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City hears warning from Tallahassee: extended session, municipal-utility bills could affect Fort Pierce

City of Fort Pierce City Commission · March 9, 2026
AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

GrayRobinson’s Ryan Matthews told the Fort Pierce commission that a protracted 2026 legislative session and several municipal-utility bills (including HB 1451 and SB 1075) — plus proposed changes to sovereign immunity and union rules — could affect city revenues and how utilities serve areas outside municipal boundaries.

Ryan Matthews of GrayRobinson told the Fort Pierce City Commission that Florida’s 2026 legislative session had stretched past the expected 60 days and that uncertainty in budget negotiations leaves municipalities exposed to significant policy changes.

"There is no possible way that the legislature can end this Friday," Matthews said, summarizing a protracted budget process and warning that the inability to complete top-line allocations was delaying normal action.

Matthews flagged two municipal-utility measures in particular: House Bill 1451, which would increase public oversight of…

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