S. Curtis Kiser practices in the governmental, environmental and administrative law areas.
Formerly the Republican Senator for District 19 in Florida, Mr. Kiser served in the Florida House of Representatives from 1972-82 and was the Republican minority leader from 1978-82. From 1984-94 he served as a member of the Florida Senate. He was often voted “Most Effective Legislator” during his tenure in the House and Senate, and he received the top ranking in the Senate for 1994 by The Miami Herald. In 1970, he served as assistant general counsel for Governor Claude Kirk.
Knowledge of the banking and insurance industry regulatory scheme and a good working relationship with the regulatory staff has allowed Senator Kiser to concentrate his work for the benefit of the clients.
Senator Kiser was the moving force behind the last gas tax increase in the State of Florida. Through his efforts on the Florida Senate's Transportation Committee, the "SunCoast Parkway" was created. He also championed the transition of abandoned railroad right of ways being reserved for mass transit at a future time. He was the co-sponsor of a Florida Constitutional amendment to allow for the advance purchase of needed right of way. Senator Kiser was a major supporter of the re-bonding of the Florida Turnpike system and the much needed expansion of the Turnpike.
In July 1994, Senator Kiser joined Tom Gallagher’s gubernatorial ticket as lieutenant governor. In October 1994, Mr. Kiser was named chairman of the Commission on Long-Term Care created by the 1994 Legislative Session for a two-year study examining Florida’s nursing homes, ACLFs and other services for the elderly. In September 1994, Mr. Kiser was named chairman of the 1995 Sesquicentennial Commission celebrating Florida’s 150 years of statehood. In 1995, he was named by Comptroller Robert Milligan as a commissioner of the Task Force on Banking Decoupling to study how to remove bank regulation from the state comptroller’s office. Mr. Kiser served for 17 years as a member of the Public Service Commission Nominating Council and has served as chairman on a number of occasions.
Mr. Kiser is a noted champion of environmental concerns. The development of the Preservation 2000 Program earned him the Florida Conservation Award on five occasions. In 1995, Mr. Kiser was awarded the Legislative Excellence Award by the Florida Audubon Society for his work on improving the Everglades legislation and his continued support of the Preservation 2000 Program. Mr. Kiser chaired the drive to create the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. In 1999, he was elected chairman of the board of directors for The Theodore Roosevelt Society in Florida, succeeding former Governor Bob Martinez. The TRS was a policy "think tank" focused exclusively on state environmental and growth management issues. He also was appointed in 1999 by Governor Jeb Bush to serve as chairman of the Governor's Commission on the Everglades.
Mr. Kiser was one of the authors of the Administrative Procedure Act and has lectured at numerous Bar seminars.
Mr. Kiser is a member of the Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity.