Key Votes 2023
Valued Member,
As the voice of Tampa's business community, the Tampa Bay Chamber engages in dialogue and advocacy with our state’s elected officials across a number of public policy fronts. Each legislative session presents new opportunities to achieve reforms that improve the quality of life and reduce the cost of living in our communities and for all of us who call Tampa Bay home.
In 2023, we focused our advocacy efforts on affordable housing, health care reform, environmental resiliency, workforce improvements, transportation and more. We are proud to report that many of these initiatives passed the legislature with overwhelming bipartisan support from our local House and Senate legislative delegations and were signed into law by Governor DeSantis. These include:
- Reforms to increase the availability of attainable housing for working families, an essential factor in our region’s ability to attract and retain talent, improve quality of life, and achieve the Tampa Bay region’s full potential.
- One of the nation's most comprehensive pharmacy benefit manager reforms designed to protect patients and small businesses from PBM influence over the prescription drug coverage market, rein in the high costs of prescription drugs, and increase the accessibility of many life-saving medicines for Florida families.
- Bills to allow employers to make family leave more available to Florida families, mitigate the effects of sea level rise on local communities, and hold human traffickers accountable.
In addition, the Chamber advocated for the already-collected Hillsborough County Transportation Sales Surtax funds to be returned to the County to repair roads, invest in public transit and pay for the countless local transportation projects waiting to be funded. However, the legislature adjourned this year without a vote on what to do with $570 million collected from the tax which the state currently holds in escrow. The tax was approved by voters through referendum in 2018, the tax began to be collected in 2019, but in 2021 the tax was ruled unconstitutional. The Chamber will redouble its efforts during the 2024 session to see these funds returned to the County for transportation only projects.
Key Votes 2023 reflects the actions of our State Representatives and Senators on bills impacting the Chamber’s members, partners and community stakeholders. We will continue to meet with and work with all members of the legislature to share the stories of our members and to build bridges toward a unified, thriving Tampa Bay.
|
Bob Rohrlack, DBA, CCE |
Brian Butler |
For a summary of the Chamber's federal, state and local key issues, see the Chamber's Legislative Agenda.
Find more about the Chamber’s policy initiatives.
Table of Contents
Policy Council
Co-Chair
Mickey Jacob – Goodwyn Mills Cawood
Co-Chair
Rebecca Siviglia – Moffitt Cancer Center
Chamber Chair
Brian Butler – Vistra Communications
Chamber Chair-Elect
Brian Adcock – Adcock Financial
President & CEO
Bob Rohrlack, DBA, CCE – Tampa Bay Chamber
Vice President, Advocacy
Nicholas Glover – Tampa Bay Chamber
Policy Council Members
- Daniel Abou-Jaoude – Skanska USA Building Inc.
- Rafaela Amador Fink – Tampa Bay Rays
- Debra Bauman – DPR Construction
- Matthew Blair – Corcoran Partners
- Josh Bomstein – Creative Contractors, Inc.
- Sandra Braham – Gulf Coast Jewish Family & Community Services
- Melanie Brown – Advent Health
- Brian Butler – Vistra Communications
- Gino Casanova – Shumaker
- Chris Chambers – TECO
- Jeff Chernoff – IAT, Inc
- Sarah Combs – University Area Community Development Corp.
- Michael Corcoran – Corcoran Partners
- Kim DeBosier – WGI
- John DeLaVergne – DeLaVergne & Company
- Robin DeLaVergne – Tampa General Hospital
- Megan Dempsey – Shumaker
- John Flanagan – CareerSource Tampa Bay
- Matt Floyd – Mosaic
- Kimberly Guy – St. Joseph's Hospital HQ
- Charles Hokanson – Helios Education Foundation
- Chris Karlo – MercuryWorks
- Lauren Key – AdventHealth
- Cathie Koch – Bloomin Brands
- Robert Ledford – Baker Barrios Architects Inc
- Rick Lindstrom – Rutledge Ecenia, PA
- Katie Lopez – Tampa Bay Chamber
- Andrew Mayts – Shumaker
- Christopher Minner – Tampa International Airport
- John Mitchell – Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC
- Jessica Muroff – United Way Suncoast
- Ed Narain – AT&T
- Aakash Patel – Elevate, Inc.
- Jim Porter – Akerman LLP
- Jason Quintero – Carlton Fields PA
- Lynda Remund – Tampa Downtown Partnership
- Liz Reynolds – USAA
- Darren Richards – Tucker|Hall, Inc.
- Clara Rienhoff – Highwoods Properties, Inc.
