Kathleen Passidomo is a Republican senator representing District 28 in the Florida Senate, which includes Collier, Hendry counties, and part of Lee County. Born on May 19, 1953, in Jersey City, New Jersey, she is an attorney specializing in real estate law and founding partner of Kelly, Passidomo & Kelly, LLP in Naples, Florida. Elected to the Florida House in 2010 and serving until 2016, she then joined the Senate in 2016, with her current term extending through 2026. Notable achievements include serving as Senate President from 2022-2024 , Senate Majority Leader , and Chair of the Senate Rules Committee. She has championed juvenile justice, workforce housing, senior protections, wildlife corridor expansion, foreclosure reforms, identity theft penalties, and guardian program improvements, earning awards like Most Valuable Legislator from the Florida Chamber of Commerce and multiple Champion for Business Awards from Associated Industries of Florida.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Bachelor's degree in art history from Trinity College , 1975; J.D. from Stetson University College of Law, 1978.
• Political Experience:
  • Florida House of Representatives , chairing committees like Ethics & Elections Subcommittee.
  • Florida Senate : Majority Leader , Rules Committee Chair , Senate President , current Rules Chair and member of committees including Banking and Insurance, Community Affairs, Finance and Tax, Fiscal Policy, Health Policy, Judiciary, and Joint Legislative Budget Commission.
  • Pre-legislative roles: Chair of Florida Commission on the Status of Women , founding chair of Collier County Juvenile Justice Council, Collier County Bar Association president , and member of foreclosure and identity theft task forces.