State Representative Peggy Gossett-Seidman

We welcome all of our legislators to the Sunshine State Showdown!

Here are the confirmed legislative attendees joining us! More to come soon.

Saturday, June 27, 2026 | Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino | Hollywood, FL

Secure your tickets now: https://secure.anedot.com/florida-gop/sunshine-state-showdown

The Republican Club of the Southern Palm Beaches is excited to invite you to our dinner meeting on June 28 at The Griddle, for a legislative and county update. Please click on the link below or scan the QR code to RSVP. Seating is limited and must have all reservations in advance. We hope to see you on the 28th!

https://www.eventzilla.net/e/republican-club-of-the-southern-palm-beaches-legislative-and-county-update-2138672378

In 1904, a group of Japanese immigrants built a farming colony in what is now Boca Raton. They called it Yamato. 🌾

For nearly four decades, the Yamato Colony grew pineapples, tomatoes, and beans on South Florida's sandy soil. At its peak, around 30 families had carved out a life in the scrubland — a self-sufficient agricultural community that most Floridians have never heard of.

Then came World War II. Executive Order 9066 forced Japanese Americans into internment camps across the country. The Yamato Colony's residents were classified as enemy aliens. Most lost their land. The community dissolved. By the time the war ended, Yamato was gone.

Today, a small historical marker sits near the site. The land itself has been absorbed into the suburban sprawl of Palm Beach County. A colony that survived Florida's brutal heat, its boom-and-bust economy, and decades of racial hostility was finally erased by the federal government in less than a year.

What did they teach you about Florida's Japanese farming communities in school?

📣Big news for Special Olympics Florida athletes and families!📣 A new bill signed into law this month means students with intellectual disabilities can now receive Physical Education course credit for participating in Special Olympics Florida programs for a full school year — whether through a school-based or community program.

This is a major step forward for inclusion and recognition. Sports participation is about far more than athletic skills — it helps build confidence, encourages healthy lifestyles, teaches teamwork, and creates opportunities for personal growth and belonging. Now, those experiences can also help students earn their high school diploma.

We are incredibly grateful to State Representative Peggy Gossett-Seidman for championing this legislation, to the Florida Legislature for its overwhelming support, and to Governor Ron DeSantis for signing HB 453 into law, which takes effect July 1.