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State Senator, District 30

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Unbiased view on

Hector Rivera

Lauren Book

Candidates listed as they appear on the ballot.

Hector Rivera

Lauren Book

Hector Rivera

Lauren Book

Position on major issues

Photo of Hector Rivera

Hector Rivera

My name is Hector Rivera, your neighbor, and I am running for Florida State Senator for District 30, representing Coral Springs, Coconut Creek, Margate, and Parkland, and parts of Boca Raton, Deerfield Beach, and Pompano Beach.

I am the underdog candidate, affiliated with the district's minority party. I am your grassroots, neighborhood candidate, and I humbly ask you to give me the opportunity to be your voice in Tallahassee, regardless of the Party labels we wear. As a local business owner, I have spent decades finding ways to help families achieve the American Dream of homeownership. My commitment has always been centered on family values, and I stand firm on faith, family, and neighborhoods over party politics.

Party:
Photo of Lauren Book

Lauren Book

Lauren Book is a prominent politician running for the Florida State Senate to represent District 30. Book has a long track record in the legislature, having previously served eight consecutive years in the Florida Senate from 2016 to 2024. During her final three years in office, she held considerable institutional influence as the Senate Minority Leader (2021–2024).

Campaigning under the slogan "Fight Like a Mother," Book runs an experienced, pocketbook-focused platform aimed at reducing consumer costs and expanding social protections.

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Candidates listed as they appear on the ballot.

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Thinking for yourself matters

Position on major issues

Position on major issues

Abortion and reproductive policy

No public position found.

She fought to protect Floridians’ right to vote on Amendment 4, called out the intimidation of petition signers by state officials and law enforcement, and stood shoulder to shoulder with advocates defending reproductive freedom — even being arrested while protesting for women’s rights.

No public positions found.

Agriculture and rural policy

No public position found.

No public position found.

No public positions found.

Artificial intelligence

Pursue Hardened Infrastructure Grants for District 30 schools Secure direct state funding for AI-integrated weapon detection systems at every school entrance Finish the work our community's loss forced the state to start — this district includes Parkland, and we know the price of unfinished promises

No public position found.

No public positions found.

Civil rights and freedoms

No public position found.

No public position found.

No public positions found.

Criminal justice and policing

No public position found.

She wrote and passed laws to end the statute of limitations on child sexual abuse, enact the nation’s toughest mandatory-reporting requirements, and establish Child Safety Zones to keep predators away from schools and parks.

In the Legislature, she passed more than two dozen laws focused on child protection and survivor advocacy — including ending the statute of limitations on child sexual abuse, enacting one of the nation’s toughest mandatory-reporting laws, and creating Child Safety Zones to help keep predators away from schools, parks, and places where children gather.

Child Protection and Judicial Scrutiny: Over her career, Book has helped pass more than two dozen state and national laws expanding statutes of limitations for child sexual crimes, establishing child safety zones, and cracking down on human trafficking and non-consensual deepfakes. Read full quote

No public positions found.

Economy, jobs and wages

Bringing state development funds to our cities, with mandates to hire locally and pay higher wages.

No public position found.

No public positions found.

Education

Establish a "Veteran Teacher Bonus" — a state-funded locality pay supplement

Target it specifically to Broward and Palm Beach County teachers

Reward teachers who improve student grades and reach 10 years of employment

+4 more

She has fought to fully fund Florida’s public schools, raise teacher pay, and give classrooms the tools students need to succeed. Read full quote

She expanded Medicaid for new moms and babies, funded mental health services in our schools and for our first responders, and led the Learning with Dignity effort to make sure no girl misses class because she can’t afford period products. Read full quote

No public positions found.

Elections and voting

Voting & Values Hector believes no Floridian should be disenfranchised due to cost, distance, or lack of access to vital records. Read full quote

Voting Rights and Peaceful Dissent: Book is an ardent opponent of voting restrictions, stating she would have voted against 2026's HB 991 because it places unnecessary document hurdles on women with name changes and seniors. Read full quote

She fought to protect Floridians’ right to vote on Amendment 4, called out the intimidation of petition signers by state officials and law enforcement, and stood shoulder to shoulder with advocates defending reproductive freedom — even being arrested while protesting for women’s rights.

No public positions found.

Energy

No public position found.

No public position found.

No public positions found.

Environment and climate

Restoring coral reefs and improving water quality in South Florida's canals matters to Hector — he backs state partnerships with local nonprofits and civic volunteers to protect the natural resources that drive our tourism economy and quality of life for generations to come.

Push and support a Canal Reclamation Project for District 30

Secure state funding for the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD)

+2 more

No public position found.

No public positions found.

Families and social services

No public position found.

