<b>The 2025 Florida</b> <b>legislative session was so exciting.</b> <b>It had to go into double overtime.</b> <b>Lawmakers were unable</b> <b>to wrap up the budget deal in the regular</b> <b>allotted time,</b> <b>causing the session to drag into mid-June</b> <b>before finally passing a $117 billion</b> <b>plus fiscal year</b> <b>2025 budget and over $1</b> <b>billion in tax cuts.</b> <b>Tonight, we'll go behind the scenes</b> <b>and get the real story</b> <b>with members of the local Northwest</b> <b>Florida legislative delegation.</b> <b>We'll get their input on the 2025 session</b> <b>and look ahead.</b> <b>We'll be discussing issues that are</b> <b>important to you and the state of Florida.</b> <b>We are live and interactive</b> <b>on social media, radio and television.</b> <b>The 2025 Legislative Review Dialog</b> <b>with a delegation is straight ahead.</b> <b>This original</b> <b>SA representation is made possible</b> <b>by viewers like you.</b> <b>Thank you.</b> <b>And a</b> <b>very pleasant good evening, everyone,</b> <b>and thank you for joining us.</b> <b>I'm Jeff Weeks, in addition</b> <b>to our live television broadcast on WSB</b> <b>TV, we're also streaming on Facebook</b> <b>and YouTube,</b> <b>as well as broadcasting on NewsRadio 92.3</b> <b>FM and on Am 1620.</b> <b>We would like to hear from you now.</b> <b>Of course, many of you have already sent</b> <b>your questions in for our legislators,</b> <b>but there's still more time.</b> <b>You can email us</b> <b>with your question at message,</b> <b>or I should say or message us</b> <b>at Sorry on Facebook.</b> <b>Now let's meet our members</b> <b>in the Northwest Florida legislative</b> <b>delegation, Senator Don gates serves</b> <b>district one, which encompasses</b> <b>all of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties</b> <b>and a portion of Okaloosa County.</b> <b>Senator gates was elected</b> <b>to his current Senate seat in 2024,</b> <b>but he is no stranger</b> <b>to the Florida Senate.</b> <b>He first served from 2006 to 2016,</b> <b>and was Senate President from 2012 to 2014</b> <b>from the Florida House of Representatives</b> <b>Michelle Salzman represents House</b> <b>district one, which covers</b> <b>a large portion of Escambia County.</b> <b>Alexandra serves House district two,</b> <b>which includes</b> <b>the southern portions of Escambia</b> <b>and Santa Rosa counties.</b> <b>Nathan Boyles represents House</b> <b>district three,</b> <b>which covers portions of Okaloosa</b> <b>and Santa Rosa counties.</b> <b>Representative Boyles</b> <b>is a newcomer to the local delegation.</b> <b>He was elected in a special election</b> <b>in 2025.</b> <b>Pat Maney serves House district four,</b> <b>which encompasses part of Okaloosa County.</b> <b>Ladies and gentlemen, welcome.</b> <b>Thank you so very much for being with us.</b> <b>Senator gates, welcome back.</b> <b>Great to see you again.</b> <b>Let me begin with you.</b> <b>I always like to ask this question</b> <b>kind of off the top.</b> <b>In your judgment, what was the high point</b> <b>of the 2025 legislative session?</b> <b>The fact that it finally ended.</b> <b>It was it was a it was the worst</b> <b>legislative session I've ever been in.</b> <b>We made history, but not in a good way.</b> <b>The good news is,</b> <b>I guess that we finally got a budget.</b> <b>The good news is that the budget spent</b> <b>less than it spent the year before.</b> <b>State government is, spending less</b> <b>and as being a good steward.</b> <b>But the bad news is that, too much</b> <b>infighting among us</b> <b>Republicans caused the legislative session</b> <b>to go on too long.</b> <b>Most of the time during the double</b> <b>overtime, we weren't there.</b> <b>So it wasn't costing the taxpayers money.</b> <b>But still, it was an embarrassment.</b> <b>Representative, give me your thoughts.</b> <b>What the high point</b> <b>for 2025, in your judgment?</b> <b>Well, I agree with the Senator.</b> <b>We cut the budget.</b> <b>The president of the Senate</b> <b>said he wanted to cut the budget.</b> <b>The speaker of the House</b> <b>said he wanted to cut the budget.</b> <b>And the governor said</b> <b>we needed to cut the budget.</b> <b>So we cut the budget.</b> <b>But it took a while to</b> <b>balance the different equities involved.</b> <b>And that's that's what took so much time.</b> <b>It was my first opportunity to be</b> <b>the chairman of a, budget subcommittee.</b> <b>So it was a great learning experience.</b> <b>And, I think I did a good job.</b> <b>But we did succeed in cutting the budget.</b> <b>But 105 days, 60 days</b> <b>session was a long time.</b> <b>A lot of work.</b> <b>Representative Salzman, your thoughts?</b> <b>I'll just</b> <b>echo the thoughts of my colleagues.</b> <b>I actually thought</b> <b>that it was one of the most,</b> <b>productive while not being productive.</b> <b>If you look at the fact</b> <b>that for the first time in many years,</b> <b>the chairs were told to comb the budget</b> <b>and actually meaningfully</b> <b>look at each line item</b> <b>and try to find ways to cut the spending</b> <b>to find where we were overspending.</b> <b>Or maybe we weren't.</b> <b>We were under utilizing the money.</b> <b>So I thought it to be, good.</b> <b>I mean, I get it was long.</b> <b>I know there was a lot of infighting,</b> <b>and the media always makes it look worse</b> <b>than it really is.</b> <b>But at the end of the day,</b> <b>these guys, you know, a rep on Rep maney,</b> <b>they worked hard to go through</b> <b>and find all of these discrepancies</b> <b>and really scrub the budget</b> <b>for the first time in many years.</b> <b>So it was it was a more meaningful, </b> <b>budget process than it has been.</b> <b>I've been here five years,</b> <b>and in the past we've just checked boxes.</b> <b>Okay.

We know all that.

