FL Legislature Wastin' Away in Margaritaville? Floridians Celebrate First-Ever Jimmy Buffett Day

Gov Ron DeSantis

TALLAHASSEE, FL—It's unlikely that a Floridian would stroll by Gov. Ron DeSantis winding down in Margaritaville—kicking back in a wind-ruffled Hawaiian shirt, a Pina Colada in hand, and dark sunglasses blocking out the Key West summer sun...but hey! It's Jimmy Buffett day; anyone can live their life like a song.

(That's a Buffett quote if it wasn't clear).

During the 2024 Legislative Session, Lawmakers passed three Jimmy Buffett measures to honor the late singer, who in his 76 years of life became emblematic of the Sunshine State—though it could just as easily be Florida became emblematic of him. So, Republican Rep. Linda Chaney introduced a House Resolution calling for Aug. 30 to forever become "Jimmy Buffett Day".

And so it did.

"Aug. 30th, 2024, is recognized as 'Jimmy Buffett Day' in Florida to celebrate the life and music of Jimmy Buffett, whose free-spirited life and significant contributions to national and state culture are commended and celebrated," the resolution reads. Another bill, sponsored by Democratic Sen. Lauren Book and Republican Rep. Chuck Clemons, made the A1A highway the "Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway". It spans from Key West (Buffett's isle of residence) to Amelia Island.

Lastly, a bill co-sponsored by a majority of the Legislature created a series of new Buffett license plates, including one displaying his popular "Margaritaville" song. DeSantis signed both bills at the end of June.

Throughout his career, Buffett released a series of Billboard Hot 100 charted songs—most notably Margaritaville, which spent 22 weeks on the chart—and performed on more than 50 studio and live albums with his Coral Reefer Band, the Associated Press reported.

Margaritaville was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2016, which branded Key West, Florida "as a distinct sound of music and a destination known the world over," according to AP.

In 2018, the Mississippi-born singer ranked 18th in Forbes' list of the Richest Celebrities of All Time with a shocking $1 billion net worth. Other singers who have a net worth of a billion or more dollars are Paul McCartney, Jay-Z, Rihanna, Kanye West, P. Diddy, Taylor Swift, and Bruce Springsteen, Forbes reported.

On Sept. 1, 2023, Buffett died after a four-year battle with Merkel Cell Skin Cancer, according to his website.

Liv Caputo

Livia Caputo is a senior at Florida State University, working on a major in Criminology, and a triple minor in Psychology, Communications, and German. She has been working on a journalism career for the past year, and hopes to become a successful reporter after graduation. Her work has been cited in Fox News, the New York Post, and the Daily Mail