Speaker Designate Sam Garrison names committee chairs

House Speaker-designate Sam Garrison on Monday announced the names of the state representatives who will chair committees during his two-year term.

The Fleming Island Republican’s announcements Monday followed Senate President-designate Jim Boyd’s announcement of some of his top appointments.

Garrison named Rep. Traci Koster chair of the powerful Appropriations Committee, making the Tampa Republican the chief budget negotiator for the House. Her counterpart in the Senate is Panama City Republican Sen. Jay Trumbull, named chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations last week.

Expectations are for Rep. Jennifer Canady to be elected House speaker-designate during the planned November organizational session. In the two-year build-up to the 2028 session (when the Lakeland Republican is expected to become speaker) she will chair the Policy & Strategy Committee. Canady is married to former Florida Supreme Court Justice Charles T. Canady, who stepped down last year to take a job at the University of Florida.

Meanwhile, Rep. Adam Botana will head the Rules & Calendar Committee.

Rep. Demi Busatta was named speaker pro tempore but will also head the Health & Human Services Committee. The panel will hear all healthcare-related legislation. Rep. Mike Redondo takes the lead on healthcare financing, being named chair of the Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee.

Senate President-Designate Jim Boyd releases the details of his inner circle

And there’s more

Other state representatives named by Garrison to chair committees are:

• Rep. Fiona McFarland, a Sarasota Republican, chair the Education & Employment Committee;
• Rep. Jason Shoaf, a Republican from Port St. Joe, chair the Commerce Committee;
• Rep. John Snyder, Republican of Stuart, chair of the State Affairs Committee;
• Rep. Kaylee Tuck, a Republican from Lake Placid, chair of the Judiciary Committee.