Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Manatee board, lobbyists map 2026 priorities after session review: construction rules, certificates, transport, workforce housing
Summary
Consultants briefed the board on the 2025 legislative session and the district discussed priorities for 2026 including possible statutory tweaks to construction requirements, concerns about HB1105’s elimination of certificates of completion, transportation funding, workforce housing projects and sunshine‑law clarifications.
Consultants from Sunrise Consulting and new policy advisor Dr. Danielle Thomas briefed the Manatee County School Board on highlights from the 2025 Florida legislative session and worked with the board to identify priorities for 2026, emphasizing tighter state revenues and a need to prioritize requests.
Dr. Thomas said the legislature increased the FEFP and the Base Student Allocation yet warned districts that some of that increase can be absorbed by mandatory cost growth such as higher employer contributions for retirement plans. She noted the legislature’s recent flexibility on middle‑ and high‑school start times and changes to school‑safety statute that aim to balance access and security.
Board members and staff discussed a slate of district priorities and legislative risks:
- Certificates of completion: House Bill 1105 included language that eliminates "certificates…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
