State Senator Debbie Mayfield – Mayfield Minute 12/31/23

Dec 31 2023

State Senator Debbie Mayfield – Mayfield Minute 12/31/23

Good Morning and Happy New Year’s Eve!

As I reflect on 2023 and look forward to 2024, I am humbled and grateful to have represented Brevard County and Indian River County in the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate for the past 16 years.

As I enter my last year of service in the Florida Senate, I will continue to fight for Florida families by securing meaningful tax relief and empowering parents to choose what is best for their children. I will continue my support for the revitalization of the Indian River Lagoon, and further my ongoing efforts for policies and funding which protect our waterways and the environment for residents and visitors to our region as they help our local businesses to thrive. My work in supporting our law enforcement officers, first responders, Veterans, and military families is ongoing, and I will continue to advocate for your Second Amendment rights.

There is always more work to be done, and I look forward to making my final year of service in the Florida Legislature the most beneficial for District 19 families and our State.

I consider it a great honor to represent District 19. Please share this link with your friends and family so they too, can sign up for the Mayfield Minute.

If you or someone you know needs my assistance, please do not hesitate to contact my office. My staff and I are here to serve you!

Statewide Update

Florida Laws Take Effect January 2024

The following new laws passed by the Legislature and signed by Governor DeSantis in 2023 will take effect on January 1, 2024 with one exception, the “Investments in Iran” will take effect on January 10, 2024.

Here is a summary:

“Florida’s Move Over Law”: Adds three additional situations to the existing law requiring drivers to move over for a disabled vehicle that is stopped and displaying warning or hazard lights, emergency flares or signage; or if one or more persons are visibly present. Violators may incur a non-criminal traffic fine up to $158.

“Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday”: The first winter “Back-to-School” sales tax holiday will take place from Monday, January 1st through Sunday, January 14th. For more information on items included, click here.

“Floridians First Campsite Reservations”: Florida residents will have a one month advantage over non-Floridians in reserving campsites and cabins at state parks. Floridians will be able to secure their reservation 11 months in advance, while out-of-state visitors will only be able to make reservations 10 months in advance.

“Investments in Iran”: In support of Israel in its war with the Iran-funded Hamas terrorist group, the Legislature expanded on a 2007 state law that requires the State Board of Administration to divest from “scrutinized” companies with links to Iran’s petroleum industry. “Under the expansion, companies will be added to the list if more than 10% of total revenues or assets are linked to Iran and involve economic sectors such as energy, manufacturing, or shipping. Companies can avoid being added to the list by demonstrating ‘substantial action’ to correct the issues flagged by the state.”

“SunPass Frequent Traveler Program”: The 50% credit for frequent travelers (35+ toll road trips monthly) using SunPass and other Florida transponders expires today, Sunday, December 31st.

“Local Elected Official Financial Disclosure Forms”: More detailed forms similar to the forms filed by statewide elected officials and legislators will be required by Mayors and other elected municipal officials. The forms include disclosures including income, assets, and liabilities.

“Florida Business Workers’ Compensation”: Florida businesses will see an overall 15.1% decrease in workers’ compensation insurance rates. Rate changes will vary for individual businesses.

“Florida Healthy Kids Corp.”: Eligibility is expanded for the KidCare subsidized health-insurance program and establish premium tiers based on household incomes.

Senate Update

The 2024 Florida Regular Legislative Session Set to Begin

The 126th Regular Session since Florida became a state in 1845 will convene on Tuesday, January 9, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. and will end on Friday, March 8, 2024, or upon completion of the legislature’s business. Governor DeSantis will deliver his sixth “State of the State” address to members of the Florida Senate and the House of Representatives on Tuesday, January 9, 2024 at 11:00 a.m.

The address will be live streamed at www.thefloridachannel.org.

Highlights from 2023 and What to Expect in 2024

Looking Back at 2023:

Affordable Housing: The budget passed appropriated an historic $711 million for affordable housing through SB 102, the “Live Local Act” which was created to provide high-quality, attainable workforce housing allowing Floridians to live in the communities they serve.

Historic State Reserves and Tax Relief: The budget set aside historic state reserves, ensuring that Florida is prepared to address any future challenges, and provides Florida families temporary and permanent tax reliefs.