- Jack Rybicki – CLA
- Bill Schifino – Gunster
- Yvette Segura – Yvette Segura Consulting
- Jeffrey Senese – Saint Leo University
- Debbie Sheridan – Hancock Whitney
- Andrew Smith – Goldman Sachs
- Josh Talkington – Vistra Communications
- Ryan Toth – The Beck Group
- Lauren Valiente – Foley & Lardner LLP
- Lauren Weiner – WWC Global, A Pequot Company
- Percy Wells – Coca Cola Beverages - Florida
- Gretchen Whalen – CLA
- Jamie Wilson – Moffitt Cancer Center
Methodology
An integral component of the Tampa Bay Chamber’s mission is to communicate the views of the business community to our elected officials. Our Advocacy group identifies, prioritizes and recommends policy to our Board of Directors for those issues that affect our local economy, business environment and quality of life in Tampa Bay.
The Chamber’s Key Votes 2023* tracks legislators’ votes on bills related to our Legislative Agenda’s guiding principles:
- Business & Economic Development,
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion,
- Heath Care,
- Military & Defense,
- Transportation,
- Workforce Development & Education, and
- Workforce Housing.
Key Votes tracks whether legislators voted for or against the Chamber’s legislative priorities.
We hope Key Votes 2023 provides some background and accountability in the efforts towards the priorities of the business community in Tampa Bay. This is not an exhaustive review of every bill considered or that we supported or prioritized during the 2023 legislative session, nor is it a complete picture of a legislator’s record on issues related to the Chamber. Rather, Key Votes provides a useful snapshot of which legislators side with the Chamber on full floor votes.
Conclusion
We thank the legislators who supported our legislative efforts. We hope Key Votes 2023 adds another dimension to assessing legislators’ track records when viewed alongside scorecards from our allied stakeholders and regional partners. We look forward to working with the Florida Legislature in the 2023 session to continue the work of ensuring a strong and vibrant business community in Tampa Bay.
Please Note
Key Votes 2023 is not a voter guide. While the Tampa Bay Chamber hopes this vote tracker will help you understand more about the legislative process in order to become a stronger advocate, it only tells part of the story when it comes to electing individual legislators. When accessing the qualifications of any candidate or incumbent, voters should consider matters such as performance on committees, constituent services, and positions on all matters in addition to those included here.
Legislators
| Name | Party | District | Local Delegations |
| Daniel Antonio “Danny” Alvarez | Rep | 69 | Hillsborough |
| Adam Anderson | Rep | 57 | Pinellas |
| Mike Beltran | Rep | 70 | Hillsborough, Manatee |
| Kimberly Berfield | Rep | 58 | Pinellas |
| Linda Chaney | Rep | 61 | Hillsborough, Pinellas |
| Lindsay Cross | Dem | 60 | Pinellas |
| Fentrice Driskell – Minority Leader | Dem | 67 | Hillsborough |
| Karen Gonzalez Pittman | Rep | 65 | Hillsborough |
| Dianne “Ms Dee” Hart | Dem | 63 | Hillsborough |
| Jeff Holcomb | Rep | 53 | Hernando, Pasco |
| Berny Jacques | Rep | 59 | Pinellas |
| Traci Koster | Rep | 66 | Hillsborough |
| Randall “'Randy” Scott Maggard | Rep | 54 | Pasco |
| Lawrence McClure | Rep | 68 | Hillsborough |
| Michele K. Rayner-Goolsby | Dem | 62 | Hillsborough, Pinellas |
| Kevin M. Steele | Rep | 55 | Pasco |
| Susan L. Valdes | Dem | 64 | Hillsborough |
| Bradford Troy “Brad” Yeager | Rep | 56 | Pasco |
| Name | Party | District | Local Delegations |
| Jim Boyd | Rep | 20 | Hillsborough, Manatee |
| Danny Burgess | Rep | 23 | Hillsborough, Pasco |
| Jay Collins | Rep | 14 | Hillsborough |
| Nick DiCeglie | Rep | 18 | Pinellas |
| Ed Hooper | Rep | 21 | Pasco, Pinellas |
| Blaise Ingoglia | Rep | 11 | Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Sumter |
| Darryl Ervin Rouson | Dem | 16 | Hillsborough, Pinellas |
2023 State Legislative Agenda
Guiding Principle
Economic development and business thrive where regional collaboration is strong, growth benefits the quality of life for businesses and residents, regulatory and tax burdens are reasonable, right-to-work laws that protect our citizens remain in place, and wages are at market rate.
The Chamber Supports
- Coming together to address climate change and the clean energy transition with practical, affordable, flexible, predictable, and durable policies.
- Continued oversight and targeted deployment of COVID-19 relief funding.
