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BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
COUNTY of MONROE Mayor James K.Scholl,District 3
The Florida Keys Mayor Pro Tern Michelle Lincoln,District 2
Craig Cates,District 1
David Rice,District 4
Holly Merrill Raschein,District 5
Board of County Commissioners Meeting
July 16, 2025
Agenda Item Number: Q3
2023-4253
BULK ITEM: No DEPARTMENT: Administration
TIME APPROXIMATE: STAFF CONTACT: Lisa Tennyson
10:00 A.M.
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Discussion of the 2025 State Legislative Session Outcomes for
Monroe County. TIME APPROXIMATE 10:00 A.M.
ITEM BACKGROUND:
Monroe County's state legislative delegation, Representative Jim Mooney and Senator Ana Maria
Rodriguez lead the efforts to accomplish the Board's legislative priorities, and to protect the Florida
Keys Area of Critical State Concern, working in collaboration with the County's lobbying team.
During the session Monroe County's legislative team focuses on the Board's specific priorities. We also
work through the Florida Association of Counties (FAC) and the Small County Coalition (SCC) to
achieve more broadly shared legislative goals.
County Commissioners provide valuable and regular advocacy throughout session, traveling to
Tallahassee, testifying at committee hearings, writing support letters,participating in FAC and SCC
advocacy efforts, and providing support to our delegation.
Monroe County's state legislative efforts typically focus on a combination of brand new challenges and
longstanding issues such as funding for water quality infrastructure, land acquisition, the affordability
of Citizens wind insurance, and state preemptions of local authority.
These were the Board's 2025 legislative priorities, and attached is a chart of accomplishments and
outcomes:
• Future Development in the Florida Keys/ROGO: Expand the statutory hurricane evacuation
window to allow for the state release of additional building permit allocations and prioritize those
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new allocations to address legal liability and workforce housing.
• Secure Stewardship Act appropriation for water quality improvement projects.
• Secure Stewardship Act land acquisition funding via Florida Forever set-aside and extend
authorization.
• Marine protections:
• secure appropriations for shore side facility and pump out program,
• secure statutory change to expedite the removal of migrant vessels.
• Insurance affordability (pursue 10% cap on annual increases, support cost savings and pro-
consumer efforts.)
• Workforce/affordable housing (seek exemption for the purchase of construction performance
bonds for Habitat for Humanity and pursue local authority to grant ad valorem tax reductions for
renting affordably).
• Protect the Florida Keys ACSC with"carve outs"wherever possible.
• Support robust funding for the State's Resilient Florida Grant program, Everglades
restoration, and Florida Forever.
2025 Legislative Session Dates:
• December 11: Approval of Monroe County's Legislative Agenda
• December/January TBD: Local Delegation Meeting
• January 13-17, 21-24, Feb 3-7, 10-14, 17-21: Committee Weeks for both House and Senate
• March 4: First Day of Regular Session and Bill Filing Deadline
• March 13: Keys Day
• March 19: FAC Legislative Day
• April 22: Last day for scheduled committee meetings
• May 2: Last Day of Regular Session
• June 16: Actual last day of session
Professional Lobbying Team:
• Capitol Group: Robert Reyes
• Anfield Consulting: Frank Bernardino
• Gray-Robinson: Dean Cannon, Ryan Matthews
• Capital City Consulting: Nick Iarossi, Andrew Ketchal
• Brightwater Strategies: Noah Valenstein
Processes and tools:
• Annual approved Board Legislative Agenda/Priorities One Pager
• Issues-based One Pagers, Issue Briefs, and Resolutions
• Bill Tracking (House and Senate, interest organizations)
• Lobby corps provides daily presence in Tallahassee
• Weekly lobby team meetings/progress tracking
• Weekly (sometimes daily!) updates to BOCC and administration
• Monthly updates at BOCC meetings
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• FAC weekly briefings/meetings (for commissioners, county managers, county attorneys, and leg
staff
• End of session accomplishments report
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
Approval of the 2025 State Legislative agenda.
INSURANCE REQUIRED:
No
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
n/a
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approval.
DOCUMENTATION:
2025 Legislative Session Outco es.pdf
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
n/a
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