State Rep. Patt Maney passed his second bill off the House floor this week as the 2026 legislative session enters budget negotiations.
- HB 351, which seeks to establish concurrent jurisdiction between the State of Florida and U.S. military installations, passed the House floor Tuesday and joins HB 199 in moving to the Senate. The veterans treatment court bill passed earlier in the session.
Two bills remain ready for House floor votes. HB 177, which would expand flexibility for the offices of criminal conflict and civil regional counsel when handling capital cases, and HB 227, which would clarify that individuals holding residential leases of 98 years or longer qualify for Florida’s homestead tax exemption, are both expected to be heard next week.
HB 139, which establishes guidelines and additional protection for state employees who report misconduct, is on the agenda Wednesday for its second committee. HB 447, which would make court hearings for mental health and substance abuse cases confidential, should go before the Health and Human Services Committee next week.
HB 613 is not moving forward.
- Maney has not received a single “no” vote across his bill presentations in committee or on the floor.
The House and Senate released their initial budget recommendations last week, with negotiations and the conference process to follow in the coming weeks. According to Maney’s office, there is time remaining in the process and work still to be done, but current standing for appropriations projects filed through the office is positive.
As chairman of the House Justice Budget Subcommittee, Maney has been working through budget issues and is pleased with the first pass of justice budget recommendations. Work remains before the two chambers arrive at a finished product for corrections, juvenile justice, the court system and other state entities that fall within his scope.
Multiple Okaloosa County officials and organizations have visited the Capitol. Groups meeting with Maney include Dr. Paul Hsu and Amanda Negron from the HSU Educational Foundation, Okaloosa County administration, the Okaloosa County School Board, Northwest Florida State College, officials from Destin, Crestview and Mary Esther, and Ocean City-Wright Fire, Destin Fire and Crestview Fire departments.
Other visitors included representatives from the Air Force Enlisted Village and Okaloosa Supervisor of Elections Paul Lux.
Constituents have also visited the Capitol with advocacy groups including the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors, Florida Association of Women Lawyers, Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, Northwest Florida District of the Florida Dental Association, Okaloosa County Association of School Administrators, American Institute of Architects, Florida Association of Nurse Anesthesiology, American Planning Association, North Florida Medical Centers, Emerald Coast Health & Rehabilitation and Financial Planning Association.
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Please consider including links to the specific bills for those interested in the details or providing comments to our legislators. Yes, those are already available to those willing to invest time & effort to search it out, but it makes your reporting more valuable.