Monroe County commissioners voted on Nov. 6 to adopt the county’s 2026 State Legislative agenda, setting a suite of priorities to be advanced at the Florida Legislature when it convenes Jan. 13, 2026. The agenda, outlined by Legislative Affairs Director Lisa Tennyson, centers on protecting the environmental and economic foundations of the Florida Keys while addressing pressing local needs such as insurance affordability, property tax stability, and flood-resilience measures.

The adopted agenda reflects concerns that reach beyond municipal planning offices and into residents’ wallets and daily safety. County officials noted they will closely monitor any state proposals that could reduce property tax revenue—revenue the county says underwrites core services including law enforcement and public health. For Monroe County, where a large portion of the economy depends on tourism, commercial activity and year‑round residents alike, maintaining predictable funding for basic services is a central concern.

Insurance affordability was singled out as a major priority, reflecting statewide pressures that have strained homeowners in coastal and hurricane-prone communities. Flood-resilience needs made the agenda as well, a response to rising sea levels, storm surge risks and recurring flood events that threaten private property and public infrastructure. Officials characterized the 2026 agenda as a continuation of a multi-year campaign to secure state support and funding for resilience projects, water quality improvement efforts and infrastructure upgrades essential to the Keys’ long-term viability.

The timing of the approval gives Monroe County more than two months to press its case with state lawmakers and allies before the legislative session opens. Local officials will seek to translate the agenda into specific appropriations, statutory changes or grant programs that can be deployed in the Keys. Those measures could range from funding for stormwater and sewage improvements to programs that reduce pollutant runoff and support coral reef and coastal habitat protection—areas long tied to both environmental health and the local tourism economy.

For Monroe County residents, the agenda’s focus on property tax stability underscores a tension between demands for lower taxes and the need to fund essential services that ensure public safety and community wellbeing. As state lawmakers weigh proposals on taxation and municipal finance, county leaders will be watching for any shifts that could affect budget planning for law enforcement, public health programs and infrastructure maintenance.

With the legislative session approaching, the county’s formal priorities provide a roadmap for advocacy. Monroe County’s leadership is positioning the Keys’ unique environmental vulnerabilities and economic dependencies at the center of its request to state government, seeking to convert multi-year advocacy into concrete support that residents and businesses rely on.