Mid-Point Switch Ups: New House Committee Chairs

By Jay Waagmeester, Florida Phoenix

September 9, 2025

Two Florida House budget subcommittees have new chairs, Speaker Daniel Perez announced Monday.

Rep. Fiona McFarland, representing part of Sarasota county, is the new chair of the Information Technology Budget and Policy Subcommittee, the only subcommittee touching policy and budget.

Rep. John Snyder, representing parts of Martin and Palm Beach counties, previously served as chair of that subcommittee. Rep. Kevin Steele remains vice chair.

“I appreciate the Speaker’s trust in me and am thankful for the critical groundwork that Chair Snyder laid last session. I hope to carry the conversations he started forward — Floridians expect and deserve to have cutting-edge technology powering our state,” McFarland told the Phoenix.

The Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee will now be led by Snyder. Previously, it was led by Rep. Tiffany Esposito.

Since Republicans control the chamber, all of the new chairs belong to that party.

Non-budget committee switch-ups include Rep. Berny Jacques, representing part of Pinellas County, who previously chaired the Careers and Workforce Subcommittee; now he will chair the Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee. Esposito picked up the Careers and Workforce Subcommittee chair vacated by Jacques.

With Rep. Alex Rizo handing the Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee gavel to Jacques, he will now chair the Student Academic Success Subcommittee. McFarland has been chair of that panel.

Two of the higher-profile panels, the Budget Committee and Health Care Budget Subcommittee, will keep the same leadership. The Health Care Budget Subcommittee chaired by Rep. Alex Andrade was the venue for the probe into Hope Florida. Rep. Lawrence McClure will remain Budget Committee chair.

The Health Professions and Programs Subcommittee chair will remain Rep. Kaylee Tuck, but the new vice chair is Rep. Robbie Brackett. Vice chair was previously Rep. John Temple.

The Higher Education Budget Subcommittee chair will still be Rep. Demi Busatta. She will have a new vice chair in Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman. Former Rep. Mike Caruso was the vice chair, but he left the House after Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed him as Palm Beach County court clerk.

Rep. Chip LaMarca was chair of the Joint Legislative Auditing Committee. Now, Rep. Randy Maggard will help chair that joint House-Senate committee.

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