Dennis K. Baxley (born August 22, 1952) is a state legislator in Florida who has served in the Florida Senate since 2016. A Republican, he represents the 12th district including Sumter County and parts of Lake County and Marion County in Central Florida. He previously served in the Florida House of Representatives, representing parts of Marion County from 2000 to 2007 and again from 2010 until his election to the Senate. He served on the Belleview City Commission and as its mayor. Baxley has sponsored anti-LGBT legislation and stand your ground legislation, opposed a two-year moratorium on the sale of AR-15s, and delayed the Florida Slavery Memorial. He also opposes the removal of Confederate monuments and memorials. He was the sponsor of the failed Florida House Bill H-837, which would have allowed students to sue educators for not tolerating their views, and the successful Florida Parental Rights in Education Act, which prohibits the discussion of gender identity in elementary schools. Early life Baxley is a fifth-generation Floridian He was born in Ocala and attended Central Florida Community College, graduating with an associate degree in 1972. He then attended Florida State University, receiving degrees in sociology and psychology in 1974. Following this, Baxley attended Miami-Dade Community College, where he received a degree in funeral service in 1975. He returned to Ocala, where he founded Hiers-Baxley Funeral Services. Politics Baxley was elected to the Belleview City Commission and later served as Mayor. Florida House of Representatives When incumbent State Representative George Albright, was unable to seek re-election in 2000 due to term limits, he ran to succeed him in the 24th District, which included central Marion County. He faced George Onett in the Republican primary, whom he defeated easily, winning 86% of the vote. In the general election, Baxley defeated Judy Johnson, the Democratic nominee, with 58% of the vote. When he ran for re-election in 2002, he encountered Lida Throckmorton, the Libertarian, whom he defeated in a landslide, with 77% of the vote. Baxley won re-election in 2004 without opposition. In 2006, he faced James Walker, an Iraq War veteran and the Democratic nominee, in his bid for re-election. During the course of the campaign, Walker was called back up for active service in Iraq, and considered exiting the campaign, but noted, "I think Marion County would be better off without Dennis Baxley." Baxley ended up defeating Walker by a wide