2026 Florida Legislature
Duval Delegation Meets November 12
The Duval County Legislative Delegation --- all of the elected state legislators in our area --- will hold its annual organizational meeting and public hearing on Wednesday, November 12th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the City Council Chamber, City Hall, 117 W Duval Street, Jacksonville.
You can speak out on any topic that's important to you! Complete and submit a Speaker's Request Form and Materials Handout Checklist. All forms and materials should be submitted to the Delegation Office, located in Suite 480 of City Hall, by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 5th. You can also sign up to speak on site, after all pre-registered speakers.
Here are tips on presenting to the delegation and talking points on two BAM priority issues: partisan efforts to further gerrymander the state by redistricting congressional districts ahead of the 2026 election, and the elimination of mandatory vaccinations for children enrolled in school or daycare.
Speak Up & Speak Out! Presentation Tips
Be there.
Especially in today's unusually bunkered political environment, this annual meeting with our legislators offers a rare chance to actually speak directly to our Duval representatives. Even if you've never spoken to a legislator or a group before, your voice really is needed. Remember, the deadline to submit your request to speak is November 5 - and that must be mailed well in advance or hand-delivered by 5 pm that day.
Be prepared.
Before the meeting on November 12, create a short list of 2-4 compelling points you want to make - including what, specifically, you are asking legislators to do or not do. If you want help deciding what to say or where to look for more information, contact us. Remember, legislators may ask you questions during your presentation. Be prepared to respond. It is OK to offer to provide follow-up information if you are unsure how to answer their questions.
Be personal.
Speaking from the heart is more effective than listing policy bullet points. If you have a story of how a given policy impacts you or someone you know, tell that. If the issue is more abstract (like mid-decade redistricting to suppress Democratic voters), speak candidly about how this violates values important to you and many other Floridians, including plenty NOT like you. Most of all, relax and be yourself. If speaking extemporaneously makes you nervous - feel free to read!
Be flexible.
This is a long meeting with lots of ground to cover. Whatever we may be told in advance about time allotted for public comment, that time may be trimmed as the day wears on. So prepare two versions of your remarks: one that expresses all you want to say (in under 3 minutes), and one trimmed down to 2-3 essential points that you can deliver in 60 seconds or less.
Be prepared to follow up.
This meeting is not the end of the story. Consider writing a thank-you note to the legislators you've addressed to re-emphasize your points. Keep track of what is happening in Tallahassee on the issue you speak to. Write & call (and recruit friends to do the same) to keep reminding the people who represent us that we are watching.
2026 BAM Legislative Priorities
Oppose: Mid-Decade Redistricting
.png)
Florida GOP leaders have responded to calls from the President seeking additional GOP seats before the 2026 mid-term elections by establishing a House Select Committee on
Congressional Redistricting. Redrawing districts in the state mid-decade -- absent updated census data -- could further distort the political makeup of Florida's congressional delegation. As a result of districts drawn by the Governor in 2022, the delegation is currently comprised of 20 Republicans and 8 Democrats. Yet this state was nearly evenly split (56.1% Trump to 43% Harris) in the 2024 Presidential election. Thanks to the Governor's map, Florida lost three Democrat-held seats, and the complete elimination of a majority-minority district in Northeast Florida.
Mid-decade redistricting is strongly opposed by the League of Women Voters of Florida, Equal Ground and a host of voting rights organizations in the state.
The Case Against Mid-Decade Redistricting
1. Mid-decade redistricting violates the Florida Constitution.
The Florida constitution states: “the legislature at its regular session in the second year following each decennial census, by joint resolution, shall apportion the state.” Changing the districts mid-cycle violates this provision, creating voter confusion and undermining public trust in the stability and fairness of the election process.
Allowing mid-decade redistricting sets a dangerous precedent for continuous redrawing of district lines whenever the party in power fears losing its advantage, leading to a never-ending cycle of partisan maneuvering. In a democracy, voters choose politicians. Politicians do not choose their voters.
2. It further weakens Fair District Amendments, defying the will of Florida voters.
In 2010, Floridians passed a set of constitutional amendments that set standards for fair redistricting, including prohibitions against partisan gerrymandering. The amendments were approved by 63% of voters.
Mid-decade restricting is a blatantly partisan maneuver pushed by President Trump and Governor DeSantis to secure a political advantage for Republicans. Absent updated census data, the sole criterion for redrawing congressional districts is to increase GOP seats, not to reflect legitimate demographic changes.
3. It targets minority voters.
Opponents, including the ACLU and the Legal Defense Fund, argue that mid-decade redistricting in Florida has been used to diminish the ability of minority voters, particularly Black voters, to elect their preferred candidates. This is in direct conflict with the Fair Districts Amendments' protections for racial and language minorities.
