JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — As the calendar inches closer to the start of 2026, Florida’s legislature is preparing to reconvene in Tallahassee for the upcoming legislative session. With hundreds of bills already submitted, lawmakers are set to address a wide range of issues.

The agenda features discussions on various topics, including vaccine regulations, gun laws, and property tax policies.

Among the proposed legislation is the ‘Health Care Medical Freedom Act,’ introduced by State Rep. Jeff Holcomb (R – District 53). This act aims to prohibit health-care providers from discriminating against patients based on their vaccination status and mandates that providers fully inform parents about the risks, benefits, and safety of vaccines. This proposal follows a call from Florida’s Surgeon General to repeal existing vaccine mandates.

Another key topic up for debate is firearm policies on college campuses. The proposed ‘School Safety’ Bill seeks to authorize professors, university faculty, and teaching assistants to openly carry firearms on campus grounds.

Artificial intelligence is on the agenda as well. Governor Ron DeSantis wants to regulate AI as the technology becomes more prevalent. Lawmakers plan to debate an ‘AI Bill of Rights,’ which was introduced by State Sen. Tom Leek. 

State Rep. Dean Black (R – District 15), who represents portions of Duval and Nassau Counties, said he is on board with discussing safeguards to ensure the technology is being used in a healthy way.

“I’m inclined to want to move ahead cautiously and make sure that we have protections in place while looking ahead to leadership from the Trump administration and others, so that hopefully we can bring some continuity and uniformity throughout the country,” Black explained.

Rising cost of living will also be on the forefront of the 2026 session. State Rep. Angie Nixon (D – District 13), who represents portions of Jacksonville, said she is focusing on helping working families. 

“I filed legislation to address some issues around affordability. I am wanting to do a study as it relates to the cost of early childcare because we want them to put more funding behind early childcare,” Nixon said.

Perhaps the biggest issue facing lawmakers this year will be property taxes. DeSantis has made it clear he wants to see some sort of cut. Black said he and his colleagues do not want the cuts to be at the expense of public safety and public education.

“One of the other things that we’ve done is we’ve exempted public safety. And also education because the voters have already spoken on education. They want that fully funded and we are not going to defund the police or provide any excuse for anyone to do that,” Black said.

Nixon is also preparing for this debate. She is concerned the biggest cuts will be made for Florida’s wealthiest.

“I definitely don’t think we should be subsidizing billionaires that come here, even if they are over the age of 65. A billionaire can afford to pay property taxes, especially when those taxes are going to ensure that we have access to quality first responders, right?” Nixon explained.

Nixon, who told First Coast News this will be her last legislative session since she is not seeking reelection, also wants to address a shortage of pharmacies on Jacksonville’s Northwest side.

“There’s an issue in the Northwest Jacksonville community with a lack of pharmacies. It’s somewhat of a pharmacy desert now. There are a lot of pharmacies that have left, so I’m happy to be working alongside State Senator Tracie Davis to try to figure out ways in which we can possibly bring some pharmacies back to the area,” Nixon said.

Black added he plans to introduce bills that will reduce the scope of local governments, and he wants to look into ways to combat driving while under the influence of marijuana.

“People are driving under the influence of, I’ll say THC because it’s not just cannabis in its traditional form, it’s a lot of various other products, derivatives, edibles, and, and people are getting in accidents and people are dying, and as state legislators,” Black said. “We need to look at that and we need to make sure that we’re staying ahead of the changes in our society.”

The 2026 legislative session begins January 13.