Child Protection and Judicial Scrutiny: Over her career, Book has helped pass more than two dozen state and national laws expanding statutes of limitations for child sexual crimes, establishing child safety zones, and cracking down on human trafficking and non-consensual deepfakes. Read full quote

No public positions found.

Firearms policy

No public position found.

After the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas, she led the effort to pass Florida’s historic gun safety law — improving school safety, raising the rifle purchase age to 21, banning bump stocks, and creating red-flag protections that have kept guns out of dangerous hands.

After the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Lauren helped lead the fight for Florida’s historic bipartisan gun safety law — the most significant gun violence prevention legislation in state history. Read full quote

No public positions found.

Government reform

No public position found.

No public position found.

No public positions found.

Healthcare

Modernizing school safety with airport-grade screening systems so our kids can learn free of fear, and making mental health counselors available to students.

Healthcare Lower costs without higher taxes is the goal — Hector backs state-level legislation encouraging self-funding healthcare models, expanded state-negotiated prescription pricing, increased telehealth access, and targeted subsidies for vulnerable populations. Read full quote

She fought to lower prescription drug prices, reduce homeowners insurance costs for low-income seniors, and expand access to affordable health care for Florida’s most vulnerable residents.

She expanded Medicaid for new moms and babies, funded mental health services in our schools and for our first responders, and led the Learning with Dignity effort to make sure no girl misses class because she can’t afford period products. Read full quote

No public positions found.

Housing

A state-backed, low-rate bond program to stop sudden, crushing fee hikes caused by mandatory reserve requirements and extensive repairs.

Policyholder-owned reciprocal insurance exchanges and mandatory rate reductions tied to state reinsurance backing, so premiums pay claims, not shareholder dividends.

2026 brought real relief — Citizens Property Insurance cut rates statewide, with some of the largest drops in Broward and Palm Beach counties, and 17 new insurers have entered Florida's market. Hector says the job isn't finished; see his full insurance plan under Priorities above.

+7 more

Lauren took on Florida’s insurance crisis head-on by filing legislation to provide rebates for homeowners struggling with rising premiums and pushing for greater transparency and accountability from the insurance industry. Read full quote

She fought for policies focused on lowering housing costs and easing the financial burden on working families facing rising rents, mortgage payments, insurance premiums, and everyday expenses.

She expanded Medicaid for new moms and babies, funded mental health services in our schools and for our first responders, and led the Learning with Dignity effort to make sure no girl misses class because she can’t afford period products. Read full quote

No public positions found.

Immigration

No public position found.

No public position found.

No public positions found.

Infrastructure and transportation

Push and support a Canal Reclamation Project for District 30

Secure state funding for the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD)

+4 more

No public position found.

No public positions found.

Local control

Hector believes local laws are best decided locally, not overridden by developer-friendly state preemption. See his "Density Ceiling" proposal under Priorities above for the specifics.

aging drainage infrastructure across the district is overwhelmed by unchecked growth, causing seasonal flooding. See Hector's Canal Reclamation and Home Rule plans under Priorities above for the full fix.

No public position found.

No public positions found.

National security and foreign policy

No public position found.

No public position found.

No public positions found.

Social Security and retirement

No public position found.

She fought to lower prescription drug prices, reduce homeowners insurance costs for low-income seniors, and expand access to affordable health care for Florida’s most vulnerable residents.

No public positions found.

Taxes and government spending

Expanding homestead savings while guaranteeing full funding for police, firefighters, and classrooms.

Tax Relief and Inflation Cost Control: Book heavily champions her past legislative wins to combat the rising cost of living, which include successfully authoring the permanent elimination of Florida's sales tax on baby diapers and adult incontinence products.

Opposition to Amendment 3 (Property Tax): In responses provided to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel 2026 Voters Guide, Book stated her strict opposition to Amendment 3 on the 2026 ballot. Read full quote

No public positions found.

Technology and privacy

Pursue Hardened Infrastructure Grants for District 30 schools Secure direct state funding for AI-integrated weapon detection systems at every school entrance Finish the work our community's loss forced the state to start — this district includes Parkland, and we know the price of unfinished promises

No public position found.

No public positions found.

Veterans

Healthcare Lower costs without higher taxes is the goal — Hector backs state-level legislation encouraging self-funding healthcare models, expanded state-negotiated prescription pricing, increased telehealth access, and targeted subsidies for vulnerable populations. Read full quote

No public position found.

No public positions found.

Emergency management

No. Hector supports state legislation prohibiting insurance carriers from denying a valid claim or death benefit simply because the loss occurred during a Governor-declared state of emergency, such as a hurricane. Read full quote

No public position found.

No public positions found.

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