Tallahassee Community College renaming moves closer to approval in legislative session
Tallahassee Community College’s plan of being renamed to “Tallahassee State College” is moving closer to reality.
A measure (SB 522) sponsored by Sen. Corey Simon, R-Tallahassee, in support of the name change to officially change the name of the college in state law passed that chamber unanimously and was sent to the House.
The House must now pass the Senate bill and send it to Gov. Ron DeSantis before the 2024 regular legislative session ends, scheduled for next Friday.
Rep. Jason Shoaf, R-Port St. Joe, who sponsored the House companion (HB 501), told the Tallahassee Democrat that the House will take up the Senate bill either Friday, Monday or Tuesday.
In a prepared statement sent to the Democrat, TCC President Jim Murdaugh said that the "positivity and support from the community has been incredible throughout this whole process, (and) we are very excited for this next chapter.”
TCC’s renaming efforts come during a time where the college remains one of only two colleges out of the 28 that make up the Florida College System to still have the term “community college” in its title. The other is Hillsborough Community College in Tampa.
The college also has added additional bachelor’s degree programs to its offerings and hopes to have the new name match its increased national recognition, where more than 60% of its students come from outside of the service district of Leon, Gadsden, and Wakulla counties.
More on TCC's renaming plans: From TCC to TSC: Board of Trustees approves ‘Tallahassee State College’ as new name
Three recommended names were suggested during a November Board of Trustees meeting on the college’s campus, and after Murdaugh said he was in favor of Tallahassee State College, the board voted in favor of his recommendation.
The bills that support the college’s renaming plans have gone through several committees, with lawmakers so far unanimously voting in favor of the renaming.
"All that's left now is for the House to vote and it will go to the governor,” Murdaugh said, “and then we can move on to our next step of becoming Tallahassee State College."
Contact Tarah Jean at [email protected] or follow her on X: @tarahjean_.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Legislature expected to pass Tallahassee Community College renaming
