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Florida lawmakers open 2026 session with focus on affordability

Florida lawmakers opened the 2026 regular legislative session Tuesday with Republican leaders emphasizing affordability, taxes and fiscal restraint, while House Democrats argued the state has become too expensive for many residents and urged a shift in priorities as Gov. Ron DeSantis delivered his final state-of-the-state address.

Senate President Ben Albritton said the Legislature would again “pass a balanced budget that holds the line on state spending, pays down debt, cuts taxes, and saves for the future,” calling it “the single best thing we in the Florida Legislature can do to keep our state on the right track.”

Albritton said “affordability is top of mind for many Florida families,” pointing to Florida’s tax exemptions on “grocery store food,” diapers, clothing and “year-round hurricane preparedness.” He also signaled support for property-tax changes, adding, “This year, I look forward to providing voters the opportunity to pass meaningful property tax relief.”

House Speaker Daniel Perez told members that the chamber would approach the coming weeks “with an open hand, an open mind, and an open heart,” and said, “The Florida House stands ready to work with anyone who is willing to put the needs of our State first.”

Perez said lawmakers face issues including “Affordability and insurance … Taxes and the economy … Prescription drug prices and the rising cost of public benefits,” and added, “We must ensure Florida stays at the center of our planet’s race for the stars, and that our infrastructure keeps pace with our growth.”

City Commissioner talks up TMH-FSU sale ahead of pivotal vote

City Commissioner Dianne Williams-Cox says words matter especially when it comes to the contentious hospital deal between Florida State University and Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare.

With Tallahassee city commissioners poised to tee up a final public hearing on the sale of the city's stake in Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare to Florida State University on Jan. 14, the commissioner held a townhall at the Smith-Williams Service Center in an effort to get the community on the same page ahead of the meeting.

On Jan. 12, the audience of less than a dozen people were treated to some pizza and sweet tea before they took their seats in front of Williams-Cox, who sat at a small table in the center of the room with a microphone. The meeting was also streamed online with several watching from Zoom such as former county commissioner Gary Yordon, who has been working on the hospital's strategy team, and defense attorney Mutaqee Akbar.

Williams-Cox promoted the discussion on her social media platforms alongside a simplified info sheet titled "Transfer of hospitals assets, what it means to you." It broke down the sale into four different categories: community care, creation of an academic health center, investment in Tallahassee and economic impact.

DeSantis appoints four new members to Florida higher education panel

Bringing in a handful of newcomers to the 17-member group that oversees the State University System of Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of four members to the Florida Board of Governors and the reappointment of two. 

While Ashley Lukis, Michael Okaty, Keith Perry and Nick Sinatra are joining the board, members reappointed are Ashley Bell Barnett − who also serves as a member of Polk State College's District Board of Trustees − and Charles Lydecker, chairman and CEO of the insurance company Foundation Risk Partners.

The new appointments come as the governing board’s members whose terms expired Jan. 6 include JPMorgan Chase's Managing Director and Northeast segment head Brian Lamb – the former chair of the board who has been a member since 2019.

Also leaving the panel were former Florida House Speaker Jose Oliva, on the board since 2023, and Eric Silagy, former president and CEO of Florida Power & Light, a member since 2019. 

A request from the Tallahassee Democrat for more information is pending with the Board of Governors. BOG members serve five-year terms and may be reappointed for subsequent terms. All appointments are subject to approval by the Florida Senate. 

Student polling place volunteer bills advance in House, Senate

Bills from Jacksonville Republicans that would relax rules for students who volunteer at polling places cleared their first committee hurdles by unanimous votes.

The legislation (SB 564, HB 461), sponsored by Sen. Clay Yarborough and Rep. Kiyan Michael, says the ban on privately-funded election-related expenses would not bar high school students who are registered or preregistered to vote from voluntarily helping poll workers in exchange for community service hours that apply to Bright Futures scholarships.

Students can preregister to vote beginning when they turn 16.

The bill would take effect July 1, meaning that eligible students could begin participating in the process during the August Primaries this year if it becomes law.

Yarborough told the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee that this bill, if passed, “will be one of the greatest firsthand civics lessons, which they can experience as they go along, of one of our greatest rights and what it takes to conduct elections.”

Michael told the House Government Operations Subcommittee the bill allowed students to volunteer on weekends, addressing a potential shortage of volunteers, driving engagement and teaching a “civic lesson.”