The Florida Senate has approved a bill aimed at bringing President Donald Trump’s presidential library to the Sunshine State. Senate Bill 118, sponsored by Sen. Jason Brodeur of Sanford, would prevent local governments from imposing restrictions on presidential libraries in Florida.
Under the bill, all regulatory authority over the establishment, maintenance, and operations of a presidential library would be preempted to the state. It prohibits counties, municipalities, and other political subdivisions from enacting or enforcing ordinances or restrictions on such facilities, except as permitted by federal law.
The measure passed the Senate committee with a decisive 36-3 vote. The only dissenting votes came from Democrat Senators Lori Berman and Tina Polsky of Boca Raton, along with Carlos Guillermo Smith of Orlando.
Although Trump has not yet announced where his presidential library will be located, his team has reportedly considered multiple sites in Florida, including Florida Atlantic University and Florida International University.
Sen. Brodeur emphasized Florida’s significance in Trump’s political career, stating, “As the home state to the 45th and 47th president of the United States, there is a high likelihood that President Trump will select Florida to be the site of his presidential library.” He also expressed hope that the legislation would serve as an incentive for Trump to choose Florida.
“This could add to what we already have as a wonderful place to come, and hopefully, because of what we do today, that will be an incentive for the president to place our first library here,” Broduer said to the Senate committee last week.
The bill now moves to the Florida House, where a companion measure, House Bill 69, sponsored by Rep. Alex Andrade of Pensacola, is ready for a full vote.
