I am honored to receive the Champion Award for Public Service from the Greater Fort Lauderdale LGBT Chamber of Commerce. As always, I will continue to serve with compassion, courage, and with a commitment to justice for all. #ChampionForChange #PublicService #LeadershipMatters #LGBTQ+ #EqualityForAll #FortLauderdale #Gratitude #Justice #Inspiration #CommunityLove #LoveWins 

April 3, 2025, Terri and Malena Weidle traveled to Tallahassee to share their story and express their support for the bill in front of a Senate committee. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – When Terri Weidle lost custody of her daughter Malena over accusations…

‘This is a really necessary bill.’ A bill that would give innocent parents a much-needed way to disprove false child abuse claims is heading to the Senate floor after clearing its last committee hurdle. Members of the Senate Rules Committee voted unanimously…

Michael and Tasha Patterson speaking to the state Senate Committee on Children, Families and Elder Affairs Sometimes a second opinion in abuse cases is needed. A panel of Florida lawmakers agreed today (Thursday) officials should consider whether a child’s injuries…

Without the waivers, the undocumented students’ tuition rate would be tripled or quadrupled to out-of-state rates. The Senate has passed a deal on immigration enforcement, ending a stalemate within the GOP and rejecting complaints from Democrats. Senate Republicans were unmoved…

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Senate Democrat Barbara Sharief (D-Davie) recently filed a bill in the state legislature that would designate making a false criminal report due to personal bias a hate crime. Under SB 406, a person would be accused of a…

The story of a South Florida couple whose children were taken away by the state three years ago is now the inspiration for legislation by freshman Sen. Barbara Sharief. Sharief, a Broward County Democrat, filed SB 304, titled “Patterson’s Law,” to…

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FNN) – State Senator Barbara Sharief (D-Broward) has introduced SB 306, titled “Managed Care Plan Network Access,” TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FNN) – State Senator Barbara Sharief (D-Broward) has introduced SB 306, titled “Managed Care Plan Network Access,” to address significant barriers faced by Medicaid…

Most will be Vice Chairs, since South Florida is still mostly represented in the Senate by Democrats. Only 11 of Florida’s 40 Senators serve from Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. But they’ll hold a disproportionate share of the chamber’s…