Florida Legislature voted to restrict public unions. Here's who voted which way

Palm Beach Post Editorial Board
Updated ·1 min read
Protesters wrap up their march in Jacksonville, Florida's Riverside Park to bring attention to the changes in Florida's laws that are expected to have negative effects on the state's migrant population, the LGBTQ community, access to abortion and voting rights for citizens. The rally was held with others coordinated around the state.
Protesters wrap up their march in Jacksonville, Florida's Riverside Park to bring attention to the changes in Florida's laws that are expected to have negative effects on the state's migrant population, the LGBTQ community, access to abortion and voting rights for citizens. The rally was held with others coordinated around the state.

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

Every year Florida lawmakers leave their communities for Tallahassee to address issues affecting everything from what schoolchildren learn and how people receive healthcare to what's needed to legally obtain a gun. The tallies shown here are final floor votes on bills that went to the Governor's desk for signature. To help our readers see where their state representatives and senators stood on these measures, The Palm Beach Post Editorial Board presents this recap of key votes taken during the 2023 session.

UNIONS: The companion bills (HB 1445, SB 256) approved in the state capitol this session prohibit paycheck deductions for specific public-sector union dues and increase to 60 the percentage of employees required to be members for a union to stay certified. Police, firefighters and correctional officers were exempted from the restrictions; their unions as a whole are in the good graces of Gov. Ron DeSantis and state Republican leaders.

But unions helping teachers and other government workers are now subject to requirements that are onerous and unwarranted.

The Senate passed the bill 23-17; the House, 72-44. Among the members of the Palm Beach County Legislative Delegation, the Democrats all opposed it and two Republicans joined them. The new law hurts public employee unions. The next time you see your local legislator back in the district, ask them to explain their vote.

More: Editorial: The unions aren't the enemy, Florida lawmakers

YES

Sen. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart

Rep. John Snyder, R-Palm City

NO

Sen. Lori Berman (D-Boynton Beach)

Sen. Tina Polsky (D-Boca Raton)

Sen. Bobby Powell (D-West Palm Beach)

Rep. Joe Casello, D-Boynton Beach

Rep. Gossett-Seidman, R-Boca Raton

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

Rep. Rick Roth, R-West Palm Beach

Rep. David Silvers, D-Lake Clarke Shores

Rep. Kelly Skidmore, D-Boca Raton

Rep. Katherine Waldron, D-Wellington

NO VOTE RECORDED

Rep. Mike Caruso, R-West Palm Beach

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach County lawmakers voted on public service unions in Florida