Senator Gaetz - The Florida Senate

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Contact:

District Office

418 West Garden Street
Fourth Floor
Pensacola, FL 32502
(850) 595-1036

Legislative Aides

Xuripha Barrow, Frank Fuller, Richard Harper, Davidson Oberste, and Keri Pitzer

Satellite Office

Brackin Building, 3rd Floor
302 N. Wilson Street
Crestview, FL 32536
(850) 300-7065

Tallahassee Office

405 Senate Building
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
(850) 487-5001
Senate VOIP: 5001

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Florida Senate Service

2024-2026

Senator Don Gaetz

Party: Republican

Committee Assignments

District 1

Maps:

Letter Size (pdf)
Poster Size (pdf)

Consists of Escambia, Santa Rosa counties and part of Okaloosa county

District 1 map

Bills Introduced

Introduced in 2026

S 48 Housing
Last Action: 1/29/2026 CS/CS by Rules read 1st time
S 50 Veterans Affairs
Last Action: 1/29/2026 On Committee agenda-- Judiciary, 02/03/26, 1:00 pm, 110 Senate Building
S 52 Security Services at Places of Worship
Last Action: 1/29/2026 On Committee agenda-- Rules, 02/03/26, 9:00 am, 412 Knott Building
S 86 Commercial Motor Vehicles Operated by Unauthorized Aliens
Last Action: 1/29/2026 Now in Criminal Justice
S 92 Employee Protections
Last Action: 1/14/2026 Now in Rules
S 126 Florida Public Service Commission
Last Action: 1/13/2026 CS by Regulated Industries read 1st time
S 218 Land Use Regulations
Last Action: 1/28/2026 Now in Judiciary
S 318 Educational Scholarship Programs
Last Action: 1/14/2026 In Messages
S 582 Required Reports of the Office of Insurance Regulation
Last Action: 1/13/2026 Introduced
S 628 Transportation Facility Designations/Warrior Sacrifice Way
Last Action: 1/28/2026 Now in Fiscal Policy
S 646 Drug Paraphernalia
Last Action: 1/27/2026 Now in Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice
S 874 Professional Licensure Reciprocity for the Practice of Surveying and Mapping
Last Action: 1/14/2026 Now in Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government
S 876 Public Records and Public Meetings/Hearings Relating to Mental Health and Substance Abuse
Last Action: 1/13/2026 Introduced
S 896 School Safety
Last Action: 1/13/2026 Introduced
S 920 Mathematics Education
Last Action: 1/20/2026 Now in Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education
S 1002 Child Welfare
Last Action: 1/29/2026 CS by Children, Families, and Elder Affairs read 1st time
S 1004 Sale of Dogs and Cats
Last Action: 1/29/2026 On Committee agenda-- Judiciary, 02/03/26, 1:00 pm, 110 Senate Building
S 1074 One-cent Piece
Last Action: 1/21/2026 Now in Finance and Tax
S 1474 Biosolids Management
Last Action: 1/29/2026 CS by Environment and Natural Resources read 1st time
S 1570 Statewide Project for Missing Persons with Special Needs
Last Action: 1/28/2026 Now in Appropriations Committee on Higher Education
S 1594 Veteran Benefit Payments to Minor Clients
Last Action: 1/27/2026 Now in Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security
S 1650 Public Records/Commission on Ethics
Last Action: 1/22/2026 Introduced
S 1708 Veterinary Licensure
Last Action: 1/28/2026 Now in Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government
S 1758 Public Assistance
Last Action: 1/28/2026 On Committee agenda-- Health Policy, 02/02/26, 3:30 pm, 412 Knott Building

