For Immediate Release
Monday, May 18, 2026
Contact:
Sarah Bascom, sarah@bascomllc.com
Lyndsey Brzozowski, lyndsey@bascom.group
AIF Releases 2026 Voting Records Report & Announces Champions for Business Award Recipients
AIF’s Voting Records is the definitive legislative scorecard for the business community that tabulates the voting conduct of each member of the Florida Legislature during the regular legislative session. Scores are based on committee, amendment and floor votes cast on bills and amendments that were advocated, promoted or opposed by AIF, with every bill and vote carrying equal weight. By reporting on over 2,500 votes cast by legislators on 47 bills, this publication embodies the most exhaustive and complete record of the Legislature’s collective approach to the concerns of Florida’s employers.
“After every legislative session for the last 52 years, Florida employers have been able to turn to AIF’s Voting Records report to better understand how lawmakers voted on issues affecting the state’s business community,” said AIF President and CEO Brewster Bevis. “Voting Records provide a meaningful snapshot of a legislator’s support for Florida’s job creators, but we recognize that votes cast are only part of the picture. Much of the work that impacts the business community happens outside of recorded votes, whether it’s working behind the scenes to advance a supportive policy or helping to stop proposals that could negatively affect employers and workers across the state.”
AIF Vice President of Governmental Affairs Adam Basford added, “This legislative session produced a number of meaningful outcomes for Florida’s business community that support economic growth across key sectors. At the same time, several unsuccessful proposals raised concerns around increased regulatory burdens, litigation exposure, and long-term cost impacts for employers. The 2026 Voting Records report offers business leaders a clear, objective view of how lawmakers navigated these complex issues and where they stood on policies critical to maintaining Florida’s competitive business climate.”
AIF’s 2026 Voting Records report is available in full here. The Voting Records Database, which includes 247,845 votes, 2,599 bills, and 1,016 legislators from the last 52 years, is available at AIF.com/VotingRecords.
Along with its Voting Records report, AIF has also named its Champions for Business every year since 2003, which recognizes the elected officials who provided strong leadership in advancing key legislation and stood up to protect the interests of Florida’s business community.
“AIF’s Champions for Business are the legislators who consistently step up to defend and strengthen Florida’s business community,” said Bevis. “These leaders do far more than cast pro-business votes. They actively work throughout the legislative process — publicly and behind the scenes — to advance policies that encourage economic growth, protect free enterprise, and improve Florida’s competitiveness. Just as importantly, they help stop proposals that could undermine the state’s strong business climate. We are grateful for their leadership and proud to recognize them with this honor.”
For the 2026 Legislative Session, AIF awarded the following elected leaders with the Champions for Business distinction:
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Senator Stan McClain: Senator Stan McClain is receiving his second Champion for Business Award for his continued dedication to protecting Florida’s private property rights and reducing regulatory burdens on Florida's business community. He not only sponsored critical pro-business legislation, but also successfully guarded against harmful bills and amendments throughout the committee process.
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Representative Kimberly Berfield: Representative Kimberly Berfield is receiving her first Champion for Business Award for her principled and unwavering stance in defense of Florida's landmark 2022-2023 tort reforms throughout the 2026 Legislative Session. In the face of mounting pressure to reverse the hard-fought progress made in recent years, Representative Berfield stood firm, voting against every bill that would have rolled back critical reforms that protect Florida's business climate from excessive litigation.
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Representative Tom Fabricio: Representative Tom Fabricio is receiving his third Champion for Business Award for his enduring commitment to protecting Florida's landmark 2022-2023 tort reforms. As a longtime champion of legal reform in Florida, Representative Fabricio once again stood firm throughout the 2026 Legislative Session, voting against every bill that sought to roll back the critical reforms that have helped remove Florida from the ranks of so-called "judicial hellholes, “reflecting the same resolve that has defined his career as one of Florida's most dedicated advocates for a fair and predictable legal environment for businesses and consumers alike.
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Representative Mike Giallombardo: Representative Mike Giallombardo is receiving his second Champion for Business Award for his outstanding contributions to Florida's business community throughout the 2026 Legislative Session. He proved to be an invaluable voice in the data center conversation, demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of the policy issues at stake, and sponsored critical legislation establishing cybersecurity liability protections, a forward-thinking effort that reflects the growing importance of protecting Florida businesses from an evolving legal landscape.
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Representative Chad Johnson: Representative Chad Johnson is receiving his first Champion for Business Award for his principled and collaborative approach to legislating on behalf of Florida's business community throughout the 2026 Legislative Session. He stood firm against efforts to roll back Florida's landmark tort reforms, voting against every bill that would have undermined the critical progress made in protecting Florida's business climate from excessive litigation, and distinguished himself by actively engaging with the business community, taking the time to hear and understand the real-world impact that harmful legislation would have on Florida's employers
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Representative Danny Nix, Jr: Representative Danny Nix, Jr. is receiving his first Champion for Business Award for his consistent and principled support of Florida's business community throughout the 2026 Legislative Session. Boasting a 100% voting record with AIF, he proved to be a thoughtful and insightful voice during critical discussions surrounding data center policy and stood firm against efforts to roll back Florida's landmark 2022-2023 tort reforms, voting against every bill that would have undermined the progress made in protecting Florida's business climate from excessive litigation.
Known as “The Voice of Florida Business” in the Sunshine State, AIF has represented the principles of prosperity and free enterprise before the three branches of state government since 1920. A voluntary association of diversified businesses, AIF was created to foster an economic climate in Florida conducive to the growth, development, and welfare of industry and business and the people of the state. For more information on AIF, please visit AIF.com and follow @VoiceofFLBiz.
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