• State Senator Ben Albritton on Tuesday was officially declared president-designate of the upper chamber, succeeding Sen. Kathleen Passidomo following the next Legislative Session.
• A former House Representative, Albritton will lead the Senate from 2024 to 2026, focusing on Florida’s agricultural sector.
• Albritton will serve on multiple committees for the coming Legislative Session, including Fiscal Policy, Governmental Oversight, and Health Policy, while acting as the Chair of the Select Committee on Resiliency.

State Senator Ben Albritton was formally named the upper chamber’s president-designate on Tuesday, with the lawmaker slated to succeed outgoing president Sen. Kathleen Passidomo following the forthcoming Legislative Session.

Albritton, who initially served in the House of Representatives from 2010 to 2018 before moving to the Senate, will assume the role of the top legislative authority in the statehouse during the 2024 to 2026 term. Last November, Passidomo appointed Albritton as the Senate Majority Leader.

A farmer by trade, Albritton emphasized during his speech a commitment towards prioritizing legislation that addresses Florida’s agricultural sector, which has been plagued in recent years by financial damages and diminished crop yields.

“We must continue to support and defend our farmers, our food supply chain, and every part of the system that puts food on the tables of our families,” he said. “Remember this: if you eat, you’re involved in agriculture.”

For the upcoming session, Albritton will serve on the Fiscal Policy, Governmental Oversight and Accountability, Health Policy, Judiciary, and Joint Legislative Budget Commission committees, while sitting as Chair of the Select Committee on Resiliency.

“I’m deeply honored to be your president-designate to our Senate,” said Albritton. “I am humbled to have earned your trust and your support for this important role.”

Last month, Rep. Daniel Perez was designated as the incoming Speaker of the House. Perez’s tenure is scheduled from November 2024 to November 2026, contingent on Republicans maintaining their majority in the legislative chamber. Perez and Albritton have committed to working in tandem to further the Republican Party’s goals in the state legislature.

“During your own designation speech, you said there would not be two presiding officers that come from more different and diverse backgrounds than you and me,” said Albritton. “That’s true. What you and I also know, though, is that we’re very much alike. We have an incredible opportunity to make an impact in the years ahead.”