Co-Introduced in 2026

S 110 Homestead Exemptions
Last Action: 1/28/2026 CS by Finance and Tax; YEAS 8 NAYS 0
S 194 Charlie Kirk Day of Remembrance
Last Action: 1/21/2026 Now in Fiscal Policy
S 200 Utilities
Last Action: 1/13/2026 Introduced
S 678 Deductions for Certain Losses of Alcoholic Beverages
Last Action: 1/22/2026 CS by Regulated Industries read 1st time
S 694 Compensation of the Descendants of Charles Greenlee, Walter Irvin, Samuel Shepherd, and Ernest Thomas
Last Action: 1/29/2026 CS by Judiciary read 1st time
S 840 Land Use Regulations for Local Governments Affected by Natural Disasters
Last Action: 1/20/2026 Now in Rules
S 1062 Speech and Debate Education
Last Action: 1/29/2026 CS by Education Pre-K - 12 read 1st time
S 1082 Statewide Provider and Health Plan Claim Dispute Resolution Program
Last Action: 1/29/2026 CS by Health Policy read 1st time
S 1558 Admissible Evidence in Personal Injury or Wrongful Death Actions
Last Action: 1/22/2026 Introduced
S 1620 Public Education
Last Action: 1/29/2026 On Committee agenda-- Education Pre-K - 12, 02/03/26, 3:30 pm, 412 Knott Building
S 1760 Health Care Coverage
Last Action: 1/22/2026 Introduced

Personal & Career

Legislative Service

Elected to the Senate in 2024, prior Senate 2006-2016
- Senate President 2012-2014

Other Public Service

Florida Ethics Commissioner, 2021-2023
Triumph Gulf Coast, Chairman, 2018-2023
Constitution Revision Commission, 2017-2018
Okaloosa School Board, elected Superintendent, 2000-2006
Okaloosa School Board, Chairman, 1995-1996, Member, 1994-2000
Seaside, Florida, Town Chairman, 1990-1991

Honors and Awards

National Council of State Legislatures/Americans for the Arts, Preeminent U.S. Legislator in Public Leadership in the Arts
International Television and Film Festival of New York, Gold Medal Award
National Association of Workforce Boards, Nation's Legislative Leader in Career-Technical Education
American Medical Association, Most Outstanding Senator
American Association of Physician Specialists, Distinguished Service Award
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
Flagler College, Honorary Doctor of Laws
Concordia College, President's Award; Alumni Achievement Award; Soli Deo Gloria Award
Leukemia Society of America, Person of the Year
National Debate Coaches Association, Life Achievement Award
National Hospice Organization, Founders Award, Architect of Hospice Award
Grey2K USA, National Greyhound Leadership Award
Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, George Washington Honor Medal
National Rifle Association, Rough Rider Award
Florida National Guard, Congressman C.W. Bill Young Award
Army JROTC, Sword of Leadership
ARC of Florida, Hero Award, Citizen of the Year Award
Florida Special Olympics, Humanitarian of the Year Award
Florida Council on Aging, Champion of the Elderly
Florida Dental Association, Legislator of the Year
Florida Medical Association, Legislator of the Year
Florida Cancer Society, Legislator of the Year
Florida Osteopathic Medical Association, Outstanding Senator of the Year
Florida Hospices, Inc., Outstanding Legislator Award
Florida Health Care Association, Legislator of the Year
Florida Police Chiefs Association, Award of Merit
Florida Prosecutors Association, Legislator of the Year
Florida Trend Magazine, Florida's Education Trendsetter
Workforce Florida, Champion of the Florida Workforce, Lt. Governor Toni Jennings Award
Florida Guardian ad Litem Association, Guardian of Florida's Children, Honorary Guardian ad Litem
Florida Association of Child Advocacy Centers, Legislator of the Year
Okaloosa-Walton Child Care Services, Extraordinary Service to Children and Youth Award
Seaside, Robert and Daryl Davis Town Builder Award
Commodore of the City of Green Bay, Admiral Flatley Park, Environmental and Historic Preservation Award

Affiliations

International Churchill Society, Fellow
Irish Politicians Club
Capitol Hill Club, Washington, DC
National Press Club, Washington, DC
Churchill Center, Washington, DC
Theodore Roosevelt Assn, Sagamore, NY
C-400 Club, Moorhead, MN

Biographical Information

Occupation:	Retired healthcare executive
Spouse:	Victoria Quertermous of Fort Walton Beach, FL
Children:	Matt, Erin
Grandchildren:	Julia
Education:	Concordia College, B.S., Religion and Political Science, 1971 Student Body President National Speech and Debate Champion Alumnus of the Year Soli Deo Gloria Award Troy State University, Master of Public Administration, 1999 Alumnus of the Year
Born:	in Rugby, North Dakota. Moved to Florida in 1978.
Historical:	Matt Gaetz. son, former U.S. Congressman; Jerry Gaetz, father, former mayor and senator
Religious Affiliation:	Lutheran
Recreation:	Antiques, real estate, U.S. history

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