- Engaging and empowering women, veteran-led, and minority businesses.
- Policies that support keeping the Tampa Bay Rays in Tampa Bay.
- Recognizing community quality of life as an economic development driver.
- Policies that support the recruitment and retention of high-wage jobs.
- Pro-business legislative initiatives to attract new businesses to Tampa Bay.
- Legislation that strengthens Florida’s local governments and economic development.
- Continued support for Enterprise Florida.
- The flexibility that Florida’s Home Rule powers give municipalities.
- Florida Job Growth Grant Fund as an economic driver.
- Phased initiatives to reduce the tax burden on commercial real estate leases.
- A robust, private property insurance market and reducing the burden of Citizens Property Insurance Corporation’s policy count.
- Sustained support for tourism via Visit Florida and related agencies.
- Innovation Grants for company relocation or expansion to be used for:
- Office space on a college/university campus.
- Research with professors applicable to business.
- Restoring arts and culture matching grants recommended by the Florida Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture.
Guiding Principle
The Tampa Bay Chamber is committed to promoting and fostering a community of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Equity and inclusion drive business competitiveness and job creation ensures diverse employee populations and promotes inclusive economic growth from which everyone can contribute and benefit.
The Chamber Supports
- Advocating for policies that advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in business and leads efforts to remove barriers standing between workers and opportunity.
- Promoting diversity across all levels of business, supporting minority-owned enterprises and entrepreneurs, and making the business case for closing the racial equity gap.
- Streamlining the process of becoming a certified minority-owned enterprise.
- Ensuring equal opportunity to career paths that lead to jobs and workforce initiatives that create a more equitable talent marketplace and strengthen the American economy.
- Regional workforce development initiatives that build diverse talent and are inclusive of traditionally disenfranchised populations.
Guiding Principle
The Tampa Bay Chamber supports reducing the cost of health care to the residents in the region, increasing access to quality health care for all Floridians, and legislation that gives our healthcare providers the infrastructure and regulatory environment needed to serve our community best.
The Chamber Supports
- Policies, initiatives, and funding aimed at eradicating food insecurities.
- Increased behavioral health funding and coordination between governments.
- Programs, research, and initiatives that work to address the social determinants of health.
- Federal Directed Payment Program in State Region 6.
- Address the shortage of behavioral health practitioners through graduate programs and funding.
- Policies to enhance access to critical health care services via telehealth.
- Policies that will reduce workforce shortages, including modifications to Graduate Medical Education funding, licensure reciprocity, grant and incentive programs for the healthcare workforce, and ensuring the visa authorization process is structured to expedite admission of qualified international medical staff.
- Medicaid funding and expansion of eligibility criteria to address the State’s growing health insurance gap that coincides with the increase in unemployment.
- Continued transparency in health care costs.
- Preserving the Medicaid base rate.
- Encouraging the State of Florida to opt in via a state planned amendment (SPA) and begin implementing the Advancing Care for Exceptional Kids Act (ACE Kids), providing opportunity to create health homes specially tailored to the needs of children with medically complex conditions on Medicaid.
Guiding Principle
The Tampa Bay Chamber enjoys a close working relationship with our Armed Forces and the defense industry that supports them. We understand the importance of supporting our military personnel, their families who serve our country, and those who do business with the military and call our region home. As a Great American Defense Community, we will continue supporting policies and investments that strengthen Tampa Bay's defense community/industry.
The Chamber Supports
- Adequate transportation options for Military families in the Tampa Bay region, including:
- A MacDill Ferry Connection.
- Optimization of circulator routes for high-density military populations in East/South Hillsborough County.
- Opportunities that support veterans and military spouses seeking gainful employment and pathways to entrepreneurship.
- The Military Commission’s project to attract and grow the defense contractor community in partnership with the Tampa Bay EDC and other defense and business organizations.
- Legislation that creates a uniform framework for recognizing service member academic credits and waives transfer of transcript fees for service members and their dependents.
- Tracking unemployment claims/job seeker benefits paid to military spouses.
Guiding Principle
The Tampa Bay Chamber believes that access to transportation is inextricably linked to sound economic development and enhanced quality of life. Sufficient multi-modal transportation funding is needed to implement a robust and connected transportation network in Tampa Bay. We will work diligently to compel our elected officials to support policies that fund innovative projects for roadways and transit systems that are critical to the infrastructure needs of our growing community.
The Chamber Supports
- Advocating for the funding and implementation of transit projects as a region.
- Utilizing dedicated, fixed guideways and infrastructure.
- Commuter Ferry Service and securing matching funds to support its growth and operation.