Now let's move.</b> <b>What are we going to change?</b> <b>You know, this time we didn't just say,</b> <b>okay, we know all that.</b> <b>We said, dive in to each piece.</b> <b>Each line item.</b> <b>I served in the AG subcommittee,</b> <b>so I looked at that budget.</b> <b>I'm sure, Karen Geraghty will have</b> <b>some comments on the health care budget.</b> <b>So largest part.</b> <b>But at the end of the day,</b> <b>I think they did a really good job.</b> <b>I, I'm, I'm</b> <b>proud of the work that my colleagues did</b> <b>as well as that they did in the Senate.</b> <b>Representative Andronico, your thoughts?</b> <b>I'm generally terrified, or nervous</b> <b>at least.</b> <b>And it's rare when I disagree</b> <b>with with Senator Gates, but,</b> <b>I think, former Supreme Court Justice</b> <b>Antonin Scalia said it best</b> <b>when he actually testified before Congress</b> <b>that our system of checks and balances,</b> <b>our separation of powers</b> <b>might look dysfunctional</b> <b>to the outside world, but it's actually</b> <b>that was the purpose and intent behind</b> <b>how our founders structured it.</b> <b>We saw, I think the top line story,</b> <b>at least at the very beginning,</b> <b>was the sudden divergence between</b> <b>the executive and legislative branch.</b> <b>We'd been criticized for years</b> <b>about being a rubber stamp</b> <b>for the governor's office.</b> <b>And I think the the initial narrative</b> <b>was a reassertion of the legislative</b> <b>branch as a co-equal, if not superior</b> <b>branch of government to the executive.</b> <b>So there was</b> <b>far more personal vitriol</b> <b>than I would have liked to see.</b> <b>I know everyone here at these tables</b> <b>did their best</b> <b>to avoid that specific personal vitriol,</b> <b>but I think that the tension,</b> <b>the disagreement,</b> <b>it yields good products.</b> <b>I mean, the biggest fight</b> <b>we had in the legislative</b> <b>session was over which taxes to cut first.</b> <b>I think that that's the sign of a healthy,</b> <b>albeit,</b> <b>visibly dysfunctional government.</b> <b>But I think the ultimate product was good</b> <b>and it was a result of that tension.</b> <b>Representative Boyles,</b> <b>I don't want to put you on the spot</b> <b>because I know for most of the session</b> <b>you were on the outside looking in,</b> <b>but what was your overall perception</b> <b>as you watched and basically prepared?</b> <b>You'll be in the in the thick of it</b> <b>next year.</b> <b>Yeah, well,</b> <b>I was hoping you would ask me</b> <b>my high point and I was gonna say,</b> <b>obviously my swearing in</b> <b>on the last day of the extended session.</b> <b>No, I think it was,</b> <b>you know, I was busy</b> <b>campaigning, of course,</b> <b>but I think it was really good to kind of</b> <b>be able to see, you know, the process</b> <b>maybe is Alex noted</b> <b>kind of really, working so intensely.</b> <b>And so I think for me,</b> <b>it was an opportunity to kind of see,</b> <b>the process</b> <b>maybe less kind of discreet or close,</b> <b>but really a lot of that</b> <b>kind of came out into the open.</b> <b>And I certainly hope</b> <b>we don't have a repeat</b> <b>of that level of intensity this year.</b> <b>But it was just a great opportunity</b> <b>to kind of better understand what I'm</b> <b>what I'm</b> <b>what I'm in for over there, in this role.</b> <b>Well, you mentioned tax cuts</b> <b>and we have received questions</b> <b>from quite a few of your constituents,</b> <b>our viewers and listeners.</b> <b>And this is going to be a big one,</b> <b>and it will be talked about an awful lot.</b> <b>We were talking about it</b> <b>in the green room.</b> <b>So I'm going to tee it up here.</b> <b>We're talking about the possibility of</b> <b>what would, what things would look like</b> <b>if we reduced property taxes</b> <b>or got rid of property taxes.</b> <b>As governor DeSantis has talked about.</b> <b>So let me get you to kind of</b> <b>maybe describe what the</b> <b>whole idea behind it is and what are the</b> <b>possibilities of that happening.</b> <b>And I'll begin with you,</b> <b>Senator Gates.

Thanks.</b> <b>The property taxes are kind of like</b> <b>renting your own property</b> <b>from the government,</b> <b>and it doesn't feel good.</b> <b>It feels like people don't have control</b> <b>of their own property, particularly people</b> <b>on fixed incomes, people</b> <b>who don't have a lot of money.</b> <b>Property taxes can be a real burden,</b> <b>especially as they've gone</b> <b>up and up as values of properties.</b> <b>You know, here in the Panhandle and across</b> <b>the state have gone up.</b> <b>And what the governor is proposing</b> <b>is to reduce</b> <b>or eliminate ad valorem property taxes.</b> <b>My understanding</b> <b>is that there's about $50 billion,</b> <b>in revenue that goes to local government</b> <b>from property taxes.</b> <b>So if you eliminate that 50 billion,</b> <b>either you have to believe that</b> <b>there's $50 billion worth of waste,</b> <b>or you have to believe</b> <b>that that some portion of that</b> <b>50 billion has to be backfilled</b> <b>with some other source of revenue.</b> <b>Therein lies the rub.</b> <b>Where will we get additional revenue</b> <b>if we eliminate getting revenue</b> <b>from ad valorem property taxes?</b> <b>So there are probably 10 or 15 different</b> <b>plans that are floating around out there.</b> <b>The the house currently has a committee.</b> <b>I don't have the answer,</b> <b>but I think my prediction</b> <b>is that by the end of the session,</b> <b>we will have done something on property</b> <b>taxes.</b> <b>We have two representatives.

Salesman.</b> <b>I look forward to</b> <b>seeing what the Special Committee</b> <b>on Property Taxes comes up with.</b> <b>And I'm going to support</b> <b>whatever my colleagues, land on.</b> <b>They put a lot of thoughtful, work into</b> <b>this process, really trying to dive in.</b> <b>They've traveled around the state,</b> <b>talking to other local governments,</b> <b>and really tried to understand</b> <b>where the money is coming from,</b> <b>what they're spending the money on.</b> <b>So I look forward to it.</b> <b>I know we're going to have,</b> <b>some ballot initiatives.</b> <b>I'm certain that we will come to some sort</b> <b>of agreement between the chambers</b> <b>and that we will have something in front</b> <b>of the governor, where that lands.</b> <b>I'm unsure at this point.</b> <b>You know, they they just met today.</b> <b>They had their committee today, and they</b> <b>talked about a lot of different things.</b> <b>And the number one concern</b> <b>that I've heard is,</b> <b>how are you going to replace those taxes?</b> <b>And as a conservative,</b> <b>you know, I ran on, just the most random</b> <b>saying of safety,</b> <b>infrastructure, education and health care</b> <b>and, gosh, how are you going to fund that</b> <b>if you completely omit the taxes?</b> <b>Although I agree that we pay too much</b> <b>and we certainly shouldn't</b> <b>hold somebody hostage in their own home.</b> <b>Representative Andrada, your thoughts?</b> <b>So, I don't have a crystal ball.</b> <b>I could not tell you</b> <b>what the final product is.</b> <b>All I can say</b> <b>is that our system of property tax is</b> <b>probably the most unfair to tax system</b> <b>that we have.</b> <b>Someone who lives in the exact same house</b> <b>puts the same exact</b> <b>same demands on the system.</b> <b>Could be paying a fraction of taxes</b> <b>compared to their neighbor who simply,</b> <b>you know, is</b> <b>guilty of moving into their home last year</b> <b>and having it reassessed</b> <b>by their local property appraiser.</b> <b>We we need to do something.</b> <b>The concern that I have</b> <b>is similar to the fights that we had</b> <b>about property taxes, which we control.</b> <b>Right?</b> <b>Sales tax, which we control.</b> <b>It's the legislature.