The budget provided $10.9 billion in state reserves
The budget also provided $2.7 billion in tax relief to Floridians

Disaster Recovery: The budget included $3.7 billion for hurricane recovery and rebuilding programs due to damage caused by Hurricanes Ian and Nicole.

The budget also provided $1.4 billion for the Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund to ensure the State is able to continue prompt response to residents in need during natural disasters and other emergencies.

Wildlife Corridor: Approximately $850 million was provided for Florida’s Iconic Wildlife Corridor with an an additional $200 million appropriation for the expansion of the SUNTRAIL system for accessibility for locals and visitors to experience all that Florida’s heartland has to offer.

Education: The budget invested $26.7 billion for K-12 education to fund expanded school choice opportunities, increased student funding options, and improved school safety. The funding increased base per-student allocations by over 12% and ensured that educational funding in Florida follows the student.

The budget allocated $252 million to increase teacher pay and $675.8 million to fund workforce development, teacher apprenticeship programs, and career and technical education.

Rural Information Technology Support: Nearly $138 million was added to support rural communities with access to the Rural Infrastructure Fund and broadband. The funding assists students and families in rural counties with greater internet access.

For more specifics on the conclusion of the 2023 session, please click here.

Looking Forward to 2024:

Budget: We will be reviewing the Governor’s “Focus on Florida’s Future” budget which totals $114.4 billion and is $4.6 billion less than the 2023-2024 budget. Additionally, the Senate and House will be drafting their own proposed budgets for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 over the next 60 days.

Live Healthy: Legislation to address critical healthcare areas of concern including: workforce shortages, advanced innovation and technology, access to vital services, and enhanced quality of care.

Education Regulations: Legislation aimed at cutting burdensome red tape and providing more flexibility to neighborhood public schools. There are three critical pieces of legislation within the package including: reaffirming Florida’s commitment to support teachers, empower parents, and level the playing field in K-12 education.

Opioid and Fentanyl Crisis: Legislation includes “Victoria’s Law” which raises awareness of the dangers of opioid addiction and the availability of medical treatments to reverse the effects of opioid overdose, encourages the Department of Health to hold events to boost attention relating to the dangers of an opioid overdose and how to administer Naloxone (Narcan), and allows the Governor to designate June 6 as Naloxone Awareness Day.

The Senate’s commitment will remain focused on the best interests of Florida residents, keeping taxes low, and ensuring a balanced budget.

I’m looking forward to meeting with our community members and business leaders from District 19 during their annual Brevard County Days event in Tallahassee on Tuesday, January 30th and Wednesday January 31st, and throughout the 2024 Session.

If you are visiting the Capitol, please send your scheduling requests as soon as possible to Samantha Scaringe at [email protected] and Ian Nolan at [email protected].

Constituent of the Week

Wilfred Hart

Our Constituent of the Week is Mr. Wilfred Hart.

Mr. Hart is the Community Liaison Specialist with the Indian River County School District. He has worked for the district since 2019. Prior to his career in education, he worked for the K-mart corporation in retail management for 36 years. He received the Outstanding Customer Care – Chairman’s Award and Assistant Manager of the Year Southeast Regional, Central District during his tenure with K-Mart.

Mr. Hart is well known throughout Indian River County for his leadership in education and compassionate community service.

He was instrumental in securing legislative funding in the amount of $6.75 million for the Indian River Community Complex (IRCC) project on behalf of the Indian River County School District. The IRCC will provide the community a multi-service, multi-use space where children with disabilities can enjoy a playground, high school student athletes can practice in a modern facility, future entrepreneurs can learn through the school district’s Career and Technical program, and local business owners, residents and visitors can participate in special events, among many other activities.

His community service is limitless. He is a Deacon of the Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Gifford and a board member for the Substance Awareness Center of Indian River County. Mr. Hart volunteers on several community organizations including Mental Health Association of Indian River County, Treasure Coast Community Health, Indian River Foundation for the Elderly, and the Hart and Soul Foundation.

Mr. Hart is also a board member for the Youth Guidance Mentoring Academy and upon accepting the appointment he stated, “The Youth Guidance mission means everything to me…when we’re able to develop our youth’s mindset, character, love for giving back to the community and building their intelligence, it gives me a sense of pride knowing that we as an organization are going in the right direction.”

