The proposal (HB 1581) is sponsored by Republicans James Buchanan from Sarasota and Mike Giallombardo from Lee County.
Buchanan told the House State Affairs Committtee that there numerous reasons why such legislation is needed, saying that this is “not a bill in search of a problem.”
Rep. Giamlombardo says his motivation was what happened in the city of Cape Coral in 2023.
That’s when the Cape Coral City Council put a proposal on a consent agenda without discussion by which member gave themselves a stipend that would have nearly doubled their salaries — an extra $3,333 a month for members and for the mayor an extra $5,000, according to the Cape Coral Breeze. A new group of council members repealed the bonuses last fall.
Additionally, the Tampa City Council last summer approved an almost 40% pay raise for themselves, from $54,000 to $75,000.
The House State Affairs Committee approved the bill, 22-0, and it now goes to the House floor for a vote.
However, its companion bill in the Senate, sponsored by Sarasota Republican Joe Gruters (SB 1762), has yet to be heard in any committee.
Florida Phoenix is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Florida Phoenix maintains editorial independence. Contact Michael Moline for questions: info@floridaphoenix.com. Follow Florida Phoenix on Facebook and Twitter.
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This article appears in The 420 Issue 2025.