4. It wastes taxpayer money.
Drawing new maps and defending them in court costs taxpayers millions of dollars that critics argue could be better used for other state priorities. Proposals for mid-decade redistricting have historically resulted in multiple, costly lawsuits, which are likely to occur again, creating lengthy and expensive legal battles.
Florida families expect their elected leaders to focus on the kitchen table issues affecting voters' daily lives, like property insurance and housing affordability, not divert millions in taxpayer dollars to a rushed and unnecessary redistricting process.
5. It is opposed by a majority of Floridians. Polls have shown that a majority of Floridians across party lines oppose mid-decade redistricting and want the legislature to focus on issues like housing and insurance costs instead.
6. It opens the door to further partisan manipulation.
If mid-decade redistricting is successful, it could embolden the ruling party to continue manipulating the system for partisan gain in the future, further eroding democratic norms.
Demand Florida lawmakers UPHOLD the state constitution and comply with the Fair District Amendments! OPPOSE mid-decade redistricting. In a democracy, voters choose their politicians; politicians do not choose their voters.
Oppose: Elimination of Vaccine Mandates
Several developments in the early 19th century significantly improved life expectancy: chlorination of public water, pasteurization, and the discovery of antibiotics and vaccines.
Antibiotics treat bacterial infections, while vaccines decrease the severity and spread of viral infections. Most viruses can only be treated with supportive care, which is why VACCINE PREVENTION is so critical.
FL Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo announced September 3rd a move to “end all vaccine mandates” backed by Governor DeSantis. Ladapo has the power to end vaccine mandates established by the Florida Department of Health (FDOH), but eliminating others requires legislative action. At the Surgeon General's discretion, FDOH may schedule a workshop or comment period on these changes. If he decides not to, the changes go into effect on December 3. The Governor has also established the state Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission, to recommend state-level health policies, focusing on principles like parental choice, informed consent, and ending vaccine mandates.
The move to end state vaccine mandates is opposed by all major public health and medical groups, including the American Medical Association (AMA), the Florida Medical Association (FMA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
Florida has an established system for opting out of vaccines. There is no need to eliminate the state's mandates, which would mean many insurers will no longer cover them. This disproportionately affects low-income and fixed-income people.
Why It Is Important to Maintain Vaccine Mandates for School Children in Florida
1. Protects public and community health.
Widespread vaccination is a cornerstone of public health, protecting entire communities from outbreaks of infectious diseases. Vaccine mandates help achieve the high rates of immunity that keep populations safe.
2. Creates herd immunity.
Herd or community immunity protects the most vulnerable, including infants too young for certain vaccines, the elderly, and individuals with compromised immune systems. Ending mandates could lower vaccination coverage below the necessary threshold for herd immunity and leave these susceptible individuals at risk.
3. Prevents infectious disease outbreaks.
Historically, mandatory vaccination policies have been highly effective at controlling and even eradicating diseases like smallpox and polio. Declining vaccination rates have resulted in a surge in measles outbreaks across the country with over 1600 cases reported in the US so far this year --- the highest in 70 years.
4. Safeguards children's health.
For decades, school vaccine mandates have been a proven method for preventing the spread of dangerous, contagious diseases in close-proximity environments. Ending these requirements would place school- and pre-school children at a higher risk of contracting preventable illnesses.
5. Reduces serious illness, disability, and death.
Vaccine-preventable diseases like measles, mumps, polio, and chickenpox can not only cause death, but also serious complications, including blindness, deafness, paralysis and other problems.
6. Ensures protection for those unable to be vaccinated.
Vaccine mandates help protect individuals who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons, such as those undergoing chemotherapy. Their safety relies on the immunity of those around them.
7. Saves money and resources.
Vaccination is a highly cost-effective public health intervention. It prevents the significant medical costs associated with treating infectious diseases, including physician visits, hospitalizations, and long-term care.
8. Preserves decades of public health progress.
Medical experts and organizations, such as the American Medical Association, warn that ending vaccine mandates represents a dangerous rollback of decades of established public health policy and threatens to undo significant progress in controlling infectious diseases.
9. Counters vaccine misinformation.
Repealing vaccine mandates lends credence to anti-vaccination arguments, undermining public trust in vaccines and public health institutions. Removing requirements can confuse parents and signal that vaccines may not be as necessary or effective as previously thought.
Urge Florida lawmakers to PROTECT FLORIDA CHILDREN! OPPOSE the elimination of vaccination mandates for children in school or daycare.
Vaccines Currently Required by State Law
Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (DTaP)
Polio (IPV)
Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR)
Tetanus-Diphtheria-Pertussis (Tdap) for 7th grade and up
Vaccines Currently Required by FL DOH
Chickenpox (Varicella)
Hepatitis B,
Haemophylus Influenza type b (Hib),
Pneumococcal conjugate (PVC)