State Senator
Geraldine F. Thompson is a member of the Florida Senate and serves District 15. She previously served in the Senate and in the Florida House of Representatives. Upon returning to the Senate, Senator Thompson introduced the Tyree Sampson Act to create stringent safety standards for amusement rides in Florida. The bill was named for Tyree Sampson, a 14-year-old who fell 400 feet from the Freefall Ride on International Drive. The bill passed in the 2023 Legislative Session and requires inspections of rides, training of operators and annual verification of structural integrity. A top priority for Senator Thompson during the 2024 Session was the Pediatric Vehicular Heatstroke bill which she filed to curb a rising spike in the deaths or injury of children who are left in hot vehicles in Florida. The bill would require that any person who transports a child six or under, utilize a device attached to a car seat to sense weight on the car seat. An AP would sync the device to their smartphone which would sound an alarm if the weight on the car seat did not decrease when the engine of the car was turned off. This safeguard would prevent children from being inadvertently left in cars where temperatures rise quickly. The bill would also require daycare centers to notify parents if a child does not arrive at the expected time. Senator Thompson also filed legislation to safeguard access to voting through ensuring early in-person voting, expanding the types of identification that would be accepted to confirm a voter’s identity, and to designating Election Day as a National Holiday. She also expanded eligibility for those who wish to purchase a Divine Nine tag and support scholarships for Florida students. She also sought funding for potable water in the Town of Oakland.
511 West South St., Orlando, FL 32805 | www.electgeraldine.com
