BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS APPROVE MONROE COUNTY’S 2025 STATE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

MONROE COUNTY, FL – The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners approved the County’s state legislative priorities for the 2025 session at Wednesday’s regularly scheduled meeting. Legislative Affairs Director Lisa Tennyson presented and explained Monroe County’s priorities for the upcoming session that will take place from March 4 to May 2, 2025. Highlights of the agenda include:

• Future Development in the Florida Keys/ROGO: Monroe County is currently evaluating a request for additional permit allocations. The Board is anticipated to give direction at the Dec. 19 meeting, wherein that direction, if given, will be incorporated into the agenda.
• Secure Stewardship Act appropriation for water quality projects, and include it in the State’s Land Acquisition Trust Fund. Secure Stewardship Act land acquisition funding via Florida Forever set aside and extend authorization.
• Insurance affordability: pursue a 10 percent cap on annual increases, support cost savings, and pro-consumer efforts.
• Marine protections: secure appropriations for shoreside facility, pump-out program, and address migrant vessels.
• Workforce/affordable housing: seek exemption for purchasing construction performance bonds for Habitat for Humanity and pursue local authority to grant ad valorem tax reductions for renting affordably.
• Repeal the local occupancy licensing preemption and clarify Monroe County’s exemption language.
• Support robust funding for the State’s Resilient Florida Grant program, specifically funding for Monroe County’s road elevation projects from that grant program.

 
“Monroe County has been fortunate to see success in the past due to our state leadership’s commitment to protecting the unique and fragile ecosystem of the Florida Keys and those living and visiting here,” Tennyson said. “We are optimistic we will continue to see success in the 2025 session.”
 
More information about Monroe County’s legislative priorities can be found at www.monroecounty-fl.gov/legislativeaffairs. 

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