PENSACOLA, Fla. — Florida’s 2026 legislative session could be bold.
Top lawmakers in Tallahassee say major legislation will be discussed Day 1 of this year’s session.
Lawmakers are proposing sweeping property tax cuts and considering changes to school vaccine requirements for 2026.
Senator Don Gaetz is leading the charge on a major rewrite of education policy.
SB318 is a direct response to a Florida Auditor General report late last year highlighting a near $400 million budget shortfall amid concerns of mismanaged scholarship funds.
Gaetz says his bill aims to save school choice.
“We have an opportunity to do very good things,” Gaetz said. “But at the same time, because the money has been comingled, we have accountability issues. The auditor general has pointed out we need to separate the funding, create higher accountability and operate in a way that has better stewardship.”
Gaetz knows the senate floor can be contentious. He says there are several key items Northwest Florida constituents should pay close attention to early in the session.
“People ought to be mindful of and watch for anything having to do with property taxes, insurance,” Gaetz said. “Those are issues that won’t go away or even be solved this legislative session. I wish they would be.”
“The senator’s right,” Rep. Michelle Salzman said. “You can’t do it all in one day, especially something that requires a constitutional amendment.”
Nearly a dozen bills have been filed on property tax reform.
For months, Governor Ron DeSantis has toured the state in favor of erasing property tax altogether.
Salzman says she agrees with the governor’s push for a constitutional amendment.
“If you look at the number at the increase, we’ve almost doubled our tax revenues,” she said. “But we haven’t doubled our services rendered or first responder reaction time or presence and our infrastructure or roads. I’d say there’s fat we could trim.”
The affordability crisis is front and center this session.
As chair of the housing, agriculture and tourism subcommittee, Salzman says they’re prepared for proposals on all things affordability from housing to homelessness.
“I think really just overall looking forward to helping constituents,” Salzman said. “We’ve been home for quite some time and meeting with folks and seeing what’s important for them. Now it’s our chance to come to Tallahassee and fight for that.”
Another controversial bill proposes university faculty and school guardians be allowed to carry or conceal weapons on school grounds in response to recent mass shootings.
The legislative session starts Tuesday.