2025 State Legislative Agenda

This resiliency project will replace the existing gravity system with a new stormwater system designed to decrease the intensity, frequency, and duration of flood events that currently affects our North Beach residents.

This project will raise seawalls to mitigate against flood damage and transition some to living seawalls to help improve overall water quality. During 2024, the city experienced three storm events that overtopped existing seawalls from tidal surges. Clearwater has submitted a Gulf Futures Grant application to partially fund the project.

Funds will be used to design an elevated road to minimize flooding during high storm surges and intense rain events.

• Ensure all Sadowski State and Local Housing Trust Funds are used exclusively to finance affordable and workforce housing programs and rental assistance programs.

• Adopt a reasonable statewide standard (45-day max) to provide local governments the authority to regulate waterways in their jurisdictions in order to address the unregulated storage dump created by derelict vessels.
• Amend SB 184, Harassing First Responders, to expand the definition of the term “legal duty” to include officers attempting to interview a witness or victim.
• Provide additional funding to local governments to address requirements of HB 1375, Unauthorized Public Camping/Sleeping, which requires local governments to address the problem with law enforcement as a compliance tool. 
• Authorize municipalities and counties to restrict vessels from anchoring in the intercoastal waterways within 1,000 feet of an area that is primarily residential in nature and that has a residential density of one or more dwelling units per acre, or within 1,000 feet of a bridge or causeway.
• Amend FS 790.06(12)(a) to include ticketed concert venues as an additional exemption where carrying a concealed weapon with a permit is not authorized, similar to what is already in place for sports venues.

• Allow local governments to regulate vacation rental properties to protect the health and welfare of their residents, visitors, and businesses.
• Allow local governments to regulate tree preservation, removals, and replacements to protect the environment and the health and welfare of their residents, businesses, and visitors.

• Develop a statewide climate resiliency plan and funding source to assist local communities who have implemented plans to combat sea level rise.
• Increase funding for Resilient Florida Grants program to assist municipalities with implementing climate-resilient infrastructure.
• Provide intergovernmental coordination that supports sustainability and resiliency efforts at the county and municipal levels, such as clean energy, land conservation, smart growth, a planned transition to 100% renewable energy goals, open space and wetlands preservation, and the impacts of climate change and sea level rise on natural resources and manmade infrastructure. 
• Establish a framework for a state water infrastructure and water quality funding program that includes sustainable utility practices and intragovernmental coordination. 
• Continue funding the State of Florida’s beach renourishment program.
• Continue funding My Safe Florida Home, assisting eligible homeowners with free wind mitigation home inspections and matching grants to fortify homes against hurricane damage.

• Support legislation that attracts and incentivizes film and television production in the State of Florida.

• Support the expansion of the VPK program to include children at a younger age, allowing parents to return to the workforce sooner.

• Continue insurance reform which encourages continued stabilization of the market.

• Support legislation that consolidates metropolitan planning organizations to streamline regional transportation planning.