Mr. Hart previously served as Vice-President and member of the Dr. Martin Luther King Birthday Committee for over 10 years and as a member of the local NAACP and the Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity, Inc. He is the Founder of “Woman in Red With Pink” which recognizes those diagnosed with cancer and promotes awareness of the disease.

Mr. Hart graduated from Bethune Cookman University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.

He is a 40-year resident of Indian River County, married to Dorothy A. Hart and they have four children. In the little leisure time he has, Mr. Hart enjoys traveling, sports, and singing.

Mr. Hart and his family are highly respected and valued members in our communities and we’re grateful for his leadership in education, inspiration of service, and his years of volunteerism.

District Highlights

Sebastian Inlet State Park Responsible for Major Economic Gains in the Area

Over a $1 billion in revenue and approximately 9,000 jobs for Indian River and Brevard counties is the economic impact Sebastian Inlet State Park brings to the area as a result of tourism, recreation, and real estate.

“The last study they did 10 years ago reported the inlet’s economic value at only $200 million,” said Ed Garland, of the Sebastian River Inlet District. A nearly $900 million increase in impact.

The park reported nearly 9,000 visitors in 2023 and much of the attraction is local fishing and charter boat fishing expeditions. A recent Spectrum News 13 media story indicated there are 15,000 registered vessels that launch from the Sebastian inlet annually.

For more information on all that the Sebastian Inlet State Park offers from camping, boating, fishing, hiking and biking, special events sites, and more, visit here.

As mentioned above in the Statewide Update, Florida residents will have priority for reservations at state parks beginning January 1st.

SpaceX Completes Record Year of Successful Launches from the Cape

Last Thursday night, a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket successfully launched from KSC’s Launch Pad 39-A at 8:07 p.m., followed by a SpaceX Falcon 9 launching from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station just under three hours later at 11:01 p.m.

The Falcon Heavy, the most powerful rocket currently in use for regular launches, is transporting an X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle to new orbital regimes as part of the spacecraft’s experimental test program to demonstrate technologies for an unmanned space test platform, according to a SpaceX news release. The Falcon 9 transported 23 Starlink broadband internet satellites on its mission.

Thousands of spectators lined up beginning at 3:00 p.m. to observe the final two launches of 2023. The 71st and 72nd launches complete a record year of SpaceX successful launches from the Space Coast.

For more information on launches and landings, click here.

Upcoming Events

New Brevard County Veteran Services Office Opens in Palm Bay

A new Veterans Services Office is set to open in Palm Bay on Tuesday, January 2nd at Palm Bay City Hall (120 Malabar Road).

Services include information on benefits, available resources, healthcare, employment, and general guidance for Veterans and families.

Office hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Appointments will be required for all services and can be scheduled at 321-633-2012. Walk-ins will be accommodated based on availability.

Brevard County Veteran Services, the City of Palm Bay, and the Board of County Commissioners are dedicated to providing greater access and assistance to support Veterans and their families residing in the city.

Vero Beach’s 35th Annual ART BY THE SEA Fine Arts Show

The Vero Beach Art Club and the Vero Beach Museum of Art will present the 35th Annual Art By the Sea event at the Museum’s Atrium (3001 Riverside Park Drive) in Vero Beach from Friday, January 19th thru Sunday, January 21st.

Specific dates and times are below:

Friday, January 19th from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, January 20th from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, January 21st from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Event highlights include:

A private VIP opening reception on Friday, January 19th from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
A reception, exhibit, and ‘Sale for the Public’ on Friday, January 19th from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
An awards presentation on Friday, January 19th from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Additional exhibit and ‘Sale for the Public’ on Saturday, January 20th from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday, January 21st from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Admission is free. For more information, click here.

Green Gables to Host 3rd Annual Classic Car & Truck Show

Green Gables at Historic Riverview Village (1501 South Harbor City Boulevard) in Melbourne will be hosting their 3rd Annual Classic Car & Truck Show on Sunday, January 21st from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Cars and truck must be 30 years or older to enter and early registration is encouraged as there is a limit of 80 cars. The registration cost is $20 and can be completed by emailing [email protected].

Trophies and dash plates will be awarded to winners and all show participants will receive a free tour of Green Gables.

The event is open to the public and free of charge. There is a $10.00 fee for tours of the Green Gables Historic River Village. Food, beverages, entertainment, and a 50/50 raffle will be available.

For more information, click here.

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and visit my Senate website