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Back to State Senator, District 12
State Senator, District 12
State
Running for
State Senator, District 12
Colleen Burton’s connection to Polk County extends well beyond elected office. For decades, she has worked with local nonprofit, civic, workforce, charitable, and community organizations dedicated to strengthening the area and expanding opportunity for its residents.
Colleen and her family made their home in Lakeland, where she became deeply involved in the organizations and initiatives shaping the community’s future
Thinking for yourself matters
Official record
Official record
Voted Yes on OGSR/Aquaculture Records
Voted Yes on Chemicals in Consumer Products
Voted Yes on Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Voted No on Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Voted Yes on Food and Hemp Products
Polk County welcomes new jobs and investment. But families should not pay higher utility bills or sacrifice local water so massive data centers can expand. State Senator Colleen Burton supports local control, strong water protections and requiring major users to cover the infrastructure and utility costs they create. Growth should strengthen Polk County, not send the bill to the people already here.
Official record
Voted Yes on Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights
Voted Yes on Data Centers
Voted Yes on Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights
Voted Yes on Data Centers
Official record
Voted Yes on Commencement of Civil Actions
Official record
Did not vote on Correctional Facilities Financing and Capital Improvements
Voted Yes on Child Pornography Terminology
Voted Yes on Criteria for Determining Criminal Gang Membership
Voted Yes on Lewd or Lascivious Acts
Polk County families feel the squeeze every time they buy groceries, pay an insurance bill or cover an unexpected home repair. Colleen Burton puts the family budget first. She passed a law that allows local communities to help mobile-home owners with lot rent, rehabilitation, and emergency repairs. Colleen will keep fighting to lower costs, protect taxpayers and help families remain in the communities they call home.
Fiscal Management: In line with traditional conservative priorities, Burton advocates for balanced state budgets, low taxes, and reducing regulatory overhead for small businesses. She leverages her background running regional commerce and nonprofit programs to pitch herself as a pro-growth lawmaker.
Sources
https://www.colleenburton.com/
Polk County welcomes new jobs and investment. But families should not pay higher utility bills or sacrifice local water so massive data centers can expand. State Senator Colleen Burton supports local control, strong water protections and requiring major users to cover the infrastructure and utility costs they create. Growth should strengthen Polk County, not send the bill to the people already here.
Polk County's future depends on strong schools and real pathways to opportunity. Senator Colleen Burton supports classrooms that prepare students to succeed, career and technical education that connects young people with good jobs, and a workforce ready for the industries growing in Central Florida. Colleen knows that strong schools do more than educate children. They strengthen families, attract employers, and keep Polk County moving forward.
Official record
Did not vote on Higher Education
Did not vote on Pre-K-12 Education
Voted Yes on Education
Voted Yes on Education
Official record
Voted Yes on Elections
Voted No on Elections
Voted Yes on Candidate Qualifying
Voted Yes on Candidate Qualification
Voted Yes on Volunteering at Polling Locations
Official record
Voted Yes on Rural Electric Cooperatives
Voted Yes on Rural Electric Cooperatives
Voted Yes on Utility Service Restrictions
Voted Yes on Energy Infrastructure Investment
Official record
Did not vote on Petroleum Cleanup Programs
Voted Yes on Data Centers
Voted Yes on Former Phosphate Mining Lands
Voted Yes on Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal System Permits
Voted Yes on Biosolids Management
Family and Community Frameworks: Backed by her leadership roles in local civic foundations, Burton emphasizes community-driven solutions and public-private partnerships over state-run mandates. Her platform highlights traditional family and child welfare protections.
Sources
https://www.colleenburton.com/
Official record
Did not vote on Judges
Voted Yes on Pub. Rec./Crime Victims
Voted Yes on Reporting the Receipt of Gifts or Honoraria
Voted Yes on Justice Administrative Commission
Healthcare Infrastructure and Medical Training: As Health Policy Chair, Burton has been a leading architect of Florida's medical expansion strategies. She prioritizes initiatives aimed at boosting the state's healthcare workforce, improving dental therapy services, and cutting bureaucratic obstacles to expand the capacity of local clinics and hospitals.
Sources
https://web.lakelandchamber.com/Government/Senator-Colleen-Burton-2271
Colleen Burton is a proven leader focused on safer care, stronger providers, and better access close to home. As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health Policy, Senator Colleen Burton passed a 2026 law establishing licensing standards for assisted living facilities offering memory care. Colleen also advanced legislation helping qualified professionals continue serving areas with critical healthcare needs.
Official record
Did not vote on Health Care
Voted Yes on Department of Health
Voted Yes on Health Care Patient Protection
Official record
Voted Yes on Housing for Veterans
Voted Yes on Fraudulent Entry of Residential Dwellings
Voted Yes on Housing for Veterans
Voted Yes on Citizens Property Insurance Corporation
Official record
Voted Yes on Advertisements for Representation Services
Voted No on Immigration
Voted Yes on Immigration
Voted Yes on Immigration
Official record
Did not vote on Department of Management Services
Did not vote on Documentary Stamp Tax Distributions
Did not vote on State Agency Law Enforcement Radio System
Voted Yes on Habitual Traffic Offender Designation
Voted Yes on Foreign Influence
Official record
Voted Yes on Assessments Levied on Recreational Vehicle Parks
Voted Yes on Local Government Regulation of Chickees
Voted Yes on Official Actions of Local Governments
Voted No on Official Actions of Local Governments
Official record
When a loved one needs memory care, families deserve safety, honesty and accountability. Senator Colleen Burton sponsored and passed Florida’s new memory-care law, requiring assisted living facilities that provide memory-care services to meet dedicated licensing standards. Colleen will keep raising the standard of care and protecting seniors when they are most vulnerable.
Official record
Did not vote on Retirement
Voted Yes on Retirement
Voted Yes on Retirement
Voted Yes on Retirement
Fiscal Management: In line with traditional conservative priorities, Burton advocates for balanced state budgets, low taxes, and reducing regulatory overhead for small businesses. She leverages her background running regional commerce and nonprofit programs to pitch herself as a pro-growth lawmaker.
Sources
https://www.colleenburton.com/
Official record
Voted Yes on Property Tax Administration
Did not vote on Department of Management Services
Did not vote on Correctional Facilities Financing and Capital Improvements
Did not vote on Documentary Stamp Tax Distributions
Polk County welcomes new jobs and investment. But families should not pay higher utility bills or sacrifice local water so massive data centers can expand. State Senator Colleen Burton supports local control, strong water protections and requiring major users to cover the infrastructure and utility costs they create. Growth should strengthen Polk County, not send the bill to the people already here.
Official record
Voted Yes on Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights
Voted Yes on Data Centers
Voted Yes on Local Government Cyber Security
Voted Yes on Local Government Cyber Security
Official record
Voted Yes on Veterans Dental Care Grant Program
Voted Yes on Veteran and Spouse Nursing Home Beds
Voted Yes on Veterans
Official record
Voted Yes on Dangerous Dogs
Official record
Sources
https://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/2022-2024/S12/5414https://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/s12?pref=fullhttps://www.flsenate.gov/senators/s12https://www.colleenburton.com
681 votes (no: 16, yes: 642, excused: 20, not voting: 3), 33 sponsorships.
Corrections address not set yet.
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Election Day
November 3, 2026
Bring
A state-approved photo ID