Legislature.</b> <b>We can pass sales tax changes without</b> <b>a constitutional referendum on the ballot.</b> <b>If there's too much public dysfunction,</b> <b>if it does look like we are acting</b> <b>like school children and personal animus</b> <b>and personalities are taking over,</b> <b>then the final product, regardless</b> <b>of what it is when it goes in the ballot,</b> <b>it's going to be tougher to sell it.</b> <b>And depending on who gets their way</b> <b>and who doesn't, you might lose that</b> <b>coalition of folks who are fighting</b> <b>to actually pass that, next November.</b> <b>So this is one circumstance where</b> <b>the public perception is a huge concern.</b> <b>I think our constitution referendum</b> <b>process now requires 60% plus, to pass.</b> <b>As a senator, gates</b> <b>astutely knows, from being part of,</b> <b>the Constitutional Revision</b> <b>Commission last time.</b> <b>And, my main concern is the fact</b> <b>that we're going to put a lot of work</b> <b>into this, this session.</b> <b>And depending on how</b> <b>it's sold to the public, it may not pass.</b> <b>And I think it's worth pointing out it</b> <b>it will take a constitutional amendment</b> <b>for that to change.</b> <b>Representative,</b> <b>maybe your thoughts on it?</b> <b>Well,</b> <b>I think it's a very complicated issue.</b> <b>As Senator Gates noted, everybody's</b> <b>dissatisfied with the current system,</b> <b>but it's very, very complicated.</b> <b>I am the only person sitting here tonight</b> <b>that's on the House</b> <b>Select Committee on, ad valorem</b> <b>tax reform.</b> <b>We spent two days</b> <b>this week really getting better</b> <b>educated about the process,</b> <b>about the effect of different</b> <b>potential plans on.</b> <b>The revenue</b> <b>and what that change in revenue</b> <b>would do to cities and to counties.</b> <b>But of course, there are fire districts</b> <b>that have ad valorem tax.</b> <b>There are fire districts that have</b> <b>fixed assessments.</b> <b>I mean,</b> <b>there are lots of moving pieces.</b> <b>Some small counties in population</b> <b>don't have a lot of, land value</b> <b>that's not homesteaded.</b> <b>And so if you take that away, it becomes</b> <b>a major problem on how you're going</b> <b>to keep government functioning.</b> <b>I don't think local officials want</b> <b>I think</b> <b>Tallahassee's water, 130 miles</b> <b>or so from Pensacola.</b> <b>I don't think people in Pensacola</b> <b>want Tallahassee</b> <b>telling them which roads to fix.</b> <b>At the same time,</b> <b>I don't think Tallahassee wants</b> <b>to be put in the business</b> <b>of funding local government either.</b> <b>So it's complicated.</b> <b>The House is going to work very hard</b> <b>in trying to better understand</b> <b>the process.</b> <b>We did have a proposal in the budget</b> <b>that was vetoed</b> <b>that would have called for,</b> <b>a consultant group to</b> <b>to do that work</b> <b>and give us a report that did get vetoed.</b> <b>So we're in the house</b> <b>trying to get ready to meet the moment</b> <b>and figure out what we can do</b> <b>for the benefit of Florida.</b> <b>But there's a lot of enthusiasm</b> <b>for a cut.</b> <b>There's also a lot of angst about what</b> <b>that might mean in local government terms.</b> <b>People still want the police to respond</b> <b>when they're called the ambulance</b> <b>to respond when they're called.</b> <b>The fire departments to respond.</b> <b>And all that takes money,</b> <b>and it costs more now than it did</b> <b>five years ago to have a fire department</b> <b>or police department.</b> <b>So there</b> <b>there has to be some consideration</b> <b>to how we work that complicated.</b> <b>Gordon and not try to keep</b> <b>from getting strangled by it.</b> <b>Representative Boyles, you'll go into it.</b> <b>It will be an exciting part</b> <b>of your freshman year.</b> <b>Yeah, yeah, that's that's one word.</b> <b>So I think, you know,</b> <b>I agree with everything my colleague said.</b> <b>I think what I would highlight is,</b> <b>you know, I'm a local government guy,</b> <b>you know, 12 years on the Okaloosa County</b> <b>Commission and by and large, here</b> <b>in northwest Florida, we have well-run,</b> <b>conservatively run local governments,</b> <b>you know, Okaloosa County, third lowest,</b> <b>millage, I think, in the state.</b> <b>And so I think it's important to</b> <b>you've got all this Doge stuff going</b> <b>on, some good work being done,</b> <b>certainly by our CFO.</b> <b>And I think it's important work.</b> <b>I think it's also we need to be careful</b> <b>not to conflate those two things.</b> <b>And, you know, treat local government</b> <b>is just inherently bad or inherently,</b> <b>overspending because it's not that way</b> <b>everywhere and across the board.</b> <b>And so I think it's really important</b> <b>that as we have these,</b> <b>those conversations,</b> <b>that we recognize the nuance,</b> <b>and we keep some distinction</b> <b>between the two.</b> <b>Do we need to kind of get our hands</b> <b>in in places that probably need</b> <b>some oversight and some help, you know,</b> <b>being, more fiscally responsible?</b> <b>Absolutely.</b> <b>But can that color,</b> <b>you know, the outcome of this process?</b> <b>I hope not,</b> <b>because that could be detrimental to</b> <b>to our local governments here.</b> <b>And, you know, represented</b> <b>maybe mentioned ambulances that,</b> <b>you know, I think it's important</b> <b>when you when you call 911, they respond.</b> <b>And I think what we don't want</b> <b>is a credit card swipe</b> <b>on the back door of an ambulance.

Right.</b> <b>I mean,</b> <b>those services are emergency services,</b> <b>and we need to be able to be insured that</b> <b>those are being provided to our citizens.</b> <b>So James from Pensacola is asking,</b> <b>you mentioned that maybe Tallahassee</b> <b>doesn't want to be in the business</b> <b>of local roads, fire departments, etc.,</b> <b>but James is asking, from Pensacola,</b> <b>why does the state legislature keep trying</b> <b>to take away rights and responsibilities</b> <b>of local government bodies?</b> <b>Example, eliminating property</b> <b>taxes, Doge effort, etc.

?</b> <b>What would your response to him be?</b> <b>Representative Maney</b> <b>well, I don't think Tallahassee wants</b> <b>to take over the role of local government.</b> <b>I think Tallahassee understands</b> <b>they're not well equipped to do that.</b> <b>I mean, just Okaloosa</b> <b>County is so different geographically.</b> <b>The the beach area kind of has one.</b> <b>The the Gulf front area has one economy.</b> <b>We've got a huge swath</b> <b>of military property which is exempt from</b> <b>ad valorem taxes.</b> <b>Then we've got the north</b> <b>end of the county, which is actually</b> <b>our fastest growing part of the county,</b> <b>but they don't have as much money.</b> <b>It's still got a large agricultural area,</b> <b>so you really can't do one size fits</b> <b>all for the whole state.</b> <b>And that's why</b> <b>I say it's it's complicated.</b> <b>I honestly don't think Tallahassee</b> <b>wants to run local government.</b> <b>Senator gates,</b> <b>I'll throw the question to you.</b> <b>What do you think about James's assertion</b> <b>that maybe Tallahassee is a little</b> <b>too involved in local government?</b> <b>Well, there's always the temptation</b> <b>that politicians have to believe that</b> <b>they know the answers.</b> <b>And, if that happens in the legislature,</b> <b>as it does in local government.</b> <b>But, the way that Florida is set up,</b> <b>local governments have substantial</b> <b>flexibility and authority.</b> <b>The the issue sometimes arises</b> <b>that occasionally a local government</b> <b>will use that authority</b> <b>in a way that affects someone's</b> <b>rights, their constitutional rights.</b> <b>You know, I'm thinking about Second</b> <b>Amendment rights or freedom of speech</b> <b>rights.</b> <b>And then there becomes a push</b> <b>on the legislature.</b> <b>Stop that.</b> <b>You're the only you're</b> <b>the only people who can.</b> <b>And so from time to time, there's</b> <b>been an action by the state government</b> <b>to preempt local governments</b> <b>when it comes to constitutional rights.</b> <b>But personally, I, I'm with Judge Maney.</b> <b>I think we ought not to if we want to run</b> <b>for the county commission,</b> <b>we ought to do what Nathan Boyles did</b> <b>and run for the county commission.</b> <b>If we want to be state legislators,</b> <b>we got plenty to say.</b> <b>Great sovereign Tallahassee.</b> <b>Representative Salzman,</b> <b>would you like to add</b> <b>Representative Andronico?</b> <b>That I think I mean, Senator Gates</b> <b>took the words right out of my mouth.</b> <b>I mean, a large majority</b> <b>of our preemption over</b> <b>the past several years has been related</b> <b>specifically to property rights.</b> <b>I think the biggest complaint</b> <b>we normally get is,</b> <b>the somewhat minimal preemption</b> <b>we did over vacation rentals.</b> <b>Simply saying local governments</b> <b>could not legislate them out of existence</b> <b>just by virtue of,</b> <b>you know, not liking them.</b> <b>That's a dynamic between like a</b> <b>a Burt Harris act type claim, a takings</b> <b>claim on the use of lands and property</b> <b>rights, and us having to step in and say,</b> <b>yeah, no local government.</b> <b>You can't dictate the length of a lease</b> <b>on a residential property</b> <b>simply because enough people in the same</b> <b>color shirt show up to your meeting.</b> <b>But by and large, yes, local</b> <b>governments have far more authority</b> <b>and ability,</b> <b>to engage with the community, </b> <b>on a daily basis.</b> <b>And we've not nearly tied their hands</b> <b>as much as people may think.</b> <b>Representative Broyles, I'm sorry.</b> <b>Go ahead.</b> <b>I'd like to come back to something.</b> <b>If you if I may place</b> <b>Representative Boyles mentioned</b> <b>or play off</b> <b>what he mentioned in Okaloosa County.</b> <b>I got the data from each city</b> <b>as well as the county,</b> <b>and in Okaloosa County,</b> <b>one city raised the millage rate</b> <b>4 or 5, lowered the</b> <b>millage rate, and the rest,</b> <b>kept the millage rate the same.</b> <b>So I think at least here in the Panhandle,</b> <b>we're largely a conservative community,</b> <b>and I think our local government</b> <b>does a good job.</b> <b>To some extent,</b> <b>one person's priority</b> <b>may not be the same as another,</b> <b>but that doesn't mean that</b> <b>the project that they</b> <b>on which they disagree is a bad project.</b> <b>It just means at your stage of life</b> <b>or in your family,</b> <b>you've got children</b> <b>who go to the library,</b> <b>or you have adult children</b> <b>and you're retired</b> <b>and you get your news</b> <b>off of an instrument.</b> <b>Yeah.</b> <b>So I think we need to be real careful</b> <b>about painting</b> <b>local government, at least in this</b> <b>part of the state, as being</b> <b>guilty of profligate spending represented.</b> <b>Yeah, I think, you know,</b> <b>I spent 12 years kind of fussing about</b> <b>preemption, right, from Tallahassee</b> <b>as a member of local government.</b> <b>I do think there are times,</b> <b>as my colleagues mentioned,</b> <b>when it's appropriate, you know,</b> <b>and certainly my goal will be, you know,</b> <b>Tallahassee should not be preempting</b> <b>unless</b> <b>and until a local government is preempting</b> <b>somebody's individual rights.</b> <b>And I think that's when we step in.</b> <b>I will also note, you know,</b> <b>there were times, so I'm a business guy</b> <b>and, you know, you do need</b> <b>this notion of some, some consistent rules</b> <b>across the, across the state.</b> <b>Right?

