Florida Legislature ended permanent alimony. How did Palm Beach County lawmakers vote?

Editorials from The Palm Beach Post Editorial Board are the opinions of the Board, not of the Post newsroom.

Every year state lawmakers leave their communities for Tallahassee to address issues affecting the state. The votes shown here are the final floor votes on bills that have become state law. To help our readers better understand their state representatives and senators, The Palm Beach Post Editorial Board presents this recap of key votes taken during the 2023 session of the Florida Legislature.

After a decade of contentious debates and consistent vetoes, advocates of tweaking Florida's old alimony laws got what they wanted — big change. Lawmakers approved SB 1416, which ends permanent alimony and allows ex-spouses to use child-custody rights to reduce their alimony payments. Similar measures previously passed the Legislature only to be vetoed by the governor, including Gov. Ron DeSantis during his first term in office.

Guess the fourth time's the charm, because this time the measure drew little opposition and DeSantis signed it last month.

Back story: First Wives fear presidential ambition drove DeSantis to sign thrice vetoed alimony law

End of perpetual alimony in Florida

Still, doing away with permanent alimony remains a contentious issue. Opponents of the bill are irate, fearing the bill will reduce alimony payments to older women who need it. They have criticized DeSantis for signing the bill to prop up his presidential bid. They contend the new law will draw more deadbeat dads to live in the Sunshine State.

The governor only gets a share of the heat. The bill did sail through the Legislature before it reached DeSantis' desk. Here's how members of the Palm Beach County Legislative Delegation voted when the measure hit the floor for a final vote. The next time you see your local legislator, you might want to ask for an explanation of their vote:

YES

Sen. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart

Rep. Mike Caruso, R-Delray Beach

Rep. Joe Casello, D-Boynton Beach

Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman, R-Highland Beach

Rep. Rick Roth, R-West Palm Beach

Rep. David Silvers, D-Lake Clarke Shores

Rep. John Snyder, R-Stuart

Rep. Katherine Waldron, D-Wellington

NO

Sen. Lori Berman, D-Boynton Beach

Sen. Tina Polsky, D-Boca Raton

Sen. Bobby Powell, D-West Palm Beach

Rep. Kelly Skidmore, D-Boca Raton

DID NOT VOTE

Rep. Jervonte "Tae" Edmonds, D-West Palm Beach

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Most Palm Beach County delegation voted to reform alimony in Florida.