Brevard's Florida Legislature delegation to seek input from constituents

The seven-member Brevard County delegation to the Florida Legislature will hold its annual meeting on Jan. 11 in advance of the 2023 legislative session.

The meeting will be held from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the Brevard County Commission Chambers at the Government Center, 2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Building C, Viera.

This meeting will give government entities, businesses, organizations and residents of Brevard County a chance to share with the all-Republican delegation issues that are important to them for the upcoming legislative session.

Topics likely to come up include everything from educational policies to rising homeowners' insurance costs.

The deadline to submit a request form to be added to the meeting agenda is Dec. 29.

Florida Rep. Thad Altman, who represents House District 32, will chair the meeting. Other Florida House members in the delegation are Chase Tramont in District 30, Tyler Sirois in District 31, Randy Fine in District 33 and Robert Brackett in District 34. Florida senators in the delegation are Tom Wright in District 8, who is vice chair of the delegation, and Debbie Mayfield in District 19. Tramont and Wright's districts also include parts of Volusia County, and Brackett's district also includes Indian River County.

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The Jan. 11 meeting will begin with local bills proposals by delegation members and presentations by local government entities, followed by comments from other members of the public.

This will be the only scheduled meeting of the delegation before the 2023 legislative session, which runs from March 7 to May 5.

Among the issues expected to come up at the delegation meeting are ones that the new House speaker, Paul Renner, discussed in his Nov. 22 speech to the House members that focused on his legislative agenda. They include school funding and policies, infrastructure, homeowners' insurance costs, affordable housing, inflation, reducing taxes, the environment, post-hurricane recovery and future resiliency efforts.

Also likely to come up are appropriations project requests and local funding initiative requests, as well as support for or in opposition to various legislation.

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Those interested in speaking at the meeting should complete and return an appearance request form no later than 5 p.m. Dec. 29 to confirm a spot on the agenda.

The time limits for an individual's public comment will depend on the number of people who have signed up to speak.Anyone submitting an appearance request form who would like to provide supplemental documents specific to their request should provide all documentation by no later than Dec. 29.Documentation should include the following information, if available, and should be presented on the requestor’s letterhead (if applicable):

• Legislative topic.

• Brief statement of the issue.

• Reference to applicable Florida Statutes.

• Proposed solution, proposed changes to existing law or proposed new language.

• Supporting data.

• If it is a funding request, all pertinent project information, asking amount, local match amount and return on investment.

• Names of legislators in support of the request.

• Names of any known entities in opposition of the request.

The completed appearance request form and supplemental documentation (if applicable) can be sent via one of those options:

• Online: A link to the form is available at https://forms.gle/msoJeSxZ9VhKqQFG8

• Email: Thad.Altman@myfloridahouse.gov

• In person or by mail: To Thad Altman; 1895 S. Patrick Drive; Indian Harbour Beach, FL 32937.

Public comment cards will be made available on the day of the meeting and will be located in the back of the room for anyone who did not submit an appearance request form by the Dec. 29 deadline.

If there is time remaining, Altman has the discretion to call up speakers who have submitted public comment cards, in the order that they are received.

Anyone requesting consideration of a proposed local bill should be sure they have confirmed that a senator and/or representative in the delegation is willing to file the local bill during 2023 committee weeks.

All bills, including local bills, must have a confirmed sponsor in both the Senate and House.

Additionally, because all local bills must be voted on by the delegation at this delegation meeting, all proposed local bills must be submitted no later than noon Dec. 29.

Altman's office said there will be no exceptions to the deadlines.

Anyone with questions can contact Altman at Thad.Altman@myfloridahouse.gov or call 321-425-6179.

Dave Berman is business editor at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Berman at dberman@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @bydaveberman. Support local journalism and journalists like me. Subscribe toda

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Brevard's Florida Legislature delegation to seek constituent input