And it's no different</b> <b>than the federal government's</b> <b>role in, interstate commerce.</b> <b>And so I think there are times when</b> <b>there are matters that are better handled.</b> <b>At a state level,</b> <b>so that there is a consistent playing</b> <b>field across the entirety of the state.</b> <b>And rather than having</b> <b>to figure out those rules</b> <b>as a, as a business owner</b> <b>from one jurisdiction to another.</b> <b>And so we want to keep as much as we can</b> <b>at the local level.</b> <b>But, you know,</b> <b>those are going to be case by case issues.</b> <b>This is from Rhonda, one of our viewers,</b> <b>your constituents</b> <b>from the Pensacola Beach Advocates.</b> <b>She says, dear legislators, Escambia has</b> <b>a hard time maintaining Pensacola Beach.</b> <b>We as beach residents respect</b> <b>that 100% of our beaches are public,</b> <b>and we want them to stay that way,</b> <b>being maintained by the county.</b> <b>However, we as residents would like a fee</b> <b>simple title to our property</b> <b>and would like to incorporate</b> <b>because we feel neither SRA, Santa</b> <b>Rosa Island Authority nor the county cares</b> <b>enough about our quality of life.</b> <b>So her question is this would you support</b> <b>efforts for a fee simple title</b> <b>and for incorporation?</b> <b>If the proper process and sufficient data</b> <b>are met?</b> <b>Representative handwriting.</b> <b>Yes.

Yes.

Okay.

Absolutely.</b> <b>Okay.

Yes.</b> <b>I would, </b> <b>so long as there was a vote of the people,</b> <b>as long as there was a fair and, </b> <b>appropriately managed election</b> <b>that shows that the people who are live on</b> <b>the beach want to have an incorporation,</b> <b>then I support supported.</b> <b>Thank you.</b> <b>Either.

Would you like to add to that?

But</b> <b>I honestly don't.</b> <b>That sounds like an Escambia issue.</b> <b>Yeah.</b> <b>No no no I didn't get into in the standard</b> <b>issue you you've got enough right.</b> <b>It's definitely</b> <b>I, I totally understand, but</b> <b>I just wanted to give you the opportunity</b> <b>just in case you</b> <b>I'll pass.</b> <b>You have some, some commentary.</b> <b>Let's move on to a topic that has been</b> <b>very much, discussed.</b> <b>On a national level</b> <b>and certainly in the state of Florida.</b> <b>And that's vaccine mandates.</b> <b>I'll begin with you, </b> <b>Senator Gates, your thoughts?</b> <b>Well,</b> <b>you know,</b> <b>I believe that the scientific method,</b> <b>suggests that when there is a conclusion</b> <b>or a finding</b> <b>that if there's new evidence</b> <b>or a confounding variable,</b> <b>that you go back and reexamine</b> <b>that finding of that conclusion.</b> <b>So if the surgeon General has new evidence</b> <b>that all vaccines,</b> <b>all children's vaccines</b> <b>are either harmful or ineffective,</b> <b>I'm certainly going to keep an open</b> <b>minded and open door.</b> <b>And he can present that evidence.</b> <b>But at the end of the day, I also want</b> <b>to hear from scientific sources.</b> <b>I want to hear from the medical community.</b> <b>I want to hear from parents.</b> <b>I want to hear from,</b> <b>people who operate school systems.</b> <b>Because this can't be a political</b> <b>question.</b> <b>It's got to be a scientific question.</b> <b>And there may be vaccine</b> <b>that don't have to be done</b> <b>as soon or as often or at all.</b> <b>But the whole notion</b> <b>of eliminating vaccines,</b> <b>I think we had a president</b> <b>of the United States who recently,</b> <b>did a great big push</b> <b>to make sure that we had a Covid vaccine.</b> <b>So I don't think we Republicans</b> <b>want to jump right on the bandwagon</b> <b>to say all vaccines are bad.

Yeah.</b> <b>Representative Salzman, you thoughts?</b> <b>I think the the biggest issue</b> <b>that we as American citizens have,</b> <b>and at least my constituents</b> <b>and the ones that I talk to</b> <b>have, is the fact</b> <b>that you have a blanket immunity.</b> <b>So not only are we requiring, children</b> <b>to get these vaccines,</b> <b>these companies have a blanket immunity,</b> <b>whether it be a new vaccine, an older.</b> <b>It doesn't matter if it's a vaccine.</b> <b>You can't sue the manufacturer</b> <b>for harm done to you.</b> <b>It's a federal thing.</b> <b>There's nothing</b> <b>the state level can do about that.</b> <b>But to to allow you to say</b> <b>this is what you have to put in your body.</b> <b>Oh, by the way,</b> <b>don't worry about what happens to you.</b> <b>And you can't have access to public</b> <b>school systems unless you get these.</b> <b>That's an issue, you know, and</b> <b>I don't believe all vaccines are bad.</b> <b>I also don't believe that all vaccines</b> <b>are good and I believe in choice.</b> <b>So we had an instance happened here</b> <b>recently in Escambia County</b> <b>where someone's mother got injured,</b> <b>literally an actual injury.</b> <b>She was taken to the hospital.</b> <b>The emergency room, and,</b> <b>they fixed her up.</b> <b>And the next morning they said,</b> <b>how are you feeling?</b> <b>And she said, I'm feeling quite well,</b> <b>but my my arm is sore now.</b> <b>So they said, oh yeah, that's from the,</b> <b>the tetanus shot.</b> <b>What are you</b> <b>why am I getting a tetanus shot?</b> <b>I didn't tell you.</b> <b>She had never had a vaccine in her life.</b> <b>And the protocol was through the</b> <b>emergency room that she got the vaccine</b> <b>because she had the tetanus shot?</b> <b>Because she had an open wound,</b> <b>an injury as she came in.</b> <b>And, that hospital actually fixed</b> <b>their, protocol since this this happened.</b> <b>But it begs the question, do we need to do</b> <b>some sort of statewide requirement</b> <b>that the actual patient</b> <b>says, yes, I want that, you know, yes,</b> <b>I want that tetanus shot.</b> <b>So, I've looked at this a lot, actually.</b> <b>My district</b> <b>is the north end of Escambia County.</b> <b>A lot of rules.</b> <b>A lot of those folks,</b> <b>a lot of them are not very keen</b> <b>on being required to have vaccines.</b> <b>But I also don't think that you should</b> <b>mandate that you don't have vaccine.</b> <b>So, you know, there's a media there</b> <b>and we just have to find that place.</b> <b>But, I agree with Senator Gates.

