Florida Senate President Wilton Simpson will discuss the regular and special sessions of the 2021 Florida Legislature during the Tampa Tiger Bay Club meeting July 16 at noon at the Cuban Club in Ybor City.

The Pasco County Republican was named the 2021 most valuable legislator by the Florida Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber credited him with pushing through nearly two dozen of its priorities, including COVID-19 liability protections, online sales tax reform and a cut to the commercial rent sales tax from 5.5% to 2%. Simpson also negotiated the first expansion of gambling in a decade. Approved in a special session in May, the agreement is expected to generate billions of tax dollars for the state

He also supported controversial legislation that drew national attention, including a so-called “anti-riot” bill, social media regulations, increased voting restrictions and a requirement that state universities conduct an annual assessment of viewpoint diversity.

Simpson has one more session as Senate president next year and is widely expected to run for Agriculture Commissioner. 

For tickets, go to tigerbayclub.com/tickets. For more information email executivedirector@tigerbayclub.com

The Tampa Tiger Bay Club is a non-partisan political group that presents lively discussions on important issues and candidates running for office. Each year it presents lifetime achievement awards to a Democrat and a Republican.

Previous recipients of the awards include former Florida Gov. Bob Martinez, former Florida House Speaker Terrell Sessums, former U.S. Rep. Mike Bilirakis and former Florida Education Commissioner Betty Castor.