Associated Industries of Florida released its 2026 Voting Records report and named six lawmakers as recipients of its annual Champions for Business awards, recognizing legislators the group said supported policies important to Florida employers during the regular legislative session.
This year’s recipients are Sen. Stan McClain and Reps. Kimberly Berfield, Tom Fabricio, Mike Giallombardo, Chad Johnson and Danny Nix Jr.
The report serves as AIF’s annual legislative scorecard, tracking committee, amendment and floor votes on bills and amendments the organization supported or opposed. AIF said the 2026 report covered more than 2,500 votes across 47 bills, including measures dealing with artificial intelligence, economic development, business regulation, growth management, agriculture, legal and judicial issues, and transportation.
AIF said the voting records are based on official state records, with each vote weighted equally and no additional points assigned to specific bills. The report found lawmakers voted with AIF’s position 79% of the time in the Senate and 85% of the time in the House.
AIF said the Champions for Business awards, which the organization has given annually since 2003, are intended to recognize lawmakers whose work extended beyond votes, including sponsoring legislation, advancing business-backed proposals, shaping amendments and opposing measures the organization viewed as harmful to employers.
McClain was recognized for his work on private property rights and regulatory issues, including growth management proposals related to impact fees, local development rules, agricultural enclaves, land use regulations and local government enforcement actions. Berfield and Fabricio were recognized for opposing proposals that AIF said would have rolled back Florida’s 2022-23 tort reforms, which the organization has described as important to maintaining a predictable legal environment for businesses.
Giallombardo, meanwhile, was cited for his involvement in data center policy discussions and for sponsoring cybersecurity liability legislation that would have established legal standards for businesses responding to cybersecurity incidents.
Johnson was recognized for opposing changes to Florida’s tort reforms and for working with business groups during the session. Nix was cited for his 100% voting record with AIF, his role in data center policy discussions and his sponsorship of land development legislation intended to streamline local permitting and development procedures.
