FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, January 8, 2026
CONTACT: Christina Johnson
Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released a list of 10 Taxpayer Priorities for the 2026 Legislative Session, which begins Tuesday, January 13 and scheduled to adjourn Friday, March 13. While it is not an exhaustive list of issues the independent, nonpartisan taxpayer research institute will follow, it reflects specific topics FTW has examined and will continue to closely monitor during the upcoming session.
Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Jeff Kottkamp said, “Florida TaxWatch is proud to share its 10 Taxpayer Priorities that we will be closely monitoring during the Legislative Session as a trusted, go-to resource for state leaders, policymakers, staff, and media throughout the next 60-days and beyond.
“Florida continues to be the most envied of states in the nation due to our economic vitality, business-friendly incentives, high quality education, and health care priorities, truly making the Sunshine State the best place in the country to live, work, vacation, and raise a family. That is why, as the ‘eyes and ears’ of taxpayers, Florida TaxWatch has once again identified these important taxpayer priorities and will be closely monitoring how elected officials allocate precious taxpayer dollars to meet the needs of all Floridians.”
Florida TaxWatch’s 10 Taxpayer Priorities for the 2026 Legislative Session include:
1. A Fair and Equitable System of Taxation
Florida TaxWatch has more than 40 years of experience researching property tax issues, promoting the goals of controlling tax growth and addressing the inequities of the system. In September, FTW released Options to Eliminate or Reduce the Property Tax Burden on Florida Homeowners, examining current legislative proposals, with a soon to be released second report offering recommendations on how to provide needed taxpayer relief while minimizing the shifting of tax burden to provide reform that is beneficial and equitable to all taxpayers. FTW has also released our latest edition of How Florida Counties Compare which provides over 70 tables comparing Florida’s local governments’ property taxes and other revenue sources.
Florida TaxWatch will be evaluating all taxation legislation that is being deliberated by lawmakers, including how to handle the impact on Florida of federal changes to the corporate income tax, efforts to further divert tourist development tax revenues from their intended purpose, the “fair share” taxation of electric vehicles, (Fair Share Taxes Driven Away by Electric Vehicles), and reduce taxes that are unfair to communications services consumers and impede the growth of broadband infrastructure (Extending the Local Communication Services Tax Increase Moratorium and a Sales Tax Exemption for Broadband Equipment Should be Part of Any Tax Relief Package this Session). FTW will continue to work to strengthen the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, especially as it relates to interest on refunds.
2. Increase the Transparency, Accountability, and Efficiency of Florida Government at all Levels
FTWs report, Government Efficiency Should Not Be Something We Do Every Four Years, recommended that the Legislature enact a Florida Government Efficiency Act to require the Governor’s annual budget to include explicit efficiency and cost-saving items, informed by the Auditor General, OPPAGA, the Government Efficiency Task Force, agency inspectors general, state agencies, and credible outside institutions such as Florida TaxWatch, and require the Legislature to consider these items during appropriations. This would help make government efficiency business-as-usual.
FTW will continue to closely monitor the budget process, including our annual Budget Turkey Watch Report that highlights appropriations that bypass or violate established budget procedures or legislative and public scrutiny.
3. Make Health Care More Accessible and Affordable
FTW prioritizes healthcare policies that enhance the well-being, health span, and lifespan of Florida’s residents by improving healthcare access, quality, affordability, and outcomes. The Florida TaxWatch Institute for Quality Health and Aging is focused on identifying practical, innovative policy solutions that address immediate challenges while anticipating the needs of a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape.
4. Protect the State’s Water System and Environmental Assets
Water is perhaps Florida’s most valuable resource. In addition to sustaining life, it provides many environmental, economic, and recreational benefits to the public. A focus of Florida TaxWatch’s research in recent years has been the protection of this vital asset. FTW will continue to promote the creation of a five-year water projects work program (Water Infrastructure Projects are Vital), the conversion of septic to sewer (Septic-to-Sewer: Protecting Florida’s Ground and Surface Water) and better processes to select which local water projects are selected for state funding (Water Turkeys).
5. Reduce the Cost of Property Insurance and Increase the Resiliency of Florida’s Infrastructure
Changes made in recent legislative sessions have helped to stabilize Florida’s insurance market (Briefing: Florida’s Property Insurance Market), but the high cost of coverage is foremost in the minds of many Florida homeowners. FTW will continue to support efforts to increase competition, reduce frivolous lawsuits and litigation costs, reduce the size of the Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, and expand the My Safe Florida Home and My Safe Florida Condo Programs and other home hardening programs and incentives.