I mean,</b> <b>follow the science.</b> <b>Representative Andronico, the discussion</b> <b>at the state level, has been</b> <b>noticeably different than the discussion</b> <b>at the federal level on this topic.</b> <b>I, I can tell you, I, I was concerned</b> <b>when our surgeon general did a lot of bow,</b> <b>in discussing</b> <b>why he was supporting this type of shift</b> <b>from an opt out to an opt in system</b> <b>here in the state of Florida.</b> <b>Said he didn't need any scientific data.</b> <b>It's about parents rights.</b> <b>Well, Surgeon General,</b> <b>I'm not going to you</b> <b>for your legal advice</b> <b>or your public policy or political advice.</b> <b>I go to you for your medical</b> <b>and scientific advice</b> <b>and that that in itself raises a red flag.</b> <b>Right now in the state of Florida,</b> <b>we don't require vaccines</b> <b>for someone to attend a public school.</b> <b>We simply have an opt out system.</b> <b>We have a system right now where parents</b> <b>who do not want their children</b> <b>to be vaccinated</b> <b>can opt out of the battery of vaccines</b> <b>that are required and their child</b> <b>can still attend public school.</b> <b>So I have not seen the scientific</b> <b>or the public policy,</b> <b>the good public policy reason</b> <b>why we should switch our entire system</b> <b>to an opt in system</b> <b>versus an opt out system.</b> <b>Especially for some of these vaccines</b> <b>that have been around for decades,</b> <b>like the ones required by statute,</b> <b>like for measles, mumps, rubella, polio,</b> <b>those are required by statute.</b> <b>They can't be waived right now as</b> <b>a requirement by the Department of Health.</b> <b>What I do know, as the legislature,</b> <b>as the legislator that sponsored the bill</b> <b>to, prohibit the surgeon general</b> <b>from vaccinating anyone by force.</b> <b>Is that the</b> <b>concern after Covid of a non FDA</b> <b>approved vaccine</b> <b>and the fact that the data is starting</b> <b>to show more and more</b> <b>that the government was lying to</b> <b>the public is raising greater</b> <b>and greater concerns than there</b> <b>ever should have been on this topic.</b> <b>What I hope to take away from all these</b> <b>kind of ill thought out Covid policy,</b> <b>public policy initiatives is,</b> <b>is you cannot treat Americans, law</b> <b>abiding Americans</b> <b>especially,</b> <b>especially one with ones with children,</b> <b>as if they do not</b> <b>are not intelligent enough to understand</b> <b>the decisions</b> <b>they themselves should be making that are</b> <b>in the best interest of their family.</b> <b>The second the government starts</b> <b>treating citizens like lesser,</b> <b>then is the second that distress grows</b> <b>and it's merited.</b> <b>And I'm seeing I think</b> <b>we're seeing the effects of that now.</b> <b>Representative, would you like to add?</b> <b>I think</b> <b>both well,</b> <b>I think all three of the previous</b> <b>members have said exactly what I think</b> <b>I am.</b> <b>I mean, Senator Gates and I are old enough</b> <b>that we remember when children had polio.</b> <b>My brother was a polio pioneer</b> <b>with salt vaccine.</b> <b>We don't have polio rampant</b> <b>in our schools, and that's a good thing.</b> <b>That's why I like what Representative</b> <b>Vendredi said of</b> <b>some of these are tried and true.</b> <b>And like Senator Gates said,</b> <b>if the science has changed, tell us.</b> <b>And I also, not surprisingly,</b> <b>am conservative</b> <b>and value individual liberty.</b> <b>But there there is a reason</b> <b>we don't have measles epidemics.</b> <b>There is a reason we don't have.</b> <b>Various illnesses</b> <b>that historically ravage the population.</b> <b>And I don't think we should just willy</b> <b>nilly throw that out</b> <b>without some articulable reason to do it.</b> <b>And I think, well,</b> <b>let me just finish by saying,</b> <b>again, as both Representative</b> <b>Hanratty and Representative</b> <b>Salzman said, we have an opt out</b> <b>provision in law.</b> <b>Now, if a parent says,</b> <b>I don't want my children to have it,</b> <b>we've got several different grounds.</b> <b>They can use religion and others.</b> <b>So to to change the whole process,</b> <b>I think we have to have a reason</b> <b>to change it.</b> <b>Representative Boyd yeah, certainly.</b> <b>I you know, I'm not a public health</b> <b>expert, right?

So it's an issue</b> <b>that I'm certainly interested in learning,</b> <b>learning more about it.</b> <b>What I will say is, you know,</b> <b>really come into this as a citizen.</b> <b>You know, I didn't view</b> <b>our system is broken,</b> <b>as my colleagues have noted, there's,</b> <b>you know, there are opportunities</b> <b>for parents to do their own risk analysis,</b> <b>right, for their families</b> <b>and then make a decision</b> <b>that they believe is best</b> <b>and to to to take that opt out.</b> <b>And I think I think Florida probably was,</b> <b>somewhat</b> <b>pioneering in, in a, in allowing families</b> <b>to have that opportunity.</b> <b>And so I'm certainly,</b> <b>you know, interested in learning</b> <b>more and better understanding the issue.</b> <b>I just want to be careful</b> <b>before we kind of jump</b> <b>in to try and fix something</b> <b>that what we're fixing is actually broken.</b> <b>What I will say is that, you know,</b> <b>some of the I hope we can turn down</b> <b>some of the political rhetoric</b> <b>around, around vaccines.</b> <b>And I think there are</b> <b>some legitimate issues to, to look at.</b> <b>I will tell you,</b> <b>we've had the personal experience</b> <b>of having children, and, you know,</b> <b>starting to evaluate individual vaccines</b> <b>and then make a decision on a case by case</b> <b>basis.</b> <b>We've encountered, you know,</b> <b>what I could term is discrimination</b> <b>from health care providers</b> <b>who have said, well, that's great.</b> <b>Your kids are no longer welcome.</b> <b>To get medical care.</b> <b>And so you're going to need to find</b> <b>a new, a new physician.</b> <b>And so I think</b> <b>those are some of the issues that,</b> <b>you know, I'm interested in looking at it.</b> <b>This thing is we</b> <b>look at it in its totality is, you know,</b> <b>we should be able to have that choice,</b> <b>I believe in this country</b> <b>and in this state and and not,</b> <b>you know, face discrimination</b> <b>as a result of that individual decision.</b> <b>Very good.

