Beyond those leadership posts, DiCeglie holds seats on Committees that include Appropriations, Agriculture, Environment and General Government; Commerce and Tourism; Judiciary and Rules; and the Joint Select Committee on Collective Bargaining.<\/p>\n
DiCeglie also has a growing role within the Pinellas County delegation, in which he currently serves as Vice Chair and will Chair for the upcoming 2026-27 term<\/a>. The leadership roles allow him to set local bill agendas, coordinate priorities and act as a key conduit between Tallahassee and one of the Tampa Bay area\u2019s most politically active counties.<\/p>\n His hand in shepherding local priorities from the delegation level through legislative debate \u2014 and ultimately helping secure funding \u2014 places DiCeglie among a small group of lawmakers with outsized influence at every stage of the process.<\/p>\n \u201cI have enjoyed watching Nick DiCeglie in the Senate and his steady rise in influence. He is willing to take on tough issues and is not afraid of difficult conversations. He approaches his work with a practical, solutions-oriented mindset that continues to earn him respect across the Senate,\u201d said Sunrise Consulting Group President and CEO Shawn Foster.<\/p>\n Before moving to the Senate, DiCeglie spent two terms in the House building a record on tax policy and government transparency. Outside of elected office, has owned Solar Sanitation Inc. since 2001 and also leads Hope Villages of America, a nonprofit focused on addressing hunger, homelessness and domestic abuse \u2014 experience that shapes his approach to infrastructure, economic development and governance.<\/p>\n DiCeglie continues to carve out a policy lane tackling issues with direct impact on coastal communities, spending two consecutive sessions advocating for hurricane recovery policy aimed at protecting residents\u2019 ability to rebuild following a storm.<\/p>\n \u201cPinellas County, and really the entire region, remains very fortunate to have Nick DiCeglie representing them in the Senate. The plain and simple truth is that he goes nonstop for his constituents every day of the year,\u201d said Jeff Johnston, President and Partner of Johnston & Stewart Government Strategies.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are all beneficiaries of the work he has spearheaded relating to hurricane recovery and he continues to be relentless in his endeavor to create a clear, concise, and fair framework for Florida in that space. However, the Senator\u2019s work reaches well beyond those issues. The thing about Nick is he thoroughly considers policy and appropriations. He will listen to every side of an issue, he regularly brings all parties together to try find a compromise, he always tries to get to the best possible solution. You won\u2019t find a more passionate advocate than Nick DiCeglie. You also won\u2019t find a more unapologetic Mets fan or a prouder Italian.\u201d<\/p>\n After sponsoring a sweeping storm response law last year (SB 180<\/a>), he returned this Session with a follow-up measure to address what he described as \u201cunintended consequences\u201d \u2014 although those come from language introduced into the measure by the House. This year\u2019s proposal would have unwound those provisions, which at the local level have been legally interpreted in ways that can limit local governments\u2019 ability to pursue comprehensive plan changes unrelated to storm recovery.\u00a0<\/p>\n The legislation (SB 840<\/a>) aimed to better balance rapid rebuilding efforts with local control over broader development policy not related to hurricane recovery, but it ultimately stalled in the House amid broader interchamber tensions.<\/p>\n \u201cNick DiCeglie has been an effective voice for practical infrastructure and recovery issues in the Senate. His recent push on transportation and hurricane-recovery measures reflects the kind of results-oriented leadership Florida needs,\u201d RSA Consulting President and CEO Ron Pierce said.<\/p>\n Beyond hurricane recovery, DiCeglie\u2019s work this Session reflects a broader policy footprint that spans infrastructure, local government operations and the mechanics of how government functions.<\/p>\n The fate of one marquee effort \u2014 a wide-ranging transportation package \u2014 illustrated DiCeglie\u2019s influence in a roundabout way. The measure (HB 543<\/a>), sponsored by DiCeglie in the Senate and Sarasota Republican Rep. Fiona McFarland<\/a> in the House, ultimately failed<\/a> after DiCeglie held firm on his version of the bill and McFarland defended hers \u2014 an impasse that helped sink the broader package over key negotiation points between the two legislators.<\/p>\n Although the bill was broad and touched many aspects of transportation policy, McFarland\u2019s version of the bill received strong pushback from advocates of those with disabilities over one particular provision that would have allowed for double parking when handicap parking spots are not available. The provision was added to address concerns raised by advocates over another measure passed last year that allows pregnant women to park in handicap parking spots.\u00a0<\/p>\n Both versions of the transportation package received broad support throughout the Committee stages. But when push came to shove, DiCeglie offered up only his version of the bill<\/a> \u2014 which walked back last year\u2019s law \u2014 for consideration. When McFarland refused to accept that version of the measure, it died near the finish line.<\/p>\n At the same time, DiCeglie demonstrated an ability to deliver on consensus policy, carrying a firefighter cancer benefits bill (SB 984<\/a>) that passed both chambers without opposition. He also garnered support for efforts to modernize how government operates, including legislation establishing a state-backed digital currency pilot program (SB 1568<\/a>) and requiring local governments to accept electronic payments (SB 1612<\/a>).<\/p>\n His legislative portfolio also places him squarely in ongoing debates over the balance of power between state and local government, with proposals addressing building permitting (SB 1234<\/a>), impact fees and local financial transparency (SB 1566<\/a>).<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/MAA-2502_EduRefresh_DigitalSponsorship_SafeEffec_FL_728x90_Final.jpg\")
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