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Michelle Salzman Higher Education Bill Strongly Opposed By DeSantis Overwhelmingly Approved By House
April 17, 2025
The Rep. Michelle Salzman bill strongly opposed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday was overwhelmingly passed by the Florida House on Wednesday.
The House approved the bill on a 104-8 vote.
HB 1321 repeals a 2002 law that created public records exemptions for choosing university presidents and puts the process back into the sunshine under Florida public records law. The bill also removes the state university system Board of Governors’ approval to confirm presidential choices and attempts to limit the governor’s influence in the selection process.
It removes the ability of us to ensure that we’re holding universities accountable,” DeSantis said.
“We are not removing the governor’s power from anything,” Salzman said on the House floor on Wednesday. “There is no removal of powers; he appoints the people that are making these choices. You can’t get any better than that. You can’t. This isn’t an attack on the people that have been selected; this isn’t an attack on the Board of Governors. This isn’t an attack on our great governor.”
“This is simply bringing the second largest component of the state budget into the sunshine. Choices we are making for one of the largest components of our tax dollars should be in the sunshine,” Salzman added. “The bill brings transparency. It is good governance.”
DeSantis spoke out against the bill during a press conference Tuesday morning at Pensacola State College, saying Salzman was “behaving like Democrats”. The governor claimed Salzman’s bill was “cosponsored by the most flamboyantly left-wing Democrat”.
In a lengthy exclusive interview with NorthEscambia.com, Salzman explained her bill and responded to the governor. To hear her complete response, see the video below or visit the NorthEscambia.com Facebook page.
In a lengthy exclusive interview with NorthEscambia.com first published Wednesday morning, Salzman explained her bill and responded to the governor. To hear her complete response, see the video below or visit the NorthEscambia.com Facebook page.
Pictured top: Rep. Michelle Salzman speaks about HB 1131 on the floor of the Florida House on Tuesday. Courtesy The Florida Channel for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Comments
8 Responses to “Michelle Salzman Higher Education Bill Strongly Opposed By DeSantis Overwhelmingly Approved By House”
So called “conservatives” in our region seem to be confused about what that moniker means.
It doesn’t mean blind allegiance to a party or a person. It means respect for what went before, and a balanced advance of people’s way of life.
It doesn’t mean a sports style “my team is always right!” mentality. It means we respect all human beings and their worth.
Not disappearing US citizens without due process. Not corrupting the economic system that has allowed the USA to dominate in every aspect for 80 years. Not disregarding our shared history and struggles to be a better place for people to aspire to their dreams.
The trump and desantis administrations are antithetical to the vision af America that I fell in love with.
I hope we can recover as a nation.
To the folks saying this isn’t republican enough… Read the bill, and read the summary below. AFTER you have, then let her know why you think it isn’t.
The link to the bill is here: https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/1321/BillText/e1/PDF
Florida’s HB 1321 Embodies Florida-First Conservative Values
1. Transparency in Bureaucracy
Conservatives have long championed transparency as a cornerstone of good government. HB 1321 restores public oversight to university presidential searches, requiring these processes to be open under Florida’s Sunshine Law. This ensures that citizens can see how decisions are made, holding public officials accountable and deterring corruption or backroom deals. Transparency is a deeply conservative value because it limits government overreach, empowers citizens, and keeps bureaucrats answerable to the people, not special interests or political insiders. It institutes the “cone of silence” as a temporary communication blackout during the interview stage of university presidential searches. It prevents outside influence and backroom deals by restricting contact with decision-makers, ensuring the process is fair, impartial, and based solely on merit. This conservative safeguard protects the integrity of the selection process while keeping the rest of the process open and transparent to the public.
2. Governor’s Role Remains Central
HB 1321 does not remove the governor from the process. The governor still appoints the members of the boards of trustees and the Board of Governors, who are responsible for selecting university presidents. This maintains executive accountability and ensures that those making key decisions are ultimately answerable to the people of Florida through their elected leader.
3. Term Limits on Bureaucrats
Term limits are a classic conservative reform, designed to prevent the entrenchment of power and encourage fresh ideas in government. By imposing term limits on higher education board members, HB 1321 reduces the risk of bureaucratic stagnation and special interest capture, ensuring that new voices and perspectives regularly enter public service. This aligns with the conservative belief in limited government and the dangers of unchecked, lifelong bureaucrats.
4. Florida-First Leadership
Requiring board members to be Florida residents or graduates of Florida institutions is a direct expression of the conservative principle of local control. Floridians know what’s best for Florida—outsiders may not understand the unique needs, values, and priorities of the state. This provision ensures that those making decisions about Florida’s future are invested in the community and accountable to local taxpayers, not distant interests.
5. Transparency in Class Requirements
Mandating that universities publish detailed syllabi, including class descriptions and textbook costs, is about empowering students and parents with information. Curriculum transparency is a conservative value because it gives families the tools to make informed choices, prevents ideological indoctrination, and holds educational institutions accountable to the public. It also supports fiscal responsibility by helping students avoid unnecessary expenses.
6. Financial Disclosures for Board Members
Requiring full financial disclosures from board members is another conservative safeguard against conflicts of interest and corruption. This measure ensures that those in positions of authority are acting in the public’s best interest, not for personal gain, and builds public trust in government institutions.
Summary List: HB 1321’s Conservative Values
• Transparency in Bureaucracy: Open presidential searches and decision-making processes, holding officials accountable to the public.
• Governor’s Role Remains Central: Maintains executive oversight and accountability, with the governor still appointing key decision-makers.
• Term Limits on Bureaucrats: Prevents entrenched power, encourages new ideas, and limits government overreach.
• Florida-First Leadership: Ensures local control by requiring board members to be Florida residents or graduates, reflecting community values.
• Transparency in Class Requirements: Empowers families with information, supports informed choice, and prevents ideological bias in education.
• Financial Disclosures for Board Members: Promotes ethical leadership and public trust by exposing potential conflicts of interest.
Each of these provisions reflects core conservative principles: limited government, local control, accountability, transparency, and ethical stewardship of public institutions. HB 1321 is a model of how conservative values can be applied to strengthen Florida’s higher education system for all its citizens.
He forgot there are three branches of government, not just the executive branch . This is a win for the people of Florida . Soon another politico out the door . Just recently we spoke and got rid of king Brandon and his monarchy , soon new ideas and hope to the state capitol. Any wonder why he did not get any cabinet position or agency ? Regular people with limited value know what time it is .
I am not a party person, I am an issue/ideals person. I don’t often agree with Michelle, but I respect her and so should NW Florida. She listened to her constituents and that’s not easy going up against the grain. Michelle Salzman has my respect and my support in this issue and that she does serve the people, all the people.
Such hearings should never be held in secret.
In fact, selection hearings for officers at any public university should be held in public on the university campus, not in Tallahassee (and particularly not behind closed doors).
At 104-8, she obviously captured the overwhelming majority of opinion of Florida. Kudos!
Good job Michelle! Just because the Gov does not think it is “Republican” enough does not make it bad. Continue to look out for the constituents and not just the party.
Work it.
She needs to go !