The Florida A&M University community geared up to spend the day lobbying and meeting with legislators Jan. 15 for “FAMU Day at the Capitol” during the first week of the annual legislative session.
This year, dominating FAMU’s wish list are research and health initiatives as millions of dollars are being requested for a Chemical & Biological Research Laboratory Center and a Center for Health & Human Performance.
While $48.3 million is being requested for priorities including student success, operational and academic excellence, and the FAMU Developmental Research School, a total of $23.1 million is being sought for the two centers as they make up FAMU’s fixed capital outlay requests.
As FAMU’s total legislative budget request for the 2026-27 fiscal year is $71.4 million, a total of $55.5 million was requested in last year’s session, where the university ended up receiving nearly $10 million more than it asked for from the state.
“Our students are evidence of what an investment in FAMU delivers,” FAMU President Marva Johnson said as the occasion marked her first FAMU Day at the Capitol event since assuming the role of president in August 2025. “In terms of value, we produce exceptional research and we create real innovation for the state of Florida.”
While funding for a research lab center would help FAMU expand its campus research capacity with a new facility that houses teaching laboratories for pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences, funding for a health center would support the creation of a multi-use facility featuring technology-rich classrooms, labs and learning hubs, according to a university report.
“Just to be extremely direct – an investment in FAMU is an investment in Florida,” Johnson said, referring to state funding as she stood behind a lectern on the 22nd floor of the Florida Capitol. “An additional and sustained investment will position FAMU to do much, much more.”
The cold Thursday morning air and wind chills moved the FAMU community up to the Capitol building’s top floor for this year’s event after it was initially scheduled to be held on the Capitol Courtyard Complex.
The State University System of Florida’s Chancellor Ray Rodrigues was among individuals who shared remarks, where he told the crowded room of attendees he looks forward to working with the university to make this year’s session a successful one.
“Even though it’s cold outside, it’s a bright day for FAMU, and I’m confident this is going to be a successful session for your university,” Rodrigues told an applauding audience of students, faculty, alumni, administrators and other stakeholders.
In addition, Florida Education Commissioner Anastasios “Stasi” Kamoutsas highlighted the university’s success and how “education is the pathway to prosperity. He also highly praised Johnson, calling her a “God-fearing woman who is going to lead by example.”
Kamoutsas formerly served as the Florida Department of Education’s chief of staff before going on to serve as deputy chief of staff to Gov. Ron DeSantis, overseeing education. He was also said to be a behind-the-scenes supporter for Johnson during FAMU’s presidential search process.
Aside from remarks, the annual Day at the Capitol event featured a performance by the university’s “incomparable” Marching 100 student band members, and sitting near the podium was newly appointed FAMU trustee Kenneth Jones – a university alumnus and former band member who currently serves as CEO of HCA Florida Northwest Hospital.
“Today is tremendously important because it connects us back to telling our story about our current success, where we’re going, and the opportunity for future investment in our organizations and future investment in our teams,” Jones said. He and his wife Hope Jones, also a FAMU graduate, helped sponsor the Thursday event, according to FAMU’s Vice President of Government Relations Michelle Robinson.
The FAMU event is also traditionally sponsored by the university’s National Alumni Association, which is currently under the leadership of NAA President Artisha Polk.
“We preserve our proud history, uplift our scholars and actively invest in the future of our beloved institution,” Polk said. “FAMU alumni don’t just wear the orange and green − we labor in love in our orange and green.”
Besides other university stakeholders and trustees – including board chair Deveron Gibbons and Faculty Senate President Jamal Brown – who attended the event, city and state officials in attendance included City Commissioner Dianne Williams-Cox as well as Florida Senator Shevrin Jones, a 2006 graduate of the university.
Similar to FAMU’s Thursday celebration, Florida State University will hold its “FSU Day at the Capitol” event on Jan. 21. Here are the main highlights of FAMU’s 2026-2027 legislative budget and fixed capital outlay requests.
Tarah Jean is the higher education reporter for the Tallahassee Democrat, a member of the USA TODAY Network – Florida. She can be reached at tjean@tallahassee.com. Follow her on X: @tarahjean_.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: ‘FAMU Day at the Capitol’: President seeks ‘sustained investment’
Reporting by Tarah Jean, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
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