Adam from Pensacola</b> <b>just sent in a question,</b> <b>as we'll start with you, Senator.</b> <b>Senator Gates,</b> <b>he says, in light of recent</b> <b>the recent committee vote</b> <b>chaired by Senator Gates that rejected</b> <b>the University of West Florida Board</b> <b>of trustees member who remains seated,</b> <b>how should authority over leadership</b> <b>in Florida's public colleges</b> <b>and universities</b> <b>be balanced among the legislature,</b> <b>the executive branch,</b> <b>the board of governors</b> <b>slash board of trustees,</b> <b>and the institutions themselves?</b> <b>Specifically, Adam wants to know</b> <b>who should have the final say on</b> <b>trustee appointments and removals,</b> <b>and what checks and balances should apply</b> <b>when branches of government disagree.</b> <b>Well, we have checks and balances now,</b> <b>the governor can make an appointment.</b> <b>I chair the Ethics and Elections</b> <b>Committee in the Senate at the moment.</b> <b>And, the every gubernatorial appointee</b> <b>comes to our committee,</b> <b>and we can accept them.</b> <b>We can reject them.</b> <b>But if we reject them,</b> <b>the governor has the prerogative</b> <b>of being able</b> <b>to keep that person on for another year.</b> <b>Well, it's kind of like a,</b> <b>you know, the appointments</b> <b>that a president can make, </b> <b>a recess appointment when Congress is out,</b> <b>Congress doesn't have</b> <b>a right to come back and say, well,</b> <b>you can't do that recess appointment.</b> <b>But the recess appointment was only good</b> <b>until the Congress comes back and can act.</b> <b>And the appointment of the president</b> <b>or trustee that the question are asked</b> <b>about is only good until the, </b> <b>the remainder of the legislative session.</b> <b>And then if he is not approved</b> <b>to continue, he will have to leave.</b> <b>Representative Salzman, any</b> <b>added thoughts or.</b> <b>I just my biggest qualm</b> <b>with the way we have the system</b> <b>now is that it's not in the sunshine.</b> <b>You know,</b> <b>when we make these presidents selections,</b> <b>they're not done in the sunshine.</b> <b>And that was a law that we did.</b> <b>I mean, I voted for it.</b> <b>The incoming speaker sponsored it.</b> <b>And, I regret that vote, but, I echo</b> <b>the sentiments of Senator Gates,</b> <b>representative Andreotti.</b> <b>I agree with Senator Gates.</b> <b>I think that we do have</b> <b>that system of checks and balances.</b> <b>I have always thought</b> <b>a bit similar to a presidential recess</b> <b>appointment in the same way.</b> <b>The governor has the power</b> <b>to make the vast majority of appointments</b> <b>to these bodies, similar to the way</b> <b>the governor, bound by the Constitution,</b> <b>has to appoint a judicial nominating</b> <b>commission, in order to have them submit</b> <b>a slate of judges that he can pick from</b> <b>to make judicial appointments.</b> <b>We have these systems already in place</b> <b>and these checks and ultimately,</b> <b>as I think we saw here</b> <b>in Northwest Florida, the ultimate check,</b> <b>is the public, the voting citizenry,</b> <b>you saw a large public backlash</b> <b>that was relatively bipartisan</b> <b>from a lot of folks who were not happy</b> <b>with some of those appointments.</b> <b>So ultimately, I think that our system</b> <b>is set up to be practical</b> <b>but also balanced.</b> <b>I do not see this</b> <b>as a constitutional crisis.</b> <b>And, I,</b> <b>I believe that if voters are not happy</b> <b>with those discussions</b> <b>with, with those actions,</b> <b>they can make those</b> <b>those opinions known at the ballot box</b> <b>the next time something related to</b> <b>that decision comes up on the ballot,</b> <b>representative boils.</b> <b>Yeah.</b> <b>So I had the privilege, actually, of, </b> <b>sitting in and watching chair</b> <b>gates, work, on that committee.</b> <b>And I'll just say, the system</b> <b>you know, works.</b> <b>And there absolutely was,</b> <b>there was both robust dialog.</b> <b>And then there was,</b> <b>I think a Senate committee that was,</b> <b>mindful of its responsibility</b> <b>to serve that check and balance role.</b> <b>And I saw that work effectively.</b> <b>I, I think, you know,</b> <b>this kind of you get the law of unintended</b> <b>consequences, right?</b> <b>If you start messing with the system</b> <b>like this, it's not is it ideal?

No.</b> <b>Because it calls from frustration</b> <b>for folks, I get it.</b> <b>But on the flip side of that, </b> <b>you know, other iterations of this system</b> <b>could result in seats</b> <b>sitting open for extended periods of time.</b> <b>And I think that's why you have</b> <b>the ability for that, that reappointment.</b> <b>Ultimately, I believe this issue</b> <b>will sort itself out</b> <b>as Senator Gates noted.</b> <b>You know, if there's a better system,</b> <b>I'd love to hear it.</b> <b>Again, this one is not perfect,</b> <b>but it works as well</b> <b>or better than any system</b> <b>that I've been able to come up with.</b> <b>Representative Maney, your thoughts?</b> <b>I agree with Senator Gates.</b> <b>I mean, and Senator Andrada</b> <b>and I mean everybody, we've got a system</b> <b>that usually, generally normally works.</b> <b>We gotta let the system work.</b> <b>Okay.</b> <b>Very good.</b> <b>Senator gates,</b> <b>you recently proposed a bill to, per</b> <b>security in houses of worship.</b> <b>Tell us a little bit about that proposal</b> <b>and what you hope to accomplish.</b> <b>Well, that's a proposal I had wished</b> <b>would never have been necessary.</b> <b>And I, and I hope, will never be necessary</b> <b>in, in action.</b> <b>But religious leaders from northwest</b> <b>Florida came to me</b> <b>and said, in view of all of the things</b> <b>that we're seeing in houses of worship</b> <b>in all denominations, because hate is no</b> <b>respecter of denomination.</b> <b>Because of all of that, we're,</b> <b>we're doing armed security,</b> <b>but we want to do it within the law.</b> <b>So they pointed out to me</b> <b>that, on armed security patrol,</b> <b>if it's hired by a church,</b> <b>is made up of people who get paid,</b> <b>who buy a license, who, you know,</b> <b>have to go through some state activities.</b> <b>And they said, look, in</b> <b>some of the small congregations,</b> <b>we just want to have</b> <b>somebody who's trained,</b> <b>who operates according to a plan</b> <b>that's approved by the local sheriff,</b> <b>who's been background checked,</b> <b>who has a concealed carry permit,</b> <b>who knows what they're doing and,</b> <b>and not have to get</b> <b>an extra license</b> <b>or pay 3 or 400 extra dollars.</b> <b>Can you help us with that?</b> <b>So we put together a bill that does that.</b> <b>And now the bill is </b> <b>being introduced in the House as well.</b> <b>It is, it's unnecessary</b> <b>until it's necessary.</b> <b>But I believe that houses of worship</b> <b>of all denominations</b> <b>have the right to defend themselves.</b> <b>It was in in Salzman.</b> <b>I agree, I agree with them.</b> <b>I know where the bill came from.

