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State Rep. Jovante Edmonds briefs Riviera Beach on budget wins, property-tax changes and development bills
Summary
State Representative Jovante Edmonds and State Senator Mack Bernard updated the council on the 2026 legislative session, including home-rule and development bills, property-tax/homestead exemption proposals, and local appropriations such as $1.5 million for a water-treatment plant.
State Representative Jovante Edmonds delivered a legislative update to the Riviera Beach City Council, outlining session outcomes, local appropriations and legislation that could affect municipal permitting and budgeting.
“On top of that legislation we put forward appropriations…with the help of attorney Shawn Pittman and Senator Mack Bernard, we were able to bring $1.5 million home for a new water treatment plant,” Edmonds said, summarizing appropriations secured for Riviera Beach.
Edmonds described several measures of local importance: a veterans dental-care bill (HB 4035); HB 399 and SB 1434, which create administrative approval pathways for certain housing/development projects and a Palm Beach County-specific brownfields carve-out; HB 991, which tightens voter ID rules by disallowing student or retirement-home IDs; and SB 484, which addresses data centers’ utility usage transparency. He also explained an HJR to increase homestead exemptions that would go to the November ballot and, if approved with 60% of the vote, raise the exemption amount in phases to $250,000.
Councilmembers asked about practical effects: whether administrative approval would bypass special exceptions, and whether the DEI-related bill (HB 1134) prohibits local governments from collecting demographic data or promoting minority- and veteran-owned business initiatives. Edmonds said his understanding is local governments would be restricted from sponsoring or promoting DEI initiatives and that municipalities’ legal staff are evaluating specifics.
Senator Mike Bernard later reiterated appropriation highlights and said he hoped to return to present appropriation checks once the governor’s veto review is complete. The state lawmakers encouraged the council to coordinate with county officials to maximize funding opportunities and to prepare staff and legal review for changes to local permitting authority.
Council thanked the representatives for their time and asked staff to follow up on legal implications for zoning, DEI-related programs and the revolving loan application process.