Florida TaxWatch research has both highlighted the importance of addressing resiliency (A Rising Tide Sinks All Homes – The Effects of Climate Change on Florida’s Economy) and promoted the increased use of public-private partnerships (Using Public-Private Partnerships and Public-Public Partnerships to Meet the Growing Demands for Public Infrastructure) and nature based solutions (Jacksonville’s Approach to Reducing Flooding and Stormwater Runoff Using Green Infrastructure) to help achieve this.
6. Stop Municipal Utility Revenue Sweeps
Once standard operating and debt obligations costs are covered, many publicly owned utilities make transfers to their General Fund, a practice known as “sweeping”, ostensibly to help pay for other government services. This practice increases the risk of undercapitalization of water infrastructure and violates taxpayer fairness and accountability. FTW report, Transferring Utility Profits to a Municipality’s General Fund Increases the Risk of Undercapitalization of Water Assets and Violate Taxpayer Accountability, examines this problem and makes recommendations to help ensure that drinking and wastewater infrastructure is adequately maintained, future demands for water and wastewater service are met, and rate payers are not overcharged. HB 773 would limit sweeps to 10 percent of utility revenue and require a referendum.
7. Support the Growth of a Robust Manufacturing Industry
Florida TaxWatch research has long-supported the growth of Florida manufacturing and highlighted the sector’s significant economic impact (Built for Success: Manufacturing’s Role in Florida’s Economy). HB 483 and SB 528 would create a Chief Manufacturing Officer position to support and coordinate manufacturing efforts across state agencies and the education system, establish the Florida Manufacturers’ Workforce Development Grant Program to fund projects that deploy new technologies or cybersecurity infrastructure and bolster workforce training for small manufacturers, and create the Florida Manufacturing Promotional Campaign to expand consumer awareness, market exposure, and entrepreneurship for manufactured products in Florida through an optional branding and marketing initiative.
8. Increase Access to Childcare
The major economic significance of early childhood education is not limited to nurturing a future generation and their long-term outcomes. Access to quality child care is important for several reasons; it has proven direct development benefits for the children; it boosts workforce participation from the parents; it increases productivity in the workplace; it reduces turnover and absenteeism; and it reduces economic inequality. Florida TaxWatch will continue to promote steps to increase access to childcare as identified in our report How Childcare Costs Impact Florida’s Economy.
9. Prevent Drownings / “Every Child a Swimmer”
Florida TaxWatch has released a series of reports showing that drowning remains a leading cause of death for children in the United States, with Florida consistently ranking among the highest for child drowning fatalities. Learning to swim can reduce drowning risks by 88%, highlighting the critical importance of water safety education and statewide policy initiatives. FTW research has helped to make legislative progress through programs like the Swimming Lesson Voucher Program.
Still, unintentional drowning continues to pose a significant threat, particularly for children aged one to four. FTWs latest report, Teaching Every Child to Swim Saves Thousands of Lives from Needless Drownings and Taxpayers Millions, recommends expanding prevention efforts including requiring hospitals to show new parents drowning prevention videos, enhancing safety measures for vulnerable populations, and increasing access to swimming lessons.
These initiatives could prevent countless tragedies while saving millions in taxpayer costs associated with emergency response and healthcare. HB 85 and SB 428 would expand the eligibility for the voucher programs from children that are four years old or under to children aged between one and seven years. HB 503, SB 606, and SB 658 also aim to reduce drownings.
10. Solvency of the State Employees’ Health Insurance Trust Fund
The financial solvency of the State Employees’ Health Insurance Trust Fund is vital for ensuring the availability of affordable health coverage for Florida’s state employees. A FTW report, Solvency of the State Employees’ Health Insurance Trust Fund, shows that despite an initial estimated cash balance of $652.7 million for FY 2024-25, increasing expenses will result in projected operating losses over the next five years. Without changes to the current funding model or additional legislative appropriations, the Trust Fund risks running a deficit of over $1.5 billion by FY 2028-29. The report also offers potential policy solutions to maintain the fund’s solvency.
To access regular updates from Florida TaxWatch and the latest information on issues impacting taxpayers throughout the 2026 Legislative Session, please visit the Florida TaxWatch Legislative Update page here.
About Florida TaxWatch
As an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit government watchdog and taxpayer research institute, and the trusted “eyes and ears” of Florida taxpayers for more than 45 years, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) works to improve the productivity and accountability of Florida government. Its research recommends productivity enhancements and explains the statewide impact of fiscal and economic policies and practices on taxpayers and businesses. FTW is supported by its membership via voluntary, tax-deductible donations and private grants. Donations provide a solid, lasting foundation that has enabled FTW to bring about a more effective, responsive government that is more accountable to, and productive for, the taxpayers it has served since 1979. For more information, please visit www.floridataxwatch.org.
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