Yeah.</b> <b>Representative Andrada, I just want to let</b> <b>anybody add any additional thoughts.</b> <b>I think with the recent</b> <b>first DCA opinion related to open carry,</b> <b>this could be a legislative session</b> <b>that allows us to to</b> <b>look at some of the restrictions</b> <b>that we have on the carrying</b> <b>of firearms in general in the place.</b> <b>And so long as those aren't already</b> <b>preempted by the federal government,</b> <b>maybe we should consider, relaxing</b> <b>some of those restrictions</b> <b>and prohibitions on the carrying</b> <b>of firearms in specific places.</b> <b>So, no, I, I fully support the bill.</b> <b>And, I look forward to</b> <b>hopefully having a more robust</b> <b>conversation about, you know, where</b> <b>we can't carry firearms in the future.</b> <b>I'm going to get to that.</b> <b>Just a second.</b> <b>Representative Manea,</b> <b>I think we've just seen demonstrated</b> <b>the power, the depth of leadership</b> <b>in the Escambia delegation.</b> <b>I just hope the whole,</b> <b>Panhandle delegation pays</b> <b>attention to their wisdom</b> <b>because I think they're right.</b> <b>Representative Boyles.</b> <b>Yeah, I mean, it's it's common sense.</b> <b>So look forward to voting on it.</b> <b>Very good.</b> <b>Open carry</b> <b>a firearms will be a big topic in 2026.</b> <b>As I understand it, currently,</b> <b>you no longer</b> <b>have to have a concealed weapons permit.</b> <b>Right?</b> <b>But you can't open</b> <b>carry at this stage in the game.</b> <b>So what would that change look like?</b> <b>I'll begin with you.</b> <b>Well, no, actually, right now,</b> <b>because our statute is set up</b> <b>to where there's a broad prohibition</b> <b>on open carrying,</b> <b>and then we have specific prohibitions</b> <b>on concealed carrying right now,</b> <b>based on the strict construction</b> <b>of the statute,</b> <b>you can make an argument that you can open</b> <b>carry in certain places that you could</b> <b>not concealed carry because of that</b> <b>first DCA decision that came out recently.</b> <b>Flores, attorney</b> <b>general issued an opinion stating that</b> <b>because he's not going to appeal that</b> <b>decision, open carry right now, today</b> <b>is constitutionally protected and allowed</b> <b>across the entire state of Florida.</b> <b>The issue that we now have is there</b> <b>shouldn't be some distinction between</b> <b>whether or not someone carries outside</b> <b>of their belt or inside of their belt.</b> <b>And it's creating confusion</b> <b>for law enforcement.</b> <b>They don't know exactly where they can</b> <b>and can't enforce any type of restriction</b> <b>on the carrying of firearms.</b> <b>So I think we should provide</b> <b>at least some type of clarification,</b> <b>just to make it easier for law enforcement</b> <b>to know what the rules are.</b> <b>So everyone understands</b> <b>what the rules are.</b> <b>But right now in Florida, </b> <b>it's it's the law that, constitutionally,</b> <b>you can carry your firearm</b> <b>wherever you're allowed to carry firearms</b> <b>out outside your belt.</b> <b>Representative Salzman,</b> <b>would you like to add?</b> <b>Well, I mean, I'm excited about it.</b> <b>I've been I'm an open carry advocate.</b> <b>So, I believe in the ability to carry</b> <b>constitutionally,</b> <b>huge Second Amendment proponent.</b> <b>I think,</b> <b>the the lack of clarity in the law</b> <b>has created a lot of confusion.</b> <b>Like, Representative Andre has said,</b> <b>my focus right now,</b> <b>I'm not carrying the 21 to 18 long gun</b> <b>bill this year.</b> <b>I carried that passed it on the House</b> <b>floor last year.</b> <b>Right now I'm just looking at, the campus</b> <b>carry model, and what that looks like.</b> <b>And is there something meaningfully,</b> <b>meaningful that we can do</b> <b>as a legislature to create a safer place</b> <b>for students, faculty</b> <b>and staff to to go learn?</b> <b>So that's that's my focus right now.</b> <b>But, </b> <b>I certainly support, clarity in the law.</b> <b>But I like it.</b> <b>I like the wild, wild West.</b> <b>Senator gates,</b> <b>well, having grown up in the wild,</b> <b>wild West,</b> <b>judge many and I were actually comparing</b> <b>notes in the green room</b> <b>about, when we, went to school back</b> <b>when we wrote on the Walls of caves.</b> <b>Yeah, that that open carry among students</b> <b>was not only permitted, it was routine.</b> <b>Yeah.</b> <b>When we went to school,</b> <b>we had our shotgun</b> <b>rack on the back of the pickup or the car</b> <b>because we went out for the early morning</b> <b>shoot before school,</b> <b>where were going to go shoot</b> <b>some upland game after school.</b> <b>And so our shotguns</b> <b>were literally in the back of the car</b> <b>in the school parking lot.</b> <b>And as Judge Maney reminded me,</b> <b>we didn't have any problems.</b> <b>I think that, that Representative</b> <b>Saltzman</b> <b>is, is is certainly on to something</b> <b>when she says</b> <b>that we have to look at where</b> <b>we are with campus carry.</b> <b>I don't believe in gun free zones.</b> <b>We did a study a few years ago</b> <b>when I was,</b> <b>when I was sponsoring the Florida's first</b> <b>open carry bill and sadly didn't pass.</b> <b>That indicated that states that have open</b> <b>carry</b> <b>have fewer problems and fewer gun deaths.</b> <b>And fewer gun violence.</b> <b>Less gun violence, you know,</b> <b>per capita than the states that don't.</b> <b>Now, that doesn't prove</b> <b>that one thing causes another,</b> <b>but it proves a correlation.</b> <b>And that is, you can't prove</b> <b>that open carry, in my judgment,</b> <b>at least, causes any particular harm</b> <b>or damage or violence or threat.</b> <b>Yeah.</b> <b>Representative, many.</b> <b>I think this is an issue</b> <b>that it's in large part a distraction.</b> <b>I think it's clear</b> <b>the law needs to be clarified.</b> <b>Even the well, the U.S.</b> <b>Supreme Court indicated that so did</b> <b>the first District Court of Appeals.</b> <b>I think it's our responsibility to clarify</b> <b>that for our citizens,</b> <b>for law enforcement.</b> <b>But I think it's something that</b> <b>we just need to knuckle down and do,</b> <b>I am not afraid of open carry.</b> <b>I am concerned about</b> <b>things like guns and alcohol,</b> <b>whether that's on a college campus</b> <b>or in an entertainment</b> <b>facility.

But.</b> <b>I just think it's it's an issue</b> <b>that we've had</b> <b>too much controversy about for too long,</b> <b>and we just need to deal with it.</b> <b>Representative Boyles</b> <b>yeah, I mean, I think we're</b> <b>this will prove to probably be much, much</b> <b>ado about nothing at the end of the day.</b> <b>There was some discussion here</b> <b>earlier before we went live about,</b> <b>you know, late night westerns.</b> <b>And so, you know, it's no surprise to me</b> <b>where the DCA got on this issue, right?</b> <b>It's, you know,</b> <b>I think it's pretty clear that this is</b> <b>the tradition and history in this country</b> <b>based upon constitutional rights.</b> <b>I think, you know, my only, you know,</b> <b>concern always is you have,</b> <b>you know, a wife and kids, right?</b> <b>And so you want to make sure, you know,</b> <b>with those rights, come respond ability.</b> <b>And so, you know, I think anybody</b> <b>that's out there that, you know,</b> <b>maybe doesn't understand that that'll,</b> <b>that'll sort itself out pretty quickly.</b> <b>And I think what you'll find</b> <b>is that most of the,</b> <b>the law abiding citizens</b> <b>in the state of Florida will respect</b> <b>and recognize</b> <b>that if they do decide to open carry,</b> <b>which is their right, that they have to</b> <b>do so safely and responsibly.</b> <b>And as long as</b> <b>we can get to that place, I think, again,</b> <b>it'll be much ado about nothing.</b> <b>Senator gates, I keep coming back to you.</b> <b>But you've been, active here</b> <b>recently with a lot of, proposals</b> <b>as far as bills are concerned.</b> <b>Veterans treatment court program.</b> <b>That's about right.</b> <b>An opportunity</b> <b>for me to defer to judgment.</b> <b>That's right.</b> <b>The judge meaning the first veteran</b> <b>treatment court in this state</b> <b>who's named after Judge</b> <b>Meany, in state statute.</b> <b>He is, as you may know,</b> <b>not only a former judge,</b> <b>but a one star general, </b> <b>as well as a state representative.</b> <b>He is the pioneer of, Florida,</b> <b>veteran treatment courts.</b> <b>And I'm just his, poor, </b> <b>you know, second shotgun.</b> <b>Well, Judge Maney, explain what it is.</b> <b>Veterans</b> <b>Treatment Court is a specialty court,</b> <b>much like a drug court.</b> <b>Or mental health court.</b> <b>It's a specialty court</b> <b>to treat justice involved veterans,</b> <b>that is, people</b> <b>who are veterans</b> <b>who have transgressed the law.</b> <b>But it's designed to treat those veterans,</b> <b>to give them an opportunity</b> <b>to get rehabilitated</b> <b>so they don't commit other offenses.</b> <b>And so that they can go on</b> <b>with their lives</b> <b>as law abiding citizens.</b> <b>I think the recidivism rate</b> <b>has been proven time and again</b> <b>to be much lower for participants</b> <b>in veterans court.</b> <b>I'm very excited</b> <b>that we have 1 in 3 of the four counties</b> <b>of the First Judicial Circuit.</b> <b>They're all different</b> <b>because the judges are different,</b> <b>but they all operate under the same.</b> <b>Goal.</b> <b>And it's it's really just a wonderful way</b> <b>to recognize the sacrifices of,</b> <b>veterans, people who have</b> <b>served, who have been hurt,</b> <b>usually in combat,</b> <b>but that that it also includes</b> <b>people</b> <b>who have suffered military sexual trauma.</b> <b>But we need to give those people a chance.</b> <b>And one of the great things about it</b> <b>is we use the resources of the U.S.</b> <b>Department of Veterans Affairs.</b> <b>So the state of Florida is not paying</b> <b>for treatment.</b> <b>The state of Florida is just providing</b> <b>the system,</b> <b>the structure, to give people a chance to</b> <b>if they have PTSD,</b> <b>if they have traumatic brain injury,</b> <b>if they're military sexual trauma victims,</b> <b>where they can get the treatment</b> <b>and get on with their lives</b> <b>without having a criminal record</b> <b>that follows them and limits their future.</b> <b>Okay, we are getting short on time.</b> <b>I have approximately</b> <b>six minutes left here,</b> <b>so I want each one of you</b> <b>to be able to add to this next question.</b> <b>I know you've been traveling around</b> <b>talking to constituents,</b> <b>and as you prepare for 2026,</b> <b>I'll start with you, Senator Gates.</b> <b>What are constituents telling you?</b> <b>Their top priorities are, property</b> <b>insurance,</b> <b>property insurance and property insurance.</b> <b>And then utility rates,</b> <b>utility rates and utility rates,</b> <b>and then, property taxes.</b> <b>But I'm hearing more about property</b> <b>insurance and about anything else.</b> <b>And I'll be sponsoring legislation again</b> <b>this year</b> <b>to try to put guardrails</b> <b>around property insurance in our state.</b> <b>Last year, I sponsored the legislation.</b> <b>It did not even get a first committee</b> <b>stop, but I'm going to try again.</b> <b>Very good.</b> <b>Representative Salzman,</b> <b>I think there's a lot of conversation</b> <b>around, the school choice model</b> <b>and how we're, implementing that.</b> <b>You know, excitement, not complaints.</b> <b>So very happy about that.</b> <b>Of course,</b> <b>a lot of the, permanent tax holidays</b> <b>that would created a lot of citizens</b> <b>are really happy about that.</b> <b>Looking forward, what can we do?</b> <b>It's the same conversations over the past</b> <b>few years, the the attainable housing,</b> <b>you know, the price</b> <b>to live, the cost of living.</b> <b>How much does it cost for my insurance?</b> <b>Obviously, that's a huge one.</b> <b>So I, I send out a survey every year</b> <b>to constituents across the Panhandle,</b> <b>and it's going out next week.</b> <b>So I usually by now</b> <b>I would have had it back.</b> <b>But but you know, my litmus test</b> <b>and just we've had our delegation</b> <b>meetings is</b> <b>people are focused on cost of living.</b> <b>How can we decrease the cost of living</b> <b>and how can we increase quality jobs</b> <b>so that folks can make their own living?</b> <b>Representative Andronico.</b> <b>Absolutely.</b> <b>Cost of living has been a topic.</b> <b>The the high price of first home ownership</b> <b>We're seeing</b> <b>a lot of people coming out of college</b> <b>with, out the job prospects</b> <b>that they expected to have</b> <b>after going to college</b> <b>without the ability to even fathom</b> <b>buying their first home, putting the first</b> <b>down payment on their home.</b> <b>And then on top of that, once</b> <b>you have that home,</b> <b>the cost of your property insurance</b> <b>and property taxes keep going up.</b> <b>Just because I'm the chair of the health</b> <b>care budget specifically,</b> <b>I do get a lot of, conversations</b> <b>about health insurance.</b> <b>And then because I had that</b> <b>an unintentionally high</b> <b>profile issue, I do get a lot of questions</b> <b>about how Florida.</b> <b>Okay.

