SUN SENTINEL EDITORIAL
It’s that time of year again.
Before state legislators head to Tallahassee for the annual session, they hold public hearings at which their constituents can suggest new laws, or repealing existing ones, or spending tax dollars where they’re desperately needed.
In the coming weeks, the Broward and Palm Beach County legislative delegations will both hold daytime forums to hear from the public. People should seize the opportunity and make their voices heard.
“The delegation is really the voice of the community in Tallahassee,” said Rep. Marie Woodson, a Hollywood Democrat and the chairperson of Broward’s 15-member legislative group. “People often cannot get to Tallahassee, so it’s critical for them to get involved in the process and make their voices heard.”
It’s doubly important for people to speak up because of the imbalance of power in Florida’s Capitol and how it affects Broward — and to a lesser extent, Palm Beach.
Most members of both county delegations are Democrats, and they are a superminority in Tallahassee.
Republicans hold 85 of the 120 House seats and 28 of 40 state Senate seats, which means Democrats must work with the ruling GOP to accomplish much of anything.
Fourteen of Broward’s 15 lawmakers are Democrats, and seven of 13 are Democrats in the Palm Beach delegation.
How do you feel about the lack of affordable housing? Or that new state law that requires big new assessments on older condominiums to pay for safety inspections?
Are taxes in Florida too high, too low or just right? Are the gun safety laws too lax, too strict or just right? Is there enough traffic safety enforcement in your community?
Remember the plan hatched by the DeSantis administration last year to privatize some of the state’s award-winning state parks with golf courses, pickleball courts and other changes? The idea outraged so many Floridians that it was quickly shelved, but it could be back.
Sen. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, a member of the Palm Beach legislative delegation, has filed a bill (SB 80) to protect our parks from such rampant commercialization.
Harrell’s bill, and its House counterpart, stand a very good chance of passage during the 60-day session that begins on Tuesday, March 4, 2025.
But feedback from the public on that issue, and many others, is still vitally important.
Now is your opportunity to give your elected legislators’ your two cents’ worth. Both Broward and Palm Beach counties have public hearings scheduled in the next few weeks.
During the months of January and February, lawmakers will decide which bills to file, and for much of that time, they will be at the Capitol in Tallahassee attending committee meetings.
Public input at home is not only welcome, but it is critically necessary to help lawmakers understand what is of foremost concern to their constituents.
“The whole purpose of these delegation hearings is for our constituents to come forward and voice their concerns and tell us what should be addressed,” Rep. Mike Gottlieb, D-Davie, said.
If you can’t be there in person, you can always call or email your legislators, too. All of their contact information is on the county delegation websites. Your voice matters.
The Sun Sentinel Editorial Board consists of Opinion Editor Steve Bousquet, Deputy Opinion Editor Dan Sweeney, editorial writers Pat Beall and Martin Dyckman, and Editor-in-Chief Julie Anderson. To contact us, email at letters@sun-sentinel.com.
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