Senate President-designate Ben Albritton names Sen. Bryan Avila chair of Finance & Tax Committee

MIAMI SPRINGS, Fla. - Senate President-designate Ben Albritton, R-Bartow, recently announced that Sen. Bryan Avila, R-Miami Springs, will chair the Finance & Tax Committee for the upcoming 2025 Legislative session.

"Sen. @BryanAvila will chair Finance & Tax. There is no question inflation has significantly impacted families across our state," Albritton said. "Senator Avila will be a strong leader for the Senate as we evaluate new opportunities to return hard-earned tax dollars to Floridians."

Avila represents Senate District 111, which covers part of Miami-Dade County. In the 2024 general election, Avila handily defeated Democratic candidate Charles Lewis I in SD 111 by 40 points.

He also won SD 111 in 2022 after the general election was canceled.

In 2020, Avila defeated Democratic candidate Ross Hancock by 30 points in House District 111. He also beat Democratic candidate Rizwan Ahmed by 25 points in 2018 and others by wide margins in previous years.

Avila was born in Hialeah and lives in nearby Miami Springs. Before politics, Avila served in the Florida Army National Guard where he reached the rank of first lieutenant.

In addition, Avila graduated from Miami Dade College with an Associate in Arts degree in 2004. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Miami in 2006 and a Master of Public Administration degree from Florida International University in 2010.

Along with Avila, Albritton named Sen. Ileana Garcia, R-Miami, as chair of the Criminal & Civil Justice Appropriations Committee. He also made additional appointments for the upcoming session, including tapping Sen. Jason Brodeur, R-Lake Mary, as the next President Pro Tempore.

Other selections by Albritton included Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, for the Fiscal Policy Committee, and Sen. Ed Hooper, R-Palm Harbor, as the Appropriations Chair.

Albritton replaces former Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, who has served the role since 2022. MoreoverSen, Albritton announced that Passidomo will serve as Rules Chair in 2025.

Along with the announcement, Avila also was honored as the 2024 Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Legislator of the Year.

"Proud to be recognized as the 2024 Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Legislator of the Year. I will always be a voice for our state's law enforcement officers in the Florida Senate," Avila said.