Jay Collins

Bill sponsor Jay Collins, R-Tampa, said the bill is intended to provide state “oversight” of the athletics board.

Current prohibitions on carrying guns at places such as schools and athletic events would continue to apply.

It comes as an appeals court prepares to hear arguments in a battle between the Florida High School Athletic Association Cambridge Christian School in Tampa.

Incumbent Democratic Sen. Janet Cruz was first elected to the state Senate in 2018 after spending eight years in the House. Republican Jay Collins served in the U.S. Army Special Forces and had multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.