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The 2026 legislative session concluded in Tallahassee. Throughout the legislative session our government affairs team engaged with legislators and policymakers to advocate for the hotel and tourism industry’s interests, highlight the industry’s economic impact, protect the TDT and tourism marketing, promote regulatory fairness for hotels, and support full funding for Visit Florida. Thanks to our collective efforts, consistent presence in the Capitol, and close collaboration with our partners at the GMCVB, this session proved highly successful for our industry. We effectively defended against harmful proposals while advancing key priorities that protect our local tourism economy.

GMBHA Session Highlights

  • Notable Meetings: GMBHA leaders and the government affairs team met with key legislative leaders, including the House Speaker, Speaker Designate, House Appropriations Committee Chairperson, Senate President, Miami-Dade Legislative Delegation Chairperson, Senate Commerce and Tourism Chair, DBPR Secretary, and others.
  • Tallahassee Leadership Fly-In: GMBHA leaders including President Curtis Crider, Chairman Amir Blattner, Chair-Elect Mildred Riscigno, and Board Member Rolando Aedo travelled to Tallahassee for our first leadership fly-in. They participated in Dade Days events, met with legislators, received a tour of the capitol, and engaged with local elected officials.

Key Outcomes

The following outcomes reflect the direct impact of our advocacy team’s hard work and our organization’s strong voice this year:

  • TDT / Tourism Marketing: Although individual legislators proposed expanding the allowable uses of TDT funds, none of these proposals gained support or momentum. The regular legislative session ended without any notable changes to the TDT or tourism marketing.
  • Land Use Preemption / Fontainebleau Hotel Provision (HB 399): The Legislature approved a land-use bill that limits local zoning authority over development decisions. This bill notably retains a key provision allowing large destination resorts (specifically benefiting the Fontainebleau Hotel’s renovation plans) to bypass local review processes for minor land use variances through 2030.
  • Visit Florida Funding: The state’s official tourism marketing agency is poised to receive full funding of $80 million for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, as both the House and Senate matched the Governor’s recommended budget allocation. However, this funding remains pending until the state officially passes the final budget during the April special session.
  • Pool Safety Devices at Vacation Rentals (SB 658/HB 79): Although the Senate unanimously passed this bipartisan measure, the legislation failed to pass in the House. The proposed legislation would require vacation rentals with a swimming pool or those located within 150 feet of a water body to have at least one safety feature (such as an exit alarm, pool cover, or fence).
  • Budget: The legislature failed to pass a budget during the regulat session. The state constitution requires passing a budget before July 1st. As a result, they will need to return for a special legislative session in April to negotiate and pass a budget.
  • Property Tax Cuts: Although the House passed a major proposal to phase out non-school property taxes for homesteaded properties, the Senate did not advance a companion measure during the regular session, leaving the issue unresolved and a possible topic for a special session.

What’s Next

The 2026 regular legislative session officially concluded without an agreement on the state spending plan. House and Senate leadership have announced they will reconvene for a special session to bridge the roughly $1.4 billion gap between their respective proposals. This special session will strictly address passing the 2026-2027 state budget; all other non-budget bills that failed to pass during the regular session are officially dead. The budget must be finalized and signed before the new fiscal year begins on July 1. Beyond the budget, lawmakers are likely to convene for special sessions to address property tax relief and congressional redistricting.

Looking Ahead: 2027 Legislative Session

Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton are preparing to pass the gavel as their 2024–2026 terms leading their respective bodies end. Looking ahead to the upcoming 2026–2028 legislative term, Representative Sam Garrison is set to take over as the next Speaker of the House, while Senator Jim Boyd has been designated as the next Senate President.

The next regular legislative session is scheduled to kick off in early March 2027 and run for the standard 60 days. Ahead of the session, newly elected and returning lawmakers will begin returning to Tallahassee for committee weeks starting in the fall of 2026. During these preliminary weeks, legislators will hear presentations, debate early bills, and lay the groundwork for their 2027 policy and budget priorities.

Thank you to all our members for your continued support and engagement. Your involvement is critical to our ongoing advocacy success. We also thank our partners at GMCVB for their collaboration and support. If you have any questions regarding these legislative outcomes or what they mean for your property, please reach out.

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