Legislative Priorities
Mission:
To create an environment for business to prosper throughout Palm Beach County
As the voice for the business community throughout Palm Beach County, the Council identifies policy issues that impact the business climate and collaboratively works to shape the economic and civic landscape for Palm Beach County through public policy. The Economic Council focuses on the following critical areas:
I. Education
a. VPK- Explore opportunity to do a pilot program in the lowest performing school; partner with Children Services Council, United Way via state funding. (BUDGET)
b. Vocation and Career Training- Funding for the Technical School within the District. Tap in to training dollars that exist. (BUDGET)
c. Conversion Charter Legislation. (MONITOR)
d. EASE Funding- Protect the $3,500 funds for Private, Not-For-Profit Schools. (BUDGET)
e. ERTC for Palm Beach State College. (BUDGET)
f. FAU- PECO funding. (BUDGET)
II. Infrastructure
a. Investment in CR 880 - East to West Farm-to-Market. (BUDGET)
b. Broadband/ Comms for rural areas not connected. (MONITOR)
c. Resiliency appropriations. (MONITOR)
III. Healthcare
a. Protect Disproportionate Share (DSH) funding and Medicaid Rates. Intergovernmental transfer funding (federal & state match) of $239M. DSH funding compensates hospitals that provide a disproportionate share of Medicaid and charity services. (BUDGET)
b. Preserve Florida Directed Payment Program(FDPP). FDPP provides funding for hospitals that provide inpatient and outpatient services to Medicaid Managed Care enrollees. This funding is both IGT and federal. (BUDGET)
c. Legal Liability/Malpractice Insurance - Oppose any changes to current tort reform framework and oppose any increased litigation and higher attorney fees. (LEGISLATIVE - DEFENSE)
d. GME (Graduate Medical Education) funding for additional Resident CAP Slots. (BUDGET)
V. Environmental
a. Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Monitoring and Clean-up: Funding for enforceable standards for remediation in drinking water, wastewater and stormwater systems across PBC. (BUDGET)
b. Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR)/ Alternative Water Supply (AWS) Projects- Support funding for long-term water supply resiliency through these programs in PBC (BUDGET)
c. Septic to Sewer Conversion and Financial Assistance: Provide funding to accelerate conversion from septic to sewer and provide financial assistance to low- and moderate-income property owners. (BUDGET)
d. Habitat Restoration (Loxahatchee River and Lake Worth Lagoon): Funding to continue to restore freshwater and estuarine habitats, improve water quality and support resiliency through ecosystem investments in Lox River and LW Lagoon. (BUDGET)
IV. Workforce and Affordable Housing Development
a. Support Live Local Tax Legislation that limits local opt-outs, allows developers to lock in tax reduction at project start to promote underwriting, standardize property appraiser procedures across state. (LEGISLATIVE - NEW)
b. Support full funding of State Housing Trust Funds - SHIP and (BUDGET)
c Support Full funding of Live Local Programs (BUDGET)
d. SB 180 (2025) – restrictions on development regulations; any revisions planned (MONITOR)
VI. Insurance
a. Tort Reforms- Maintain the 2023 changes that were implemented remain in place (elimination of assignment of benefits, timeline of reporting, company response time improved, one-way attorney’s fees). (LEGISLATIVE – DEFENSE)
b. Condo Reforms for Insurance Coverage (2025 bill was signed)- My Safe Florida Home program expanded amount of funding to give Up to $175K, extension of “SERS” Reports extended to 12/2025. (MONITOR)
c. Better utilization of State CAT funding. ($2 B layer was cut to $900 M) of reinsurance for companies in the state- should look at why it isn’t being used/ poorly designed- create an ad hoc committee to analyze all of the different programs/ incentives. (MONITOR)
d. Update to the Wind Mitigation Form (just standardized- roof and connection to wall, openings with inspections lasting 5-7 years)- reconsideration on weighting. (MONITOR)
VII. Transit
a. State-County agreement on future Tri-Trail funding. (BUDGET)
b. Mobility Plan/Impact Fee Oct. rollout of legislative changes. (MONITOR)
c. US 27Rail North / South from Belle Glade to Medley- Study (MONITOR)
VIII. Construction/Process for School District
a. Contractor proposal re: no damages for delay outside contractor’s control – public contracts. (LEGISLATIVE-NEW- AGC)
IX. IT/Tech/AI
a. Support Cyber Security liability limitation for companies that follow industry standard security practices. (LEGISLATIVE – NEW)
X. Property Tax Reform
a. Track legislative proposals. Concern is that any increase in the homestead exemption will shift more burden to commercial users. (MONITOR)
