County Legislative Delegation Meetings

County Legislative Delegations are nonpartisan groups of members of the Florida Senate and House of Representatives who represent each of Florida's 67 counties in Tallahassee.

The delegation is responsible for holding annual meetings in each county; developing the county's legislative program which includes all local bills, community appropriation requests and county and municipal legislative priorities; and serving as a liaison between the Florida Legislature and local governments and community organizations.

It is important that as many of you who support our bills, go to the meetings of the Legislative Delegation Meetings of each county and as your local legislators for help. No lengthy speeches need, just ask for the help of your local legislators to pass a consumer-friendly HOA/CONDO REFORM BILL.

Here are some ideas that will help you saying the right things to your local legislators.

Stick to your emotional talking points. You must ask the legislators for help and make them feel that they can really help. Make sure they know you are open for suggestions. At a delegation meeting, all you're doing is piquing their interest so you can remind them at a later date that you had brought the issue to their attention at the delegation meeting.

  
Use talking points, such as:
1. Florida's economy hinges on a healthy real estate market. Many new retirees, snowbirds and investors are needed to create a healthy real estate market.
2. The nightmare of living in an HOA is hurting our state's image of retirees moving to Florida to live a hassle free life style.

3. Reforms should create more consumer protection, making Florida again attractive for potential buyers of homes and condos.
4. It is not fair that condo owners can call an 800 number and get their complaint handled, while people living in an HOA must hire a lawyer and go to court for even the simplest of complaints.

All in all: Short and sweet is the name of the game. Most delegations limit your speaking time anyway to either 3 or 5 minutes. Here is my presentation that I made to the Marion County Legislative Delegation in Ocala on January 8, 2013. It gives you some ideas. You can add your personal issues to strengthen your points.

CLICK HERE: PRESENTATION

Even if you miss the deadline to be added to the agenda as speaker, you can still go to the meeting and speak. You can sign up directly at the meeting. I was in December and January at the meetings of Lake, Marion, Flagler and Volusia County. At all meetings the legislators cases were very accommodating and even made "last calls!"

UPCOMING MEETINGS IN LEON AND PINELLAS COUNTY

Leon County Legislative Delegation

Pinellas County Legislative Delegation