Chamber presents legislative priorities to county's legislative delegation
Orv Dothage, Chair of the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce, recently presented the 2025 Legislative Priorities for the Chamber to our legislative delegation. The event was chaired by newly elected State Rep. Kim Kendall and included Se. Tom Leek, Rep. Judson Sapp and Rep. Sam Greco. This annual hearing allows local residents and officials to request legislation or state funding and share their opinions on matters of state concern ahead of the 2025 Regular Legislative Session.
The Chamber’s priorities focus on economic development, attainable housing, infrastructure and transportation, and tourism.
In addressing the need for additional attainable housing support, Dothage said, “Please consider supporting legislation to incentivize builders and developers further to increase their production of “attainable housing” for our County’s essential workers such as teachers, public safety, healthcare, tourism/hospitality, and manufacturing employees. Without the ability to offer attainable housing in St. Johns County, these workers are forced to commute from as far away as Palatka, Jacksonville, and Daytona, where housing is cheaper, clogging up our roads and battering our transportation infrastructure.”
Dothage also pointed out the need for more funding to support infrastructure and that the Chamber’s goals directly aligned with the county’s goals. Due to the drastic increase in population over the last decade, infrastructure development has become a critical issue. This goal also has a direct impact on economic growth, as transportation and logistics are key factors in any business’s decision to expand or locate here.
The Chamber also supports eliminating Florida’s sales tax on commercial rent. In recent years, the Legislature has dramatically lowered the sales tax on commercial rents, and the Chamber has encouraged this delegation to support its final elimination. Every month, business owners are reminded of this tax, which takes scarce dollars away from small businesses that could be used to hire additional workers, replenish inventory, and pay current bills so that our businesses can continue to thrive and prosper.
The Chamber also supports the county’s goal of establishing the Florida Museum of Black History in St. Johns County. The State of Florida Black History Museum Task Force selected the county as the preferred location last year. This museum would, in part, highlight the role of African American participation in defending and preserving Florida and the United States, including the contributions of the residents of Fort Mose, the Tuskegee Airmen, and all African-American veterans.