Legislative Policy Council Process
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Through the League’s leadership, an inclusive council process develops an annual legislative action agenda of legislative priorities. The League currently has four legislative policy councils, each of which focuses on particular issue areas. Each policy council establishes positions on issues affecting their policy area and works to establish priorities through a consensus process. The top issues of the four councils are then combined into one document and submitted to the Legislative Committee for review, amendment prioritization and approval. From there, the League’s Legislative Action Agenda is brought before the League’s membership for final adoption.
Policy council members and the League’s membership are also called upon to meet in Tallahassee during the Legislative Session at the League’s Legislative Action Day. While no official “policy council meeting” is scheduled, this is an opportunity for municipal officials to visit with legislators on key municipal issues that are being considered during the legislative session. After session, the policy councils meet for a Legislative “Wrap-up.”
During an average legislative session, more than 3,000 bills are filed and the League typically tracks more than 800 for potential impact on municipalities. Florida’s legislative session is regularly scheduled for 60 days a year, which is not as long as other states. Because of this shorter timeframe, it is important for city officials to focus on those bills that are directly related to municipal activities. Policy council members are called upon to lobby their committee’s issues in Tallahassee and at home.
The League has established the following four legislative policy councils:
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| Fiscal Stewardship: This committee addresses municipal roles in general finance and tax issues, Home Rule revenues, infrastructure funding, local option revenues, revenue sharing, and tax and budget reform. |
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Home Rule Administration: This council addresses municipal concerns with building codes, code enforcement, community redevelopment, Home Rule Powers, liability, personnel, collective bargaining and retirement, public safety, Sunshine Law, transportation and utilities. |
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Municipal Service Delivery: This council addresses municipal concerns relating to affordable housing, economic development, education, emergency management, and other intergovernmental programs.
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Urban Planning: This committee addresses policies specific to municipal concerns with annexation, charter counties, coastal management, environmental issues, growth management, permitting, planning, solid waste, water, wastewater and stormwater, and zoning. |
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The Legislative Committee
A key component to the final adoption of the League’s Legislative Legislative Action Agenda is the Legislative Committee, which the League president appoints in October prior to the November Legislative Conference. The Legislative Committee is comprised of each legislative policy council chair and the chairs of the other standing committees; the president of each local and regional league; the presidents of FLC Secretariats; chairs of the municipal trust boards; and several at-large members. These officials meet at the Legislative Conference to review the policy councils' top issues. The role of the Legislative Committee is one of the “big picture” perspective to ensure that issues are truly municipal, not duplicative or in conflict, timely and properly presented. The Legislative Committee makes formal recommendations to adopt the Legislative Action Agenda and with or without subsequent amendments to the League’s membership at the “Business Session.” The Business Session is held on the final day of the Legislative Conference. The Legislative Action Agenda serves as the “handbook” for the membership and League staff to lobby municipal issues throughout the impending legislative session.
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