Very good representative me</b> <b>well, I think the public in the Panhandle</b> <b>reflects the public of the state at large</b> <b>about what issues are bothering them.</b> <b>I would like to mention something</b> <b>a little bit different because of my job</b> <b>as the committee chair</b> <b>for the Subcommittee on Justice,</b> <b>the largest piece of that budget</b> <b>section deals with prisons.</b> <b>They have the most buildings,</b> <b>the most people, and about 80,000 inmates.</b> <b>So it it cost the taxpayer</b> <b>a huge amount of money.</b> <b>So there are about there are 49</b> <b>major, prisons in the state of Florida</b> <b>this summer.</b> <b>I visited ten of them.</b> <b>I'm really looking at how we can</b> <b>make the prison system work</b> <b>in a more economically smart way.</b> <b>There been a lot of patches.</b> <b>Sometimes the patches cause</b> <b>different problems.</b> <b>That's not a jazzy, sexy issue.</b> <b>Sure,</b> <b>but it it cost us</b> <b>a lot of money.</b> <b>And it it's very impactful</b> <b>for the victims of crime,</b> <b>and it's very impactful for the families</b> <b>who have loved ones who are incarcerated.</b> <b>And that's something I want to</b> <b>I think we owe it to the public to work on</b> <b>Representative Boyles.</b> <b>I have about two minutes.</b> <b>Yes, sir.

I will not need two minutes.</b> <b>I will echo the sentiment of everything</b> <b>that was said already.</b> <b>I think the one I will add is really kind</b> <b>of, growth and infrastructure</b> <b>and that tension, you know,</b> <b>especially in everywhere in the Panhandle,</b> <b>but certainly,</b> <b>you know, in my district and,</b> <b>you know, places</b> <b>like Milton and Pace and Crestview,</b> <b>you know, folks, want to know</b> <b>that there is a system in place</b> <b>where we can have a robust</b> <b>and thriving economy,</b> <b>but they also want to know that we're,</b> <b>you know, working in partnership</b> <b>with our local governments to provide them</b> <b>the tools and flexibility they need</b> <b>and the resources is to make sure</b> <b>that we have the infrastructure</b> <b>that will match with that growth,</b> <b>so that we can continue</b> <b>to maintain the high quality of life</b> <b>that we enjoy here.</b> <b>The only other comment I want to make</b> <b>is just to know.</b> <b>It's a privilege</b> <b>to serve with this delegation.</b> <b>I think it is probably a rarity</b> <b>to to sit in a room like this and have,</b> <b>with my exception,</b> <b>of course, is the newbie</b> <b>everyone here is a chair of a committee</b> <b>over in Tallahassee.</b> <b>And that is that really says something.</b> <b>I think, there's, you know,</b> <b>there's a lot more representatives</b> <b>and senators</b> <b>than there are leadership positions.</b> <b>And the fact that this delegation has</b> <b>that depth of leadership, says, you know,</b> <b>speaks both to the quality of these folks</b> <b>and to the strength of the Panhandle.</b> <b>Excited to be here.

Very good.

Thank you.</b> <b>Thank you very much.</b> <b>I have 30s here,</b> <b>and I just have to ask this question,</b> <b>and it may be the most difficult question</b> <b>of the night.</b> <b>I understand this came up in 2025</b> <b>and may make a return in 2026.</b> <b>There is a bill, apparently</b> <b>to make the flamingo the state bird.</b> <b>Support that.</b> <b>Are we going to lose our mockingbird?</b> <b>No, I'm for the mockingbird.</b> <b>The Flamingo.</b> <b>And the import comes from somewhere else.</b> <b>No, no, no, no.

Mockingbird.</b> <b>I'm about to go.</b> <b>I try to stay right down the center,</b> <b>but I'm going to have to go with Senator</b> <b>Gates and the mockingbird.</b> <b>Oh, okay.</b> <b>Thank you all so very much.</b> <b>We wish you all the very best.</b> <b>Our guests this evening</b> <b>have been members of the local Northwest</b> <b>Florida legislative delegation,</b> <b>Senator Dodd Gates and Representatives</b> <b>Michelle Salzman,</b> <b>Alexandra Nathan Boyles and Pat Maney.</b> <b>Very special thanks to you, our viewers,</b> <b>listeners and social media participants.</b> <b>We greatly appreciate your questions</b> <b>and your input.</b> <b>This program will be available</b> <b>soon@wac.org,</b> <b>also on YouTube,</b> <b>so please feel free to share.</b> <b>I'm Jeff Weeks, wishing you all the best</b> <b>and thank you for watching.</b> <b>I hope you have a great fall and enjoy</b> <b>all the sunshine State of Florida</b> <b>has to offer.</b> <b>Very pleasant.

Good evening everyone.</b>