TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV/Gray Florida Capital Bureau) – More than 100 bills await lawmakers as the 2026 legislative session approaches, with Senate leadership outlining key priorities they hope to advance after last year’s stalled agenda.
Senate President Ben Albritton said the Rural Renaissance bill will be among the first measures considered when the session begins in January. The legislation would provide significant state investments to rural communities and bring small towns into the 21st century.
“So we’re going to go back at it again,” said Albritton, R-Bartow.
The landmark bill was held up in the House during last year’s session and became part of budget negotiations when neither chamber could reach agreement.
“I’ve fought for agriculture since I’ve been elected because it’s who I am and it’s what I hold dear outside of family and faith,” Albritton said.
Domestic violence and child welfare measures
Senate Minority Leader Lori Berman is pushing for House consideration of her bill protecting domestic violence survivors. The measure would create a spoof number for survivors to call police instead of dialing 911.
“We see in the domestic violence area that if your perpetrator knows you called 911, the violence escalates from zero to 100 immediately,” said Berman, D-Boynton Beach.
Berman is also advancing legislation requiring the Department of Children and Families to provide suitcases to children in their care.
“Usually those children unfortunately leave their home with a trash bag. All of their belongings are in a trash bag. It’s just demoralizing. It’s not the way we should be treating these kids,” Berman said.
Albritton said he wants the legislature to discuss rural Florida’s needs annually, not just through single bills.
“I’d love to see the legislature have a conversation about rural Florida and how rural Florida’s doing every year. It’d be great,” he said.
The 60-day legislative session begins Jan. 13.
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