TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Public interest groups Progress Florida and Florida Watch today unveiled their 2023 “People First” Report Card, grading Florida lawmakers on key floor votes cast during this year’s legislative session. The report card’s grades take into account how each legislator voted across a wide spectrum of issues including reproductive freedom, civil rights, public education, government transparency, safeguarding democracy, housing affordability, environmental protection, and more.

The “People First” Report Card grades every state legislator on key floor votes cast in their respective chambers – 28 votes in the House and 27 in the Senate. To achieve a passing grade, lawmakers had to consistently vote to put “People First.” The report card provides Floridians with a valuable tool for determining if their elected officials in Tallahassee are fighting to put their constituents’ priorities first or are bowing to powerful corporate interests and anti-public interest partisanship.

Some of the votes factored into lawmaker grades include the near-total abortion ban (SB 300); the taxpayer giveaway to unaccountable corporate voucher schools (HB 1); the anti-immigrant bill (SB 1718); a new predatory fee for renters (HB 133); expansion of the “Don’t Say Gay” law (HB 1069); the radioactive roads bill (HB 1191); and an attack on public worker unions (SB 256), among many others. The complete list of bills scored and their descriptions can be found at FloridaReportCard.com

Here are the fourteen state legislators who earned a “People’s Champion” Award for their 100% “A+” voting records:

“With Florida’s deepening affordability crisis and escalating attacks on the freedoms that allow Floridians to pursue the American dream and determine their own life’s path, it’s more important than ever to know how our state legislators are voting on key issues,” said Progress Florida Executive Director Mark Ferrulo. “The ‘People First’ Report Card offers an easy to access and understand tool for Floridians to educate themselves on what’s happening in the Capitol and how those decisions impact their quality of life.”

“This session was a punch to the gut for the people of Florida,” said Florida Watch Executive Director Josh Weierbach. “Too many legislators acted as little more than rubber stamps for Governor DeSantis’ non-stop assault on our freedoms, as illustrated by their passing of a near-total abortion ban, dangerous permitless carry of loaded, concealed guns that will make us less safe, and relentless attacks on LGBTQ+, immigrant, and Black communities. Now, taxpayers are going to be left to pay the bills for this relentless onslaught of unconstitutional legislation that did nothing to address the real issues facing everyday Floridians.”

Florida House and Senate Members Earning an “A” on the “People First” Report Card:

Jacksonville state Representative Kimberly Daniels was the only Democrat to score an “F” (46%) on the “People’s First” Report Card.

“We applaud the legislators who put ‘People First’ one-hundred percent of the time, despite pressure from Governor DeSantis and powerful special interests. It is important Floridians recognize these lawmakers who fought for our families and defended our freedoms, not just with rhetoric, but with their votes,” said Ferrulo.

The interactive 2023 Progress Florida “People First” Report Card can be viewed at FloridaReportCard.com.