Dear Friends,
Before we dive into the first two weeks of Florida’s 2026 Legislative Session, let’s take a moment to recognize that ICE agents are executing American people in our streets. Renee Good and Alex Pretti were standing witness to masked militia’s assault on our neighbors, and for that they were shot and killed.
At the same time, the U.S. Senate has until this Friday, January 30 to decide what the 2026 spending levels will be for federal programs, including the Department of Homeland Security and its agencies: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP).
No funding for fascism. No dollars for dictatorship, No bankrolling for billionaires.
Every day this week, call your Senators and tell them: No. More. Funds. For. ICE.
Voters are watching, and we will not accept this hostile takeover of our government.
Learn more about why calling your lawmakers makes a difference, use 5calls.org to make it easy, and check out this sample script.
Also, withhold your spending on corporations that are complicit in terrorizing our communities. But anyway, let’s get into it.
Theme of the Week: Attacks on Local Communities
If this session has a defining pattern, it’s the aggressive erosion of local control. In just the first two weeks, lawmakers are pushing a slate of bills designed to override cities and counties at every turn — from SB 1444 (Preemption to the State), which openly expands state power to nullify local laws, to HB 103 (Local Business Taxes), which restricts how local governments raise revenue to fund basic services. Bills like SB 332 (Public Meetings) weaken transparency, and HB 167 (Former Phosphate Mining Lands) protects corporate polluters while tying the hands of communities dealing with the fallout.
Local communities are being blamed, stripped, and sidelined — not because they’ve failed, but because they’re one of the last lines of defense between corporate interests and the people who actually live with the consequences. This isn’t about efficiency or consistency. It is and always has been about consolidating power upward and silencing communities where residents still have a voice.
On Our Radar
What Moved
All of these bills have already passed a final vote on the House floor:
❌SB 1278 / HB 197 “Employment Eligibility” aka E-Verify Crack Down by Sen. Martin and Reps. Jacques; Michael- Forces more employers to check workers’ immigration status through a federal system. It makes it harder for immigrants to work and adds burdens for small businesses without fixing labor shortages.
❌SB 164 / HB 289 “Civil Liability for the Wrongful Death of an Unborn Child” aka Fetal Personhood by Sen. Grall and Rep. Greco– Expands lawsuits related to pregnancy outcomes by treating an unborn fetus as a wrongful-death claim. This increases legal risk for doctors and can limit access to reproductive health care.
❌HB 167 “Former Phosphate Mining Lands” aka Protect Toxic Corporations (Again) by Rep. McClure -Lets mining companies avoid full cleanup of polluted land and any legal accountability. The environmental and water-quality risks are pushed onto local communities and taxpayers..
❌HB 133 “Minimum Age for Firearm Purchase or Transfer” aka Let Kids Buy Guns by Rep. Sirois – Lowers the age to buy a gun from 21 to 18. It reverses a post-Parkland safety law that was previously passed by Florida lawmakers.
Special mentions:
❌SB 122 / HB 103 “Local Business Taxes” aka Bankrupt Local Governments by Sen. Truenow and Rep. Botana- Would block cities and counties from raising or adjusting local business taxes, cutting off a key revenue source local governments use to fund services and shifting more financial strain onto residents and small communities. It passed the Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee and is scheduled for its last House committee this week.
❌HJR 203 “Phased Out Elimination of Non-school Property for Homesteads” and HJR 213 “Modification of Limitations on Property Assessment Increases” aka Defund Hospitals and Essential Services both passed favorably in their last committee stop despite strong debate from House Democrats strong opposition from community members who made the journey to Tallahassee to testify. Floridians clearly care about protecting our local freedoms and funding the services we rely on.
What’s Coming Up
Tuesday
Senate Rules Committee: 9:00 AM | 412 K
❌HB 167 “Former Phosphate Mining Lands” aka Protect Toxic Corporations (Again) by Rep. McClure
House State Affairs Committee: 9:30 AM | 17 H
❌SB 1106 / HB 31– “Recognizing Judea and Samaria” aka Erase Palestinian People by Sen. Massullo and Reps. Tramont ; Tendrich
❌SB 122 / HB 103 “Local Business Taxes” aka Bankrupt Local Governments by Sen. Truenow and Rep. Botana-
Senate Judiciary Committee: 1:00 PM | 110 S
❌SB 332 / HB 655 “Public Meetings” aka Private Deals With Developers by Sen. Bradley and Reps. Duggan ; Daley
❌SB 620: “Candidate Qualifying” aka Show Your Patriotism Papers Please by Sen. Mayfield
Senate Transportation Committee: 1:00 PM | 37 S
❌SB 86/ HB 1247 “Commercial Motor Vehicles Operated by Unauthorized Aliens” aka Let ICE Detain Truck Drivers by Sen. Gaetz and Rep. Shoaf
House Ways & Means Committee: 3:00 PM | 404 H
❌HJR 213 “Modification of Limitations on Property Assessment Increases” aka Defund Hospitals and Essential Services by State Affairs Committee
Senate Community Affairs Committee: 3:30 PM | 37 S
And yes, that was just Tuesday. 🙃
Positive Sidenote!
✅ The real issue behind the housing crisis, property insurance premiums, are addressed in a bill coming up next week (HB 1399 “Property Insurance Affiliates” ) which would stop property insurance companies from quietly moving money to sister companies by requiring state regulators to review and approve those deals so insurers can’t hide profits or justify higher premiums for homeowners. Accountability for the property insurance companies that have been jacking up our premiums!? More on this to come.
In The Weeds
What happens to the bills passed on the House floor? The Senate can either hear the companion bills in committees, if they exist; amend them; pass them as-is; or let them stall and disappear. We like that last option.
If there is no companion, the Senate can still introduce a companion at any time (even late in session) or pieces of the bill can be added to others as amendments. They have already picked up HB 167 aka Protect Toxic Corporations (Again) and will discuss it on Tuesday morning in the Rules committee. All that to say, nothing is a done deal and we will continue tracking the good, the bad and the straight up evil bills advancing this session.
Puppet Of the Week
Our first Puppet of the Week of 2026 is none other than Lawrence McClure, sponsor of HB 167 aka Protect Toxic Corporations (again). McClure has one mission this session and just this one bill he’s sponsoring. HB 167 would make it harder to sue mining giant Mosaic for radiation exposure on redeveloped phosphate mines. Will Mosaic throw another fancy fundraiser for McClure if this bill passes?
Advocacy Days & Events!
We are Florida Day – Florida Immigrant Coalition (1/27)
We Are Florida is an annual campaign that uplifts the needs and aspirations of Floridians who are immigrants during the state’s Legislative Session to ensure that policies that are proposed, passed, and signed into law improve the quality of life for all Floridians. In these resources page, you will be able to access educational materials, our events calendar, and issue advocacy tools.
**Make sure to check out the VISIBLE Act (SB 316 / HB 419) by Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith and Rep. Angie Nixon- it will require ICE agents to wear clear identification.
3rd Annual Let Us Live March – Equality Florida (1/28)
act.eqfl.org/a/2026-let-us-live
The “Let Us Live” march is an annual, transgender-led rally and protest held in Tallahassee, Florida, to combat anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, specifically targeting restrictions on transgender rights, healthcare, and safety. Sign up here for more information.
Onwards and upwards,
Your Friends At Florida For All
You when the worst person you know just made a good point?
