Wallace Aristide

Sponsored HB 1543 (Schools of Hope), which would have authorized mutual management plans for school district facilities used by Schools of Hope to include cost-sharing provisions — directly supporting underserved schools. The bill died in the Education Administration Subcommittee on March 13, 2026. Also sponsored HB 1273 (Fee Waivers), which would have extended out-of-state fee waiver eligibility to undocumented students at universities, colleges, and career centers — a targeted cost-barrier reduction measure. It also died in the Education Administration Subcommittee on March 13, 2026. Both bills faced a Republican supermajority hostile to minority-party priorities. Aristide continues to serve on the Education & Employment Committee, Education Administration Subcommittee, and Higher Education Budget Subcommittee, using those platforms to advance education priorities.

Sponsored HB 425 (Historic Cemeteries Program), which passed both chambers unanimously and was signed into law by Gov. DeSantis on May 22, 2026, taking effect July 1, 2026. The law requires local governments to administratively approve rezoning of excess vacant land held by recorded historic African-American cemeteries to allow development consistent with adjacent land uses — providing an indirect economic development pathway for historically underserved areas. No standalone legislation directly targeting local business tools, workforce development incentives, or District 107-specific economic development programs was introduced or passed in either the 2025 or 2026 session. Aristide serves on the Government Operations Subcommittee, engaging economic and workforce policy through committee work.

No standalone affordable housing legislation was introduced by Aristide in either the 2025 or 2026 Florida legislative sessions. HB 1541 (audioconferencing for community associations) and HB 1273 (fee waivers for undocumented students) are not substantively related to housing affordability and should not be cited in this context. As a first-term member of the minority party in a Republican supermajority House, Aristide faces significant structural barriers to advancing affordable housing legislation. This promise remains unfulfilled through the end of the 2026 session, with no direct legislative action taken to date. The promise is still technically 'Pending' as his term does not end until November 2026.

Sponsored HB 1539 (Blood Testing Required Following Civilian-Involved Shootings), a public safety and accountability measure that died in the Criminal Justice Subcommittee in March 2026. Co-sponsored HB 277 (Domestic Violence and Protective Injunctions), a sweeping bipartisan bill that passed the Florida House 110-0 and Senate 39-0, was signed by Gov. DeSantis on May 22, 2026 (Chapter 2026-86), and takes effect July 1, 2026. The law reclassifies penalties for repeat domestic violence offenders, creates electronic monitoring pilot programs, and expands financial assistance for victims. Aristide was one of over 100 co-sponsors; primary sponsors were Reps. Tendrich and Nix. Neither bill is specifically targeted at a District 107 youth safety plan as promised; no standalone youth-focused safety legislation was filed.

Sponsored CS/CS/HB 425 (Historic Cemeteries Program), requiring local governments to administratively approve applications from recorded historic African-American cemeteries to rezone excess vacant land to allow development consistent and compatible with adjacent land uses. The bill passed the Florida House 110-0 on March 5, 2026, and the Florida Senate 39-0 on March 12, 2026. Gov. DeSantis signed it into law on May 22, 2026; it takes effect July 1, 2026. Co-sponsored by Reps. Campbell, Driskell, Eskamani, and Harris. The bill's unanimous bipartisan passage through multiple committee substitutes reflects broad legislative consensus on protecting and empowering historic African-American cemetery communities.