Gov. Ron DeSantis announced May 13 the appointment of Cord Byrd as Florida secretary of state.
Byrd, founder of the Law Office of Cord Byrd in Atlantic Beach, was elected to the state House of Representatives in 2016.
“Cord Byrd has been an ally of freedom and democracy in the Florida Legislature, and I am confident he will carry that mission forward as Secretary of State,” DeSantis said in a news release.
Over the past six years, Byrd, a Republican who represents District 11, was a member of the Public Integrity and Elections Committee, including two years as vice chair.
During his time in office, Byrd sponsored bills including:
• Legislation banning sanctuary cities in Florida.
• Legislation requiring the use of E-Verify in Florida, a system that confirms the eligibility of employees to work in the U.S. based on their immigration status.
• HB 1 in 2021, the Combating Public Disorder law, also called the anti-riot bill. It also contains anti-”defund police” provisions. Nine Florida cities have sued the governor over the law.
• Legislation establishing the Parents’ Bill of Rights in Florida, called by critics the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
• HB 1297, improving Florida’s cybersecurity infrastructure.