Florida Senate Majority Leader Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, will once again lead the Florida Senate’s efforts on redistricting as a special session looms in August.
Galvano will come back for another round to chair the Senate Redistricting Committee as legislators prepare to return to Tallahassee for a special session on congressional redistricting.
On Monday afternoon, House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, and Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, announced the special session will start in Tallahassee on Monday, Aug. 10, and conclude Friday, Aug. 21. Earlier this month, the Florida Supreme Court ruled that eight of the current congressional districts fail to pass constitutional muster after voters amended the state Constitution in 2010 to limit gerrymandering.
Galvano will be joined by three fellow Republicans: Sens. Rob Bradley of Orange Park, Tom Lee of Brandon and Davis Simmons of Altamonte Springs.
There will be three Democrats on the committee: Sens. Audrey Gibson of Jacksonville, Bill Montford of Tallahassee and Chris Smith of Fort Lauderdale.
Galvano, who is making a charge to become president of the Senate after the 2018 elections, led the committee during last year’s special session on redistricting.
As he works with the House on congressional redistricting, Galvano will have a new partner in the other chamber. On Monday, Crisafulli named Rep. Jose Oliva, R-Hialeah, to lead the House Redistricting Committee. Oliva replaces incoming House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Trinity, who led the House redistricting efforts during the special session last year.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
