Rep. Rudman talks session wins, highlights ‘passing of the torch’ in conservative movement

NAVARRE, Fla. – Rep. Joel Rudman, R-Navarre, spoke with Florida’s Voice about his 2024 legislative accomplishments, as well as the many lawmakers who are embracing common sense, conservative values in Florida.

Rudman, who represents parts of Santa Rosa and Okaloosa Counties, mentioned the passage of HB 385, his bill designating a safe exchange location for minors in custody agreements between two parents.

The bill was named after Cassie Carli, a mother who went missing following a child custody exchange with her ex-boyfriend.

He also spoke about his second amendment legislation, which passed the House but failed to make it through the Senate in time.

The bill clarifies how long a citizen can be forced to wait before they receive the transfer of their legally purchased firearm through a federal firearms licensee.

According to the bill analysis, current Florida law requires a mandatory waiting period of three days, excluding weekends and holidays, between the purchase and delivery at retail of any handgun.

In the legislation, the mandatory waiting period would expire three days after the purchase of a firearm, regardless of whether a background check has been completed.

Rudman said that as long as he’s in the legislature, he’s going to “keep running” first and second amendment bills because that’s what got him elected in the first place.

Another piece of legislation he wished got off the ground and intends on bringing back in the future was a bill protecting purchases made with cash payments.

“We had a bill that said if you’re going to sell a good or a service, let’s say a hotdog stand, if you’re charging $5 for your hotdog and someone has a $5 bill, that’s legal tender. That’s the currency of the land,” he explained. “You are obligated to take that $5 bill.”

“You can take other forms of purchase, but you cannot refuse to take legal currency, cash, in the state of Florida,” he said.

Rudman also mentioned many of the lawmakers around the state who were making significant impacts from their work and experience in the legislature. He shouted out figures like Reps. Sam Garrison, R-Fleming Island, Berny Jacques, R-Seminole, and Kevin Steele, R-Dade City.

“I think what you’re seeing in the Florida legislature specifically, I think you’re seeing a passing of the torch from the old, traditional conservative guard to the new wave of Republicans,” He said. “They’re handing us the torch and we are willing to keep running with it.”

“And I think you’re seeing that in this next generation of legislators […] you’re looking at some really strong conservative voices,” Rudman added.

The representative explained that the Republican Party has made an effort in recent years to reach out to working people and connect with the common voter.

“I’m trying to be the voice for the common man, because the common man is 100% Republican. They share our values, they are Republicans, they vote Republican,” he continued. “We need to appeal, not just to those working citizens, but we need to appeal to their children as well.”

“So I think what you’re seeing, it’s not so much a revolution, but it’s a passing of the torch from the older guard to the younger guard, if you will,” Rudman said.

The lawmaker added that much of the conservative legislation he supports and pushes for is, fundamentally, “common sense.”

“It’s the leftist media that tries to paint it as being out of touch and coming out of left field,” he explained. “For example, my gun bill. There was a lot of press saying ‘oh, it’s putting guns in the hands of criminals.’ When you look at what the bill does, the bill simply asks government to do their job effectively and efficiently.”

Rudman also reassured that he was even more ready to fight for his district’s values moving forward in upcoming sessions, despite the toll that being a public servant can cost, both personally and finically.

“From my desk next session, you’re not going to see any bills that I would call ‘easy bills,'” he said. “You’re going to see bills that are worth fighting for and bills that are going to require a lot of effort, but bills that are important.”

Rudman first won his district in 2022 and is seeking reelection in 2024. He currently has no primary or potential general election opponents.