Issues and Priorities — Colleen Burton

Affordability: Start With the Family Budget

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.

HealthCare Leadership: Experience That Matters

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.

Education and Opportunity: Prepare the Next Generation

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.

Responsible Growth: Growth Should Pay Its Own Way

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.

Protect Seniors

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.