Session Preview

The 2026 Regular Legislative Session kicks off tomorrow, January 13^th (lucky 13?) and there is sure to be a bevy of activity surrounding the 60-day Session. For starters, the Governor has proposed an Artificial Intelligence (AI) “Bill of Rights” that he wants the Legislature to approve. The Senate unveiled a proposal focused on regulatory issues related to the technological aspects of AI, but the House has yet to reveal their plan.

Budget woes will be at the forefront of the Legislative Session as lawmakers grapple with projections for reduced revenues in the 2026-27 budget year. Governor DeSantis has already proposed a $117.36 billion spending plan; however, we can expect both Chambers to develop budgets below his mark.

Development & Growth Management will get prime committee time with several proposals aimed to rein-in overregulation, curb excessive impact fee increases, allow for urban infill, standardize permitting and inspection processes and limit burdensome regulations that do not impact health, safety, and welfare. Furthermore, legislation has been filed to scale back last year’s natural emergencies measure on “restrictive and burdensome” local regulations and comprehensive plan changes post-storm.

Education is a perennial “hot topic” and 2026 will be no different as legislators address drops in public school enrollment, and expanded use of school vouchers. Moreover, there are several bills filed to address alternatives to higher education through career training and workforce initiatives.

Bills addressing Energy and Utilities are popping up—everything from decommissioning solar facilities to electric vehicle charging taxation and registration fees to battery collection, storage and recovery are all in play. Legislation related to home backup power systems. electric utility 10-year site plans, local utility revenues, and distribution between cities and counties have all been filed.

It would not be a normal legislative session if Health Care were not in the spotlight. Two wide-ranging proposals have been released dealing with everything from prescription drug costs to reducing health care regulations and revamping processes for certificates-of-need for nursing homes and hospice facilities. Likewise, Medical Malpractice changes have been proposed to address “non-economic” damages in medical malpractice cases involving death of parents or adult children.

Property Tax reform is center stage this year with the House Speaker appointing a Select Committee to evaluate eight various property tax relief proposals and the Governor calling for a Constitutional Amendment to eradicate property taxes in Florida and even inferring that there may be a Special Session focused solely on property taxes.  The Senate has yet to unveil their more deliberative approach.

Last week the Governor announced a Special Session commencing on April 20 to tackle Congressional Redistricting in hopes that drawing new maps lead to the GOP maintaining control of the House of Representatives.

President Albritton’s Rural Renaissance legislation is off to a good start this year, having failed to pass last Session. Expect the bill to be off the Senate floor during Week I of the 2026 Session.

\Water Policy is getting more “play” time in the Capitol this next year as struggles between agriculture, development, enviros and even AI data centers seek to grab their fair share of our limited resource. Likewise, resiliency and stormwater treatment and management are also common themes in filed legislation.