- Policies that encourage innovative transit alternatives and mobility options, including next-generation technologies like electrification.
- Advanced air mobility efforts.
- Efforts to continue to grow and enhance Tampa International Airport and Port Tampa Bay.
- Federal Aviation Authority reauthorization.
- Investments in our transportation infrastructure (airport, highways, port) to recover the lost gas tax and other transportation revenues.
- FDOT exemptions related to roadway shoulder activation for express bus service.
- Multi-modal transit options and stations.
- Extending Brightline to Tampa Bay by preserving the sufficient right of way along I-4 between Tampa and Orlando for its corridor, with additional future connections to Pinellas County.
- School route safety enhancements.
- The Florida Legislature appropriating the Hillsborough County Transportation Referendum Revenue back to the Hillsborough County community for local road and transportation needs in accordance with State Statute 212.055(1) as ordered by Judge Barbas and agreed to in the 2022 Legislative Budget.
- Programs and processes that ensure safety, encourage walkability, and reduce traffic and pedestrian fatalities.
- Protecting and expanding the State Transportation Trust Fund.
- Ensuring that the design intent for the Westshore Interchange remains intact and that the project facilitates regional and local improvements for all users.
- State funding for transit.
Guiding Principle
The Tampa Bay Chamber supports policies and innovative solutions that strengthen workforce development, education, and supportive access to transportation and housing. Through robust partnerships, the Chamber will advocate for adequate resources to help attract, develop, and retain talent in Tampa Bay. Plans must be in place today to train and employ the workforce of tomorrow.
The Chamber Supports
- Trade and apprenticeship programs and experiential training offerings with clear pathways for development and approval.
- The prioritization of Tinker K-8 School to increase capacity, update aging facilities, and improve educational continuity for military families.
- Pursuing available government support for workforce development and education programs.
- Bridging the digital divide.
- Early childhood learning as a path to a competent workforce.
- Associate degree dual enrollment course offerings.
- Creating pathways for non-violent ex-offenders to reenter the workforce and become productive, self-sufficient citizens.
- Flexibility to implement the instructional requirements related to mental health education, substance abuse education, Youth Mental Health First Aid, and human trafficking education.
- Including industry certification and skills training in school and district grade calculations as an additional student success measure.
- Removal of punitive laws that suspend driver’s licenses for non-payment of civil fines.
- Legislation that authorizes public schools to offer coding as a second language and colleges/universities to accept coding as a foreign language credit.
- STEM education programs, with an emphasis on starting in middle school, to strengthen equitable access to high-quality workforce-related skill sets.
- Community Partnership Schools, which are a priority in vulnerable communities.
- Continued remediation and improvement of access to Unemployment Insurance benefits.
- Policies that enhance job flexibility for parents with open cases in the child welfare system of care.
- Increased K-12 funding of schools.
- Additional recurring investment in the University of South Florida to continue its trajectory toward the Top 25 Public Universities in America.
- The Qualified Target Industry (QTI) Tax Refund to encourage quality job growth in targeted high-value-added industries.
- Pursuing state funds in support of district-identified pilot programs.
Guiding Principle
Developing a sustainable inventory of workforce housing near centers of commerce and transit corridors is vital to the continued growth and success of Tampa Bay’s business economy. Increasing the inventory of attainable housing for working families is essential to our region’s ability to attract and retain talent, improve quality of life, and achieve the Tampa Bay region’s full potential.
The Chamber Supports
- Attainable housing that improves workforce satisfaction, quality of life, and ensures a vibrant, thriving community.
- Policies and budget prioritization that facilitate the development of, and access to, workforce housing.
- Waivers to activate irregular-sized parcels for affordable and workforce housing.
- Policies aimed at preserving the existing workforce housing inventory.
- Legislation that prevents the Legislature from diverting the Sadowski Housing Trust Fund.
Community Partners
A significant goal of the Tampa Bay Chamber has been to establish Memorandums of Understanding and formal partnerships with other community partners and organizations that share our desire and vision for a united, strong voice for business in our region.
We’re proud to say that we currently have Memorandums of Understanding with the following community partners: Central Pinellas Chamber of Commerce, Greater Plant City Chamber
of Commerce, Greater Riverview Chamber of Commerce, North Tampa Bay Chamber, South Tampa Chamber of Commerce, Tampa Bay LGBT Chamber, Tampa Downtown Partnership, Uptown Chamber of Commerce, Westshore Alliance, and Ybor Chamber — making up over 10,000 members.
Memorandums of Understanding with these chambers and business organizations do not necessarily reflect agreement on the legislative priorities or positions detailed within Key Votes 2023.
