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Committee backs codification of FSU Election Law Center, sponsor says center nonpartisan and disaster-focused
Summary
The Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee voted to report SB 892 favorably, a bill that would codify the Florida State University Center for Election Law and allow it to seek recurring funding.
The Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee voted to report favorably on SB 892, a bill to codify the Florida State University Center for Election Law and make the center eligible to receive recurring state funds.
Senator Simon, the bill’s sponsor, told the panel the Legislature created the center in 2023 with a nonrecurring appropriation of $1,000,000 and that codification would allow the center to remain in existence and seek recurring funding. He said codifying the center into statute would help recruit talent in election law, election administration and statistical analysis.
Professor Michael Morley, director of the FSU Election Law Center, testified and described the center as “nonpartisan, all evidence-based analysis” that focuses on improving election administration in times of natural disasters and minimizing opportunities for errors, irregularities or fraud that can undermine public confidence in electoral outcomes. When asked by Senator Davis whether the center would participate in redistricting or campaign finance work, Morley said the center was tailored to disaster-response and election administration and that it had not been involved in the state’s redistricting process.
Jack Rowan, incoming editor-in-chief of the FSU Law Review, appeared in support and described recent center activities, including a semester event marking the 25th anniversary of Bush v. Gore and a symposium the law review will publish.
The committee clerk then called the roll. The panel recorded unanimous support among senators present; the committee reported SB 892 favorably and advanced it for further consideration.
Votes recorded on SB 892: Senator Burgess — yes; Senator Collodiude — yes; Senator Davis — yes; Senator Leake — yes; Senator Smith — yes; Vice Chair Bradley — yes; Chair Harrell — yes. Senator Trumbull was excused.
SB 892’s proponents said the center’s role is to provide objective, evidence-based research and public information about improving election administration — especially during disasters — and to bolster public confidence in electoral processes.
The committee report does not appropriate recurring funds; making the center eligible to apply for recurring appropriations would require future legislative funding decisions.
