Florida Senate outraged over House dig at senator's mental health facility plan

Yahoo

30-04-2025

Sen. Darryl Rouson . (Screenshot/Florida Channel)
A Florida House amendment that killed plans for a substance abuse and mental health research center at the University of South Florida to be named after Tampa Bay Democratic Sen. Darryl Rouson infuriated both Democratic and Republican senators Wednesday.
Even Gov. Ron DeSantis and Attorney General James Uthmeier used the episode to launch another attack on the House.
The legislation (SB 1620), which has passed both chambers in some form now, would make a raft of changes to Florida's Mental Health Act. The original bill included a Center for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Research at USF's Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute.
The center would have conducted statewide behavioral health research, promote evidence-based practices, and improved workforce development. An amendment added by Pinellas County Republican Ed Hooper would have named the facility the 'Rouson Center,' after Rouson, who has battled drug and alcohol addiction in his past and had sponsored the measure in the Senate.
However, an amendment sponsored by Broward County Democrat Christine Hunschofsky and passed by the House on Tuesday deleted the facility — Rouson's name and all.
So when the bill came back to the Senate on Wednesday, Rouson told his colleagues that while he was disappointed about that development, they should still go ahead and pass the measure.
'The establishment of this center means a great deal to those who believe in advancing mental health care with evidence-based compassion,' Rouson told his colleagues. 'Unfortunately, the House didn't see it our way, and for me, it is more important that the work continue, that the work of the commission be honored.'
He referred to the Florida Commission on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder.
Some senators said that out of respect to Rouson they would still vote for the bill. But others insisted they would not.
'It's not right, it's not fair, it's not appropriate, and it really isn't acceptable,' Tampa Bay-area Republican Jim Boyd said. 'I promise you we will make this right.'
'I'm just glad that in a year-and-a-half we'll have another speaker who will hopefully support the naming of the program after you,' Naples GOP Sen. Kathleen Passidomo said, referring to House Speaker Daniel Perez.
GOP Sens. Jay Collins and Blaise Ingoglia both called the House move 'a travesty.'
'I am angry beyond words,' said Ingoglia.
'It hurts. It hurts because I'm somebody in recovery,' said Democratic Sen. Rosalind Osgood, who said she would oppose the measure.
The dispute took place just two days before the 60-day legislative session was scheduled to end, but, with the sides still divided on a budget and tax reductions, the session will have to be extended or the Legislature come back before the budget would take effect on July 1
Shortly after the vote, Gov. DeSantis, who has been battling the House for the past month on various issues, including taxes, weighed in, responding on X, 'The Florida House of Pettiness in all its glory…'
'Senator @darrylrouson is a class act,' added Attorney General James Uthmeier on X.
The budget fight involves Perez's insistence on lowering the sales tax to the tune of around $5 billion. Senate President Ben Albritton is worried about what happens if a recession hits.
According to the original legislation, the purpose of the center was to conduct 'rigorous and relevant research intended to develop knowledge and practice in prevention and intervention for substance abuse and mental health issues, to serve the people and economy in this state in reducing the gap between population needs and the availability of effective treatments and other interventions to improve the capacity of the state to have healthy, resilient communities prevailing over substance abuse, addiction, and mental health challenges.'
The Senate opted to temporarily postpone action on the legislation. They have just two days to decide on whether they want to approve it.
SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE