After debating, discussing and altering a bill for about three weeks, which will hold Student Government's two lobbyists more accountable, senators finally voted and passed it unanimously.
The original bill, which sought to fire the lobbyists, was sent back to be reviewed because senators took issue with the fact that it offered no alternatives to fill the lobbyists' spots.
The amended bill alters the lobbyists' contracts, requiring them to submit four written reports to Senate a year.
Orange and Blue Party Sen. Ben Cavataro, who authored the bill, was excited to finally see it passed.
"It feels great," he said. "It's been three weeks since we introduced the bill, and we finally pushed it through."
Cavataro said he expects the new requirements to reveal to what use the lobbyists' $55,000 salary is being put.
He said information in the reports might include bills the lobbyists have worked on and the amount of time spent, as well as legislators they've spoken with.
Earlier in the meeting, UF religion junior Jonny Gersten came by to urge senators to participate in a rally at noon on Tuesday on the Plaza of the Americas.
The event, put on by Graduate Assistants United, UF's Save Our Schools Coalition and the United Faculty of Florida, is in response to the recent budget cuts affecting UF's colleges and administrative units.
"We have the intention of reaching the administration and state legislature," he said.
Gersten said there will be student and faculty speakers as well as opportunities for students to write their legislator about the budget cuts. Senators also dished out $319 to EnVeg, a student organization concerned with environmental sustainability, to promote an Earth Day event they are co-sponsoring with Gators for a Sustainable Campus and Roots and Shoots.
