-Melbourne, has spoken out about her plans to chase her previous Senate seat when Senator Randy High-quality, R-Brevard, steps down in March to run for congress.
Nonetheless, Consultant Mayfield was disqualified from the 2025 particular election for the district 19 Senate Race.
Mayfield posted on X, “Immediately Gov DeSantis used the manager department to punish me for endorsing Donald J Trump for President. He has weopanized the Division of State identical to Biden weopanized the DOJ towards @realDonaldTrump The legislation is on my facet and we are going to combat for the individuals of Brevard.”
It stays to be seen whether or not the modification will make it onto the 2026 poll, in addition to the extent of assist or opposition it could face because